Physical And Emotional Readiness For IVF: What Couples Need To Know?

Whenever couples come with fertility issues, it doesn't mean that we directly advise them IVF treatment.

Written By: Tavishi Dogra | Updated : March 8, 2025 12:07 PM IST

Medically Verified By: Dr Aparna N, Consultant Fertility Specialist, Garbhagudi IVF

For IVF success, both physical and emotional balance is required. Infertility or difficulty in conception takes a big toll on the couple physically and emotionally. It increases stress which makes it further more important to focus on aspects such as lifestyle, diet, exercise, etc. Keeping the emotional and physical health in balance plays a big role in how one's IVF journey progresses. So, if someone is having difficulty conceiving and they decide to go for fertility treatment, they need to first find a way to keep themselves physically and emotionally healthy. We ask them to first and foremost opt for a good healthy food habit. In addition, they should be physically active. Along with this, if they have any social habits such as smoking and drinking, it should be quit or reduced to a great extent. Apart from this, keeping their weight in check is very important. Their body mass index has to be in the normal range. If they have an endocrine abnormality like diabetes and thyroid disorders, they may have to regularly check and keep it under control. In addition, they have to make sure that they are not overweight or underweight for pregnancy.

These are some of the habits that they may have to keep in mind:

Specific Tests To Undergo For IVF

Assistance in natural conception or suggest simpler methods like IUI (Intrauterine insemination) but eventually if they are not able to conceive through simpler methods then IVF is suggested to them. For some couples, there might be direct indications for IVF due to age factors, decreased ovarian reserve, tubal blocks, deranged semen parameters, prolonged duration of unexplained infertility or previously tried simpler methods of treatment have failed to result in successful pregnancy.

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For females: We do transvaginal scans to check her uterus, ovarian reserve and any pelvic abnormalities Blood tests to check for ovarian reserve and general health condition in terms of her hemoglobin, thyroid hormones, prolactin hormone, sugar levels, liver and renal function tests. We evaluate her tubes to check if they are patent or not.
For males: The most basic test for male partner will be semen analysis to check for sperm count, motility and morphology and any seminal infection. If there are any abnormalities in the semen analysis or male partner age > 40 years or previous failed treatment, we will be suggesting DNA fragmentation index which is one of the advanced tests for semen parameters.