Before IVF treatment begins, a fertility specialist considers a woman’s ovarian reserve, reproductive history, existing health conditions and the medicines or supplements already taken by the patient.
As these details help shape the stimulation plan, guide the management of medical conditions and support safe planning for procedures such as egg retrieval.
Dr Kalpana Jain, Fertility Specialist, Birla Fertility & IVF, Guwahati, says medication review should be part of the pre-IVF assessment rather than something discussed only after injections have started.
What should be included in the medication history?
The fertility specialist should know about everything being taken regularly or occasionally, including:
- Prescription medicines for thyroid disorders, diabetes, high blood pressure, seizures and other ongoing medical conditions
- Over-the-counter medicines, including painkillers, allergy medicines and commonly used cold or stomach remedies
- Vitamins and nutritional supplements, such as iron, vitamin D, multivitamins, antioxidants and products marketed for fertility
- Herbal and traditional preparations, even when they are described as natural or have been used for a long time
- Hormonal medicines or supplements, including any treatment being taken outside the fertility prescription
The frequency and dose matter as much as the medicine taken.
Why does your medication history matter?
IVF stimulation involves carefully controlled hormonal changes to encourage multiple follicles to develop. Some medicines can interact with hormones, affect ovarian response or need to be considered around egg retrieval and anaesthesia.
The issue is not that every regular medicine has to be stopped. In fact, stopping some medicines suddenly can be more harmful than continuing them. The important thing is that your fertility specialist knows what you are taking so that the treatment plan can be adjusted safely if necessary.
A medicine that was perfectly appropriate before IVF may need to be reviewed once stimulation begins. The same applies to supplements, particularly when several products are being taken together.
Supplements deserve the same attention
Supplements are often overlooked because they are available without a prescription. However, combining several products can result in overlapping ingredients or unnecessary doses, while some herbal preparations may contain active substances that need to be reviewed before fertility treatment.
A supplement recommended online or by another patient should therefore not automatically be added to an IVF cycle.
What should patients bring to the first consultation?
A written list of medicines, recent prescriptions or photographs of the product labels can make the review considerably easier. Include the dose, how often each product is taken and who prescribed it.
A complete medication history gives the fertility team an important part of the overall medical picture before IVF begins. Reviewing it early helps ensure that stimulation, procedures and existing health conditions are planned together as part of one coordinated treatment strategy.