What to Avoid Before IVF: A 3-Month Plan for Both of You

By Dr. Lejla Fazlicic, D.Ac., L.Ac. · Licensed Acupuncturist, Illinois · About the author

Evidence-based · Written by Dr. Lejla Fazlicic, D.Ac, L.Ac · All key claims cited to peer-reviewed research · Last reviewed October 2026

The short answer: In the 3 months before IVF, the things most worth avoiding are short:

Smoking and recreational drugs.
More than a few drinks a week.
For him, regular heat to the testicles from saunas and hot tubs.

You don't need to give up coffee, do a detox or cut out whole food groups. The 3 months matter because the egg released in your next cycle starts its final growth about 85 days before [1], and sperm take about 74 days to develop [2]. Knowing what to avoid is the easy part. Doing it every day for 12 weeks is harder, so the plan below takes one area every two weeks, with a part for each of you.

Three months out, most couples feel two things at once: "There's time to do something," and "Where do we even start?" A long list of rules usually lasts about a week. In 15 years of practice, I've seen that what lasts is what you already do every day, adjusted a little.

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What should you avoid in the 3 months before IVF?

Avoid	Why	What to do instead	Who
Smoking and recreational drugs	UK guidance lists smoking and recreational drug use among lifestyle factors that "can have an impact on people's chances of getting pregnant" [3]	Set a quit date in the first two weeks and ask your doctor about quit support	Both
More than about six drinks a week	A meta-analysis of IVF and ICSI patients linked more than about 84 g of alcohol a week (about six drinks) to lower pregnancy rates in women and lower live birth rates when men drank [4]	Keep alcohol occasional and low, and decide your plan together	Both
Regular saunas and hot tubs	In a small study, 10 men who used a sauna twice a week for 3 months had lower sperm count and motility. The changes reversed within 6 months of stopping [5]	Shower instead of soaking, keep the laptop on a desk, take breaks from long sitting	Him
Starting new supplements or herbs on your own	Some can matter during treatment, and that's for your clinic to judge	Ask the clinic to review everything you take now	Both
Crash diets and cutting out whole food groups	Not needed. The pattern linked to better results is an ordinary Mediterranean-style way of eating [6]	Change one meal at a time	Both
Making IVF the only topic at home	Stress before IVF is real. It shows up as sleepless nights, tension and arguments	One evening a week that isn't about IVF	Both

Once treatment starts, your clinic guides what to avoid during stimulation, retrieval and transfer. This plan covers only the months before.

What can you keep?

Coffee. The same meta-analysis found no link between caffeine and IVF outcomes in either partner [4]. See caffeine before IVF.
Exercise. Moderate movement most days is a good habit to keep.
A social life. You can still go out. Plan what you'll drink before you get there.
Sex. For him, ejaculating every 1–2 days is fine to keep. Follow the clinic's instructions for sample day.

More on this in what to give up before IVF, and what you can keep.

Why does 3 months matter before IVF?

Both eggs and sperm take months to develop:

A follicle, the small sac in the ovary that holds an egg, begins its final stretch of growth about 85 days before it's ready to ovulate [1].
Sperm take roughly 74 days from start to finish [2].

So the eggs and sperm for your next cycle are developing during the weeks ahead. These habits can't control how a cycle goes. What they can do is support your general health while those cells develop.

What the guidelines say

NICE, the UK's health guidance body, says lifestyle advice "should be provided for both men and women" [3].
Europe's fertility society, ESHRE, advises fertility teams to support patients in changing everyday habits that affect their general and reproductive health [7].
Supplements and medicines aren't part of this plan. They're your clinician's call.

What is a 3-month plan for avoiding the right things?

A 12-week plan for both of you
Weeks	Together	For her	For him
1–2: Set up	Count back from your expected cycle date and mark the start. Write down your questions for the clinic.	Ask the clinic to review any medicines and supplements you take.	Ask whether a semen analysis or a urologist check makes sense. If he smokes, set a quit date.
3–4: Food	Build meals on a Mediterranean-style base: vegetables, legumes, whole grains, fish and olive oil. Change one thing a week.	Add one vegetable-heavy meal a day.	Swap one takeout lunch for a home-made one.
5–6: Drinks	Decide your alcohol plan together. Coffee can usually stay.	Keep alcohol occasional and low.	Keep alcohol occasional and low.
7–8: Sleep and movement	Agree on a steady bedtime. Take a walk after dinner.	Moderate movement most days.	Keep the testicles cool: skip hot tubs and saunas, and keep the laptop off his lap.
9–10: Stress and each other	Five minutes a day to settle together. One evening a week that isn't about IVF.	Notice what keeps you up at night and write it down.	Ask her what support looks like this week.
11–12: Keep it steady	No new rules. Keep what works and drop what doesn't.	Get your questions ready for the clinic's start appointment.	Keep ejaculating every 1–2 days, and follow the clinic's instructions for sample day.

What does the research say about each step?

Food. In 244 women having a first IVF cycle, those who ate in a more Mediterranean way had higher clinical pregnancy and live birth rates. The link was seen in women under 35, not in women 35 and older [6]. That's an association, not a guarantee, and the eating pattern is good for general health either way. More in what to eat before IVF.
Alcohol and coffee. More than about six drinks a week was linked to lower pregnancy and live birth rates; caffeine was not [4].
Heat. The sauna study was small and included only men with normal sperm, so it shows what regular heat can do, not what happens to everyone [5]. More in how to prepare for IVF as a man.
Stress. Short ways to settle help you sleep better and stay close. See stress before IVF: what helps.

What if you have less than 3 months?

Start anyway, with the easiest thing on the avoid list for your life. Every habit in this plan is good for your general health, and it's worth keeping whatever your timeline.

What the research can't tell you

That avoiding these things guarantees a result. These studies show links on average.
That a past cycle failed because of something either of you did. Most of what decides a cycle is outside your control.
Exactly which change matters most for you. That's why the plan builds a little at a time.

What we do with this

Pick your start date this week.
Start with the avoid list, one item at a time, in the order of the plan.
Give each of you a part. Half of every embryo is his, and both of you are preparing.
Keep the rest of life going. Walk into your next IVF cycle knowing you’ve both taken care of what’s in your control.

In my clinical experience, lifestyle changes help in two ways. Some show up in test results. The other shows up in the couple: they feel they're doing something real, together, to support the cycle.

The hard moments aren't on any list. They're the work dinner, the friend's birthday, the hotel with a hot tub. Pocket Coach gives each of you one small step a day for the 3 months. Its "I'm about to…" cards answer "can I have this?" or "is this OK?" in the moment. Try it free for 7 days: for her or for him. Preparing together? Pocket Coach Together is $249 for both of you.

Frequently asked questions

What should you avoid 3 months before IVF?

The main things are smoking and recreational drugs, more than about six drinks a week, and, for him, regular saunas and hot tubs. Also avoid starting new supplements without your clinic's review, and crash diets. Coffee, moderate exercise and a social life can stay.

What should men avoid before IVF?

Smoking, more than a few drinks a week, and regular heat to the testicles from saunas, hot tubs or a laptop on his lap. Sperm take about 74 days to develop, so the sperm used in your cycle are forming in the same 3 months. UK guidance says lifestyle advice should be given to both men and women.

Do I need to give up coffee before IVF?

Not usually. A meta-analysis of IVF and ICSI patients found no link between caffeine and outcomes in either partner. Your clinic may give its own advice.

Is 3 months enough time to prepare for IVF?

It's a good window, because the egg released in a cycle starts its final growth about 85 days before and sperm take about 74 days to develop. If you have less time, start anyway. These habits support your general health on any timeline.

Should I take supplements 3 months before IVF?

That's your clinician's call. Ask your clinic to review anything you take now, and to tell you whether they recommend anything for your situation. This plan focuses on the everyday habits you control.

References

Gougeon A. Dynamics of follicular growth in the human: a model from preliminary results. Human Reproduction. 1986;1(2):81–87. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3558758/
Heller CG, Clermont Y. Spermatogenesis in man: an estimate of its duration. Science. 1963;140(3563):184–186. https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.140.3563.184
National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Fertility problems, quality statement 1: lifestyle advice (QS73). https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/qs73/chapter/quality-statement-1-lifestyle-advice
Rao W, Li Y, Li N, et al. The association between caffeine and alcohol consumption and IVF/ICSI outcomes: a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis. Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica. 2022. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36259227/
Garolla A, Torino M, Sartini B, et al. Seminal and molecular evidence that sauna exposure affects human spermatogenesis. Human Reproduction. 2013;28(4):877–885. https://academic.oup.com/humrep/article/28/4/877/653255
Karayiannis D, Kontogianni MD, Mendorou C, et al. Adherence to the Mediterranean diet and IVF success rate among non-obese women attempting fertility. Human Reproduction. 2018;33(3):494–502. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29390148/
Gameiro S, Boivin J, Dancet E, et al. ESHRE guideline: routine psychosocial care in infertility and medically assisted reproduction — a guide for fertility staff. Human Reproduction. 2015;30(11):2476–2485. https://academic.oup.com/humrep/article/30/11/2476/2384614

This article is educational and reflects associations reported in the scientific literature. It is not medical advice, not a diagnosis, and not a way to interpret your own results. As a Doctor of Acupuncture I offer lifestyle guidance that works alongside your physician and fertility clinic — I do not diagnose, interpret labs, or prescribe. Your clinic may have its own protocol; follow it and raise any questions with your medical team.

About the author

Dr. Lejla Fazlicic, D.Ac, L.Ac is a Doctor of Acupuncture and Illinois-licensed acupuncturist with 15 years of fertility-focused practice, including two years at Pulling Down the Moon in Chicago. She works with both partners in the months before IVF on the daily-life factors that shape sperm development and final egg maturation. Work with Dr. Lejla

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