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How can I prepare for my treatment?

Published: 21 March 2017|Last updated: 30 November 2020|

Before starting, questions may arise about how to prepare for an Assisted Reproduction treatment. Below, we explain the general guidelines to be followed, although it should not be forgotten that they will vary a little depending on your particular case. It is worth noting that Eugin’s experts are always available to give you advice whenever you may need it.

In addition to the more technical aspects of each treatment, you can prepare yourself through very simple steps. Although there is no magic formula to ensure success, the whole process will be easier if you prepare yourself physically and emotionally. On a more physical level, try to follow a healthy diet, try to stay at an appropriate weight, limit your caffeine and alcohol intake and try to get enough sleep. On an emotional level, where needed, seek out a psychologist or emotion-focused therapist, join a support group, do regular physical activity or help yourself by using relaxation techniques. In short, take care of yourself and make room in your diary for those things that relax you and make you happy.

We advise that a semen sample be given on the first visit for the sterility study. Sometimes a second sample will be needed on the day of the oocyte punction (IVF/ recipients) or on the day of the insemination (IAC), according to the recommendations of the biologists.

For optimum results, it is better to give the sample after a period of sexual abstinence ranging between 2-4 days. The semen is obtained from masturbation in a room adapted for this purpose and is immediately sent to our laboratory at the clinic where it is analysed. You can usually get the results the next day.

It is not recommended to carry out the seminogram after a long period of abstinence as this could give rise to a large number of immotile or dead sperm which may not be realistic.

On the day of the insemination, you must arrive at the clinic, without the need to be on an empty stomach, 30 minutes before the scheduled time when using a frozen semen sample (either from your partner or from a donor). If we ask you to leave a fresh semen sample, your partner must come 2 hours before the scheduled insemination time.

The doctor will go over the results that have been obtained during the stimulation cycle, answer any questions you may have and explain how the process works. This is usually a swift and painless technique. Following insemination you will rest for approximately 10 minutes in the doctor’s office and then can travel home that same day by whatever means of transport suits you (car, train, plane, etc.).

The day before the follicular punction you must take an antibiotic to avoid the risk of an infection during the procedure.

On the day of the follicular punction, you must not eat or drink anything for at least six hours prior to the procedure. You must arrive at the clinic 45 minutes before the time of the appointment without wearing make-up, perfume, jewellery… You will meet with the anaesthetist and the doctor before the procedure commences.

The doctor will carry out the follicular punction under an anaesthetic sedation to ensure that it is completely painless. Deep sedation is a procedure where the anaesthetist administers a drug via intravenous injection which will send you to sleep for a short period of time (about 10-20 minutes). Once the follicular punction is completed, you will be informed of the results and of the number of oocytes obtained. We will then proceed with the insemination of the mature oocytes with the semen sample.

After the punction you will remain at Eugin Clinic for approximately 2-3 hours. Once discharged, you must go straight home, or to your hotel, and rest for the remainder of the day. You can eat and drink normally in a progressive fashion.

We advise you to stay for 3 to 5 days in Barcelona between the punction (D+0) and the transfer (D+3-5), to avoid the stress and fatigue of travelling.

On the day of your transfer you must arrive at the Clinic 30 minutes before the scheduled time.

The transfer is painless and does not require any anaesthesia or sedation.

In the case of a history of difficult intrauterine inseminations or embryo transfers, or if you feel particularly stressed, we will give you a gentle, relaxing massage before the transfer.

The transfer is done using ultrasound control: it is very important that you have your bladder full at the time of the transfer (drink 3-4 glasses of water and do not urinate for 2 or 3 hours before the transfer). This procedure facilitates the transfer and allows better ultrasound visualisation of the technique.

Upon arrival at the clinic, a translator from the coordination team will stay with you in your individual resting room and will help you, in your own language (if necessary), during your stay at the clinic. An embryologist will give you a brief summary of your cycle indicating the number of available embryos and which we propose to transfer. Only the best embryos are selected for transfer. The transfer will take place with a minimum of 1 good quality embryo and, according to current Spanish legislation, a maximum of 3.

We recommend that you stay in Barcelona for 1 to 2 days. Ideally, you should stay the night before and the night after the transfer to avoid the stress and tiredness of travelling.

The preparation for an Assisted Reproduction treatment will depend on the type of treatment: Artificial Insemination, follicular puncture, embryo transfer or, in the case of men, leaving a semen sample. For each case, Eugin’s medical team will give you specific guidelines so that the treatment can be carried out in the best possible way.

In any event, in your day-to-day life you can always make small gestures that will help you feel better and face the whole process in a more relaxed and bearable way. Try to keep to a healthy eating routine and make sure you get good rest and sleep. Regular physical activity such as walking or swimming can also be very positive, as can avoiding caffeine and reducing alcohol consumption. If you need to, seek out a psychologist, therapist or support group to share your concerns with.

In short, put into practice those things that make you happy. What matters is that during these moments of preparation you feel in good shape, motivated and as relaxed as possible.

You can contact us at any time if you need support or have any concerns that you want to clear up.

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