Doing IVF can be tough on your body and mind. Here are some common ways it might affect you, along with tips to take care of yourself during IVF—both your mind and your body.

Feeling Pain & Discomfort

When you go through IVF, there are three major steps involved for women: First, is the stimulation phase, where the ovaries are stimulated by injecting hormones to produce multiple follicles. While the injection itself is painful for some women, other women go through side effects including mood swings, bloating, hot flashes, and irritability while using these hormones. Second, is ovum pickup, where the mature eggs are picked up from the ovaries. Third is embryo transfer, where the embryo formed after IVF is implanted into the uterus. The procedure may cause some physical discomfort and pain. Some women feel tenderness in the pelvic region after the procedure as well. However, do not worry, as they will subside quickly.

Feeling Tired

Dealing with infertility and going through IVF can be emotionally and physically tiring for both women and men. Many people talk about feeling exhausted from the challenges of infertility, even before starting their first IVF cycle. This kind of tiredness can also affect your ability to concentrate and remember things.

Changing Your Daily Life

IVF treatment can affect your daily activities in different ways. Some parts of the treatment are easy to predict, but others, like when appointments and procedures happen or how you'll feel, are less certain. This uncertainty makes it hard to make plans and stick to activities leading up to and during treatment. It might also mean having to cancel plans or back out at the last moment, which can be frustrating and unsatisfying, and might cost money.

Feeling Like Life is on Pause

People going through IVF might find that it takes over their lives. A lot of time is spent planning for a cycle and actually going through it. For those couples who it doesn't work for in the first attempt, they need time to recover emotionally and mentally before they are ready for the next cycle. Treatment can become the main focus of your thoughts, conversations, time, and plans. Sometimes, people feel like they've put the rest of their life on hold. This can happen on purpose, maybe because they want to stay focused on IVF. Or it can happen by accident, maybe because there's not much energy or excitement for other things. Also Read:

How to take care of yourself during IVf treatment?

Free Up Your Time

Before starting a treatment cycle, take a look at the upcoming months and try to reduce activities and commitments that might add stress. For some, this could mean saying no to extra work projects. Others might choose to get help with cleaning, postpone home renovations, or delay work trips. Taking these steps to manage stress and pressure can make you feel more in control and is good for taking care of yourself during IVF.

Take Care of Yourself First

Taking care of yourself is different for everyone. It's crucial to discover how you like to care for your body and mind during treatment. Here are some ways to look after yourself during IVF:

Learning to Relax

Relaxation training is all about using techniques to reduce muscle tension and calm your mind. It's a helpful way to deal with the physical and mental stress of IVF treatment. The goal is to trigger your body's natural relaxation response: slowing down breathing, lowering blood pressure, and creating a sense of calm. Some structured practices for relaxation include deep breathing, meditation, guided imagery, and progressive muscle relaxation. You can easily access these self-care methods during IVF through apps like Headspace or on the internet. There are also other repetitive, rhythmic activities like knitting, running, or playing a musical instrument that can help you relax during IVF.

In conclusion, navigating the challenges of IVF involves not only addressing the physical aspects but also prioritizing mental well-being and self-care. From managing discomfort to dealing with the emotional toll, finding personalized approaches such as relaxation techniques and self-care activities can significantly contribute to a more balanced and positive experience during the IVF journey. Remember, each individual's path is unique, and embracing supportive practices is key to fostering resilience and well-being throughout this process.