Before your first IVF cycle — what actually improves your odds 

Before IVF, the internet offers many supplements and strict rules with little evidence behind them. A smaller number of steps can genuinely help, and knowing the difference saves money and unnecessary stress.

The three months that matter

Eggs and sperm both take roughly three months to mature before a cycle. That window — not the week before — is when sensible preparation can help. Small, steady changes over those months matter more than any last-minute effort.

What the evidence supports

The unglamorous basics carry most of the weight: stopping smoking, keeping alcohol low, sleep, and a realistic move toward a healthy weight in either direction. A simple set of supplements has reasonable support — folic acid before conception is non-negotiable, and vitamin D if you are low. For him, the same lifestyle basics measurably improve sperm over that three-month window.

Just as important is getting existing conditions controlled before you start — thyroid, blood sugar, and any untreated endometriosis or fibroids that could lower your odds. That is groundwork a good clinic does with you, not after.

What to ignore

Avoid expensive “fertility boosters” with large claims and little evidence, extreme diets, and anything that promises to guarantee an outcome. If a product’s marketing is stronger than its data, there is good reason to be sceptical.

Preparing for IVF usually comes down to a few evidence-based steps followed consistently for about three months, with a plan agreed with your doctor.