10 Foods to avoid during IVF for higher success rates

Why does diet matter during IVF?

During IVF, your body is preparing for follicle growth, egg retrieval, fertilization, embryo development, and implantation. Nutrition doesn’t replace medical science—but it can influence inflammation, insulin balance, gut health, hormone metabolism, and even oxidative stress. That is why leading specialists emphasize practical IVF diet restrictions and realistic nutrition planning, rather than extreme “miracle diets”.

This informative guide is curated in the spirit of the same evidence-based counseling given by Dr Meera B—a highly experienced gynecologist and fertility specialist in Kollam, consulting at Aster PMF Hospital, Sasthamkotta—to help couples avoid common dietary pitfalls that may quietly reduce IVF readiness.

What are the 10 foods to avoid during IVF?

The following list includes food categories that fertility specialists commonly recommend limiting or avoiding during IVF cycles. These choices are based on known medical reasoning: reducing inflammation, lowering toxin exposure, improving hormonal balance, and supporting endometrial receptivity.

1. Ultra-processed packaged foods

   One of the biggest red flags in fertility nutrition is processed foods and IVF—because ultra-processed items tend to contain refined carbs, low-quality oils, preservatives, emulsifiers, and excess sodium. These foods can increase inflammation, worsen insulin resistance, and disrupt gut microbiome balance.

   Examples include: chips, instant noodles, packaged cakes, sugary cereals, processed cheese slices, and long shelf-life snacks.

   Why avoid them? Because they are among the most consistently documented harmful foods for IVF due to their metabolic impact. Better substitutes include home-cooked meals, minimally processed grains, and fresh snacks like fruits and nuts.

2. Sugar-loaded desserts and sweetened beverages

   IVF success relies on hormonal balance—and insulin plays a critical role in reproductive function. High sugar intake can lead to blood sugar spikes, inflammation, and hormonal imbalance.

   Avoid or strictly limit: soft drinks, packaged fruit juices, sweetened tea/coffee, desserts, syrup-based sweets, and excessive jaggery-based sweets.

   When planning IVF nutrition tips, Dr Meera B typically encourages stable meals: protein + fibre + healthy fats to prevent insulin surges.

3. Trans fats and deep-fried fast foods

   Deep-fried foods—especially repeated-use oils in commercial frying—introduce oxidized fats that can worsen inflammation. Trans fats are linked with poorer cardiometabolic health, and fertility medicine often recommends avoiding them during conception planning.

   Common examples: fried chicken, French fries, samosas from reused oil, doughnuts, and street-fried snacks.

   Replace with: oven-roasted snacks, steamed foods, grilled proteins, and sautéing with moderate amounts of stable oils.

4. High-mercury fish

   Seafood can be healthy—but not all fish are equal in fertility planning. A key risk is mercury in fish IVF, because mercury is a neurotoxin and can bioaccumulate in the body. High exposure is not ideal when preparing for pregnancy.

   Fish to avoid or strictly limit: shark, swordfish, king mackerel, and large tuna varieties. Safer choices (in moderate portions): salmon, sardines, anchovies, and smaller local fish.

   If you’re uncertain, your safest approach is to ask Dr Meera B’s team for guidance tailored to your diet and region.

5. Unpasteurized milk products and risky cheeses

   During IVF cycles, infection prevention matters. Unpasteurized dairy may increase risk of foodborne infections that can be harmful during early pregnancy.

   Avoid: unpasteurized milk, soft cheeses of unknown source, and dairy products stored improperly.

   Choose: pasteurized curd/yogurt, paneer from safe sources, and freshly prepared dairy.

6. Raw or undercooked eggs and meat

   Foods like runny eggs or undercooked meat increase the risk of salmonella and other infections. While this is more often discussed in pregnancy, IVF preparation is a time to be extra cautious because your body is moving toward implantation and early gestational changes.

   Prefer: fully cooked eggs, well-cooked chicken/fish, and hygienically prepared foods.

7. Excess caffeine from coffee, energy drinks, and strong tea

   caffeine during IVF is one of the most searched concerns—and for good reason. While moderate caffeine may be acceptable for many patients, excessive intake can disturb sleep, raise stress hormones, and in some cases may negatively affect implantation potential.

   Practical fertility-friendly rule: avoid energy drinks completely, limit strong coffee, and keep caffeine within medically acceptable levels as advised during your consultation.

   Better choices: caffeine-free herbal drinks (approved by your doctor), warm milk, or mild teas in moderation.

8. Alcohol in any form (including “social drinking”)

   Patients often ask if occasional alcohol is okay. In fertility care, the safest answer is: avoid alcohol during IVF treatment. Research associates alcohol use with reduced fertility outcomes and hormonal disruption, which is why alcohol and IVF success is a major concern.

   Alcohol can also affect sleep quality, liver metabolism of hormones, and inflammation—all undesirable during stimulation and transfer phases.

   If you want to “do everything possible” for success, eliminating alcohol is one of the cleanest wins.

9. High-sodium packaged pickles, sauces, and instant foods

   Sodium itself isn’t the enemy—but excess sodium from packaged foods can cause bloating, blood pressure issues, and fluid shifts that can feel worse during ovarian stimulation.

   Examples: instant soups, sauces, packaged pickles, processed meats, and salty snacks.

   Opt for homemade versions where possible and focus on potassium-rich foods like bananas, coconut water (if allowed), and vegetables.

10. Unregulated herbal supplements and “fertility boosters”

    This is crucial: not everything labelled “natural” is safe during IVF. Some herbs and supplements can interfere with hormones, blood flow, thyroid function, or prescribed IVF medications.

    Avoid taking anything new—especially herbal powders, detox products, or fertility boosters—without medical clearance. Evidence-based fertility care always prioritizes safety.

How to plan your diet during IVF without confusion

Many couples feel overwhelmed because online advice is inconsistent. One blog says “eat pineapple”, another says “avoid pineapple”. One influencer says “cut all carbs”, another says “go keto”. The truth? IVF outcomes depend on medical factors such as age, ovarian reserve, sperm parameters, embryo quality, and uterine receptivity. Diet supports the process—but it should be stable, safe, and personalized.

Dr Meera B’s practical IVF nutrition tips patients can follow

• Prioritize protein in every meal (eggs, lentils, fish, chicken, paneer).
• Choose complex carbs (millets, brown rice, oats) instead of refined flour snacks.
• Add fertility-supportive fats (nuts, seeds, olive oil, ghee in moderation).
• Eat colourful vegetables for antioxidants (greens, carrots, pumpkin, beetroot).
• Hydrate well and reduce sugary beverages.

This approach isn’t about perfection—it’s about reducing avoidable risks and preparing the body to respond better to IVF medications.

Why avoiding these foods can improve IVF readiness

During IVF, your ovaries, uterine lining, and hormone cycles are carefully guided through a scientifically timed protocol. When inflammation, toxin exposure, or insulin instability rises due to poor diet choices, the body may not respond optimally. That’s why specialists emphasize IVF diet restrictions that are realistic and medically sensible.

Think of it this way: IVF is not only about retrieving eggs and transferring embryos. It is about creating the most receptive internal environment possible—so the embryo has a stronger chance to implant and develop. Avoiding the most common harmful foods for IVF is part of that environment-building.

When should couples start dietary changes before IVF?

Ideally, couples should begin improving diet at least 8–12 weeks before IVF, because egg development and sperm health are influenced by the previous weeks’ lifestyle exposures. That doesn’t mean changes made later won’t help—every positive step counts—but earlier preparation is better.

This is also why early consultation is valuable. When you meet Dr Meera B before the cycle begins, she can guide you based on your medical history, scan results, and lab findings—so you’re not relying on guesswork.

IVF in Kerala: why expert guidance makes all the difference

Kerala has high awareness about fertility treatment, but many couples still lose precious time experimenting with unverified diets or advice from social media. The hidden cost is not only money—it’s emotional fatigue, delayed cycles, and unnecessary disappointment.

This is where the difference between generic internet content and personalized medical expertise becomes obvious. At Dr Meera B’s place of practice, including consultations at Aster PMF Hospital, Sasthamkotta, couples receive evidence-driven planning that aligns nutrition, lifestyle, and reproductive medicine.

Book your appointment with Dr Meera B

If you’re preparing for IVF, struggling with repeated failures, or simply want clarity on diet and lifestyle changes, getting the right consultation can save you months of uncertainty. Dr Meera B has over three decades of experience in Obstetrics & Gynaecology, with advanced training in reproductive medicine and IVF, including training at the renowned Bourn Hall Clinic, Cambridge.

To book an appointment for consultation with Dr Meera B:

• Fill out and submit the form at https://drmeerab.com/contact/
• Call +91 9447145101 to request scheduling an appointment
• Send a WhatsApp message using the website’s WhatsApp interface to request an appointment

Dr Meera’s team will schedule the appointment and keep you posted. If you’ve been postponing expert guidance, this is your sign: don’t let avoidable diet mistakes reduce the value of your IVF cycle.

About Dr Meera B

Dr Meera B is a senior gynecologist and fertility-focused obstetrician with MBBS, DGO, DNB (O&G), MRCOG(UK), and FRCOG(UK). She graduated from Govt Medical College, Trivandrum, and pursued post-graduation at Govt Medical College, Kottayam. She became a Member of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists in 2008 and achieved Fellowship in 2022.

With more than thirty years of experience supporting couples locally and globally, Dr Meera B’s approach prioritizes medical accuracy, ethical practice, and individualized care planning— especially for couples looking for safe, proven guidance in IVF and reproductive medicine.