Search "preparing for IVF" and you will find long lists of foods, teas and supplements. Some are harmless, a few are worth discussing, and many are unproven. We cover supplements and day-to-day habits in our guide to supplements and lifestyle prep before IVF. This article covers something different: the medical groundwork that makes you ready to start treatment safely, and that clinics actually check.
Why preparation is mostly medical
The NHS lists the cause of infertility, age, body mass index (BMI) and lifestyle factors such as smoking and drinking alcohol among the things that affect IVF success (NHS, reviewed 2025). You cannot change your age or your diagnosis, but you can make sure everything that can be measured has been measured, and everything that can be treated has been treated, before the first injection.
Step 1: Screening tests
Before treatment, the NHS says you will have blood tests for HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C (NHS, reviewed 2025). Clinics in other countries have their own lists, which can include further blood tests, an ultrasound of the uterus and ovaries, and tests of ovarian reserve. Results often have an expiry date, after which the clinic will ask you to repeat them.
- Ask for the clinic's full pre-treatment test list in writing.
- Ask how recent each result must be on the day you start.
- If you are travelling, check whether tests done at home will be accepted, and in what format.
Your ovarian reserve tests matter for planning the dose, not just for paperwork. Our guide to AMH, FSH and AFC explains what those numbers tell your clinic.
Step 2: Weight and BMI
Weight affects how the ovaries respond to medication, how easy the ovaries are to see and reach on ultrasound, and pregnancy health afterwards. The NHS notes that some local funding bodies only offer IVF to people of a healthy weight, and that private clinics usually set their own BMI ranges (NHS, reviewed 2025). Being underweight matters too: the NHS lists both obesity and being underweight among factors that raise the risk of miscarriage (NHS, reviewed 2026).
If your clinic sets a BMI range, ask what it is early. If weight change is needed, ask for a realistic timeline and whether waiting would cost you more in age-related chance than it gains. That is a genuine trade-off, and the answer differs at 30 and at 40.
Step 3: Smoking, alcohol and other substances
Smoking and alcohol both appear on the NHS list of factors affecting IVF success, and some funding bodies require patients to be non-smokers (NHS, reviewed 2025). Smoking and heavy caffeine or alcohol use are also listed as miscarriage risk factors (NHS, reviewed 2026). This applies to both partners where a partner's sperm is being used.
- If you smoke, ask your doctor about support to stop, and start before treatment rather than during it.
- Ask your clinic what it advises on alcohol and caffeine during treatment and the wait for results.
- Tell your clinic about any recreational drug use honestly. It is a medical conversation, not a judgement.
Step 4: Long-term health conditions
Several common conditions affect fertility treatment and pregnancy. The NHS lists diabetes, blood-clotting conditions and thyroid conditions among factors that raise miscarriage risk, along with problems with the womb and low progesterone (NHS, reviewed 2026). If you have any of these, IVF should not be planned in isolation.
| If you have… | Before IVF, ask… |
|---|---|
| Diabetes | Is my blood sugar control good enough for pregnancy? Who will manage it during treatment? |
| A thyroid condition | Are my levels in the range you want before starting? Will my dose need to change in pregnancy? |
| A clotting disorder or past clot | Do I need a specialist's input on hormone medication and flights? |
| High blood pressure | Are my medicines safe for pregnancy? Should anything be switched? |
| A known uterine issue | Does it need treating before transfer? |
A short letter from the doctor who manages your condition, shared with your fertility clinic, can save weeks of back and forth.
Step 5: Medicines review
Make a full list of everything you take: prescription medicines, over-the-counter painkillers, herbal products and supplements. Some medicines are not advised in pregnancy, and a few can interact with fertility drugs. Do not stop a prescribed medicine on your own; ask the prescriber whether to continue, change or pause it, and tell your fertility clinic the outcome.
Your clinic may also give you the contraceptive pill or progestogen tablets before stimulation to help time the start of treatment (NHS, reviewed 2025). This can feel counter-intuitive, but it is a scheduling tool, so ask how long you will take it.
Step 6: Don't forget the sperm side
Preparing for IVF is not only about the person having egg collection. The NHS lists a father aged 45 or over among miscarriage risk factors (NHS, reviewed 2026), and smoking and alcohol matter for sperm health as well. A partner providing sperm should:
- Have a recent semen analysis and any screening tests the clinic requires.
- Review his own medicines, including any testosterone or hormone products, with a doctor.
- Ask the clinic how many days of abstinence it wants before the sample.
If donor sperm is being used, ask what screening the sperm bank has done and whether the clinic needs any further documents.
Step 7: Practical readiness
Some preparation is about your days, not your blood tests:
- Injection confidence. Ask for training before you start. Our self-injection guide walks through technique.
- Time off. Plan for egg collection day, the day after, and flexibility for short-notice scans.
- Consent forms. Read them before you are tired and medicated. In the UK, written consent is a legal requirement (NHS, reviewed 2025).
- Emergency plan. Know who to call out of hours, especially if you will be away from home.
If you are travelling for treatment
Preparation abroad needs a little more lead time. Ask the clinic which results it will accept from home, whether they must be translated, and how recent they need to be on the day you arrive. Bring printed copies of key results and your medicines list, plus enough of any regular medication to cover delays. If you have a long-term condition, find out in advance who you would contact locally if it flared up during your stay. Our guide on sending your medical records to a clinic abroad covers the paperwork side.
A pre-treatment checklist
- Pre-treatment blood tests done and within the clinic's date limits
- Ultrasound and ovarian reserve tests reviewed
- BMI checked against the clinic's range
- Smoking stopped, alcohol and caffeine plan agreed
- Long-term conditions reviewed with the managing doctor
- All medicines and supplements listed and reviewed
- Partner or donor sperm assessment complete
- Consent forms read, questions written down
- Out-of-hours contact number saved
The Takeaway
The most useful preparation is the kind a doctor can check. Sort out tests, weight, smoking, long-term conditions and medicines first, for both partners, then turn to the smaller lifestyle details. That order gives you the best chance of starting on time and safely.
Frequently asked questions
How far ahead should I start preparing?
Start the medical checks as soon as you are considering treatment. Some steps, such as stopping smoking or adjusting a thyroid dose, can take weeks or months to settle.
Will my clinic refuse to treat me if my BMI is outside its range?
Some clinics have firm limits, others assess case by case. Ask directly, and ask what support they offer if a change is recommended.
Should I stop exercising before IVF?
Usually not before treatment. Clinics often advise lighter activity during stimulation and after egg collection, when the ovaries are enlarged. Ask your clinic what it recommends for you.
Do I need a dental or general health check?
It is sensible to deal with any known health issues before a possible pregnancy. Ask your GP or doctor whether anything should be checked first.
I have a chronic condition. Who should I tell first?
Tell both your fertility clinic and the doctor who manages your condition, and ask them to share notes. Decisions about medication in particular should involve both.