Mental Health Benefits of Staying Organised During IVF and 4 Tips to Help

Dealing with infertility is a heavy burden on its own. Once you start adding the complexity of fertility treatments, it will be essential to prioritise your mental health. Throughout your IVF or fertility treatment journey, there will be medications to take, appointments to attend, and wellness practices to implement. These things can quickly become overwhelming. Getting and staying organised during the IVF process can be crucial to reducing stress and increasing your odds of success. Here at Ivy Dayz, we strive to make your fertility journey easier by keeping you organised. 

Mental Health Benefits of Being Organised

In general and in the IVF process, being organised has many benefits. For example, being organised gives you a sense of calm and control, reduces frustration, saves you time, relieves stress, and improves mental health. This article states that higher levels of stress and poor mental health are correlated to lower odds of pregnancy in general and for those receiving fertility treatments. Reducing day-to-day stressors can be a great start to improving the mental health of couples experiencing infertility and going through the IVF process. It’s practically impossible to eliminate all stress from your life as there are so many things out of your control but being organised is something you can control. In a process that can be unpredictable, being organised gives you some predictability in your daily life and can improve your mental health, which will hopefully increase your odds of pregnancy. Below are 4 tips that will help you get and stay organised throughout your IVF journey. 

4 tips for staying organised throughout your IVF journey:

1. Take time on Sundays to prepare for the week ahead. 

• Sundays are usually the day most people use to prepare for their upcoming week. You don’t have to prep on Sundays if a different day of the week works better for your schedule. The point is just to set aside time for you to make the week a little easier!
• Don’t pack your schedule too full. It may seem like a good idea to pack your schedule full of activities to keep you busy during this waiting time. However, you will want to allow time in your schedule to rest, relax, do something you enjoy, and connect with your spouse. If you have a hard time resting, you may need to literally schedule “rest” on your calendar! Are there things you can take a break from during this IVF process to allow more free time or downtime?
• Review the week’s calendar with your spouse. Treat this like a family meeting: reduce distractions, communicate clearly, and discuss what needs to happen in the week to come. The IVF process can be much smoother if you and your spouse are on the same page. Communicate openly with your spouse about how they can best support you and check in with your spouse as well. Though it seems like you are doing all the hard work, they are going through it right alongside you, and you’ll need to support each other!
• Use your planning time to also organise your medications and supplies for easy use during the week. 

2. Set alarms on your phone. 

• If you have a hard time remembering to take your medications, supplements, prenatal vitamins, or injections, set alarms on your phone as a reminder. Your fertility specialist will give you specific instructions on when to take your medications. Timing can impact the effectiveness of the medications so it is vital to take them as directed.
• Use alarms to remind you and your spouse of upcoming appointments.
• Setting timers on your phone can also help you with time management. If you are managing your time well, then it should allow more time in your day for resting.
• Use your planning time on Sundays to input your alarms and reminders for the week. 

3. Use an IVF tracker form

• You can easily create your own, use a cute notebook, or download one from Etsy like this one. There are many to choose from! 
• An IVF tracker form or journal can help you track your medications, scheduled appointments, and reminders from your healthcare provider. Write down how you are feeling and any questions you want to remember to address with your doctor at your next appointment. Using a tracker can also help you visualise your progress if you are more of a visual person.

• There are quite a few medications you will be prescribed throughout your IVF journey, and they may come in a variety of forms, such as pills and injections. The exact medications and dosages will be customised to your individual needs. Your fertility specialist will give you a specific schedule for what days and ideal times you will take each medication. It can be overwhelming trying to remember the medication schedule and keeping all the medications stored in an organised fashion, but don’t let that scare you. Ivy Dayz created solutions to simplify your life and make it easier to keep track of all your medications. 

• Here are examples of common fertility medications that should be stored at room temperature:
• Anti-oestrogens such as Clomiphene Citrate (Clomid), Letrozole and Tamoxifen (Seraphene)
• GnRH agonists such as Synarel and Lucrin
• GnRH antagonists such as Orgalutran and Cetrotide

• Here are examples of common fertility medications that need to be kept refrigerated:
• Follicle-stimulating hormones in the form of Puregon, Gonal F, Elonva, Menopur, and Bemfola.
• Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in the form of Ovidrel and Pregnyl.
• Progesterone

Created by Ivy Dayz' founder, the On the Go Pouch is an insulated, portable and functional handbag, specifically designed to carry fertility medications on the go. 

There are numerous benefits to staying organised during your IVF journey. Give yourself time to get organised for the benefit of your mental health, and use these tips to help ease the stress of fertility treatments.

If you need more help getting organised, Ivy Dayz is here for you! Check out our range of medication organisation solutions and other fertility support products at ivydayz.au.

Disclaimer: This article is intended for educational and inspirational purposes, not medical advice. Please seek medical advice from your healthcare provider.