"This year's Tet brings much hope for my husband and me after five years of trying to have a child," Minh shared after her doctor confirmed her ultrasound results, congratulating her: "You are pregnant!" The successful conclusion to her five-year infertility treatment journey brought Minh to tears of joy.

Minh experienced infertility due to diminished ovarian reserve and endometriosis. In 2022, she underwent in vitro fertilization (IVF) at another hospital, with three consecutive embryo transfers failing.

The couple then sought treatment at the Center for Reproductive Assistance, Tam Anh General Hospital Hanoi (IVF Tam Anh). During her first IVF cycle there, the number of retrieved eggs was low, and the quality of the cultured embryos did not meet the standards for uterine transfer. Master, Doctor Nguyen Le Thuy explained that this situation is common in older women with endometriosis, as both egg quantity and quality decline.

Instead of continuing with ovarian stimulation for Minh, doctors focused on adjusting factors to improve the success rate of her next IVF cycle. Minh adopted lifestyle changes, including a balanced diet rich in protein, unsaturated fatty acids, vitamins, and antioxidant micronutrients. She also lost weight, avoided staying up late, and reduced work pressure and psychological stress.

In the second IVF cycle, the treatment strategy was adjusted to separate the embryo creation and embryo transfer processes. After ovarian stimulation and egg retrieval, quality embryos were cultured to day 5 and cryopreserved using vitrification. During this time, doctors monitored and prepared Minh's uterine lining with an individualized hormonal protocol to achieve the optimal thickness and structure for embryo implantation. Doctors also monitored immune factors, blood clotting, and potential underlying inflammation, which can cause recurrent implantation failure.

In early 2026, Minh received a transfer of one high-quality thawed day 5 embryo into her uterus. Two weeks later, a pregnancy test confirmed the pregnancy. "This Tet, my husband and I no longer have to avoid relatives' questions about children," Minh said.

A doctor performing egg retrieval for in vitro fertilization for a woman undergoing infertility treatment. *Photo: IVF Tam Anh*.

At Tam Anh Hospital, demand for infertility treatment often increases sharply in Q4 and before the Tet holiday, as many couples hope for good news at the start of the new year. According to Doctor Thuy, this motivates patients to adhere to treatment and make positive lifestyle changes, but it also creates time pressure. Prolonged stress can affect the reproductive endocrine axis, leading to ovulation disorders, reduced sperm quality, and compromised embryo implantation capability.

Doctor Thuy advises infertile couples to prepare their reproductive health early, undergo pre-marital check-ups, manage weight, get enough sleep, and maintain a stable mental state. At IVF Tam Anh, patients receive psychological counseling as part of their treatment protocol, helping to stabilize their mental well-being throughout the assisted reproductive intervention process.

"Tet should be the starting point for a well-planned reproductive journey, not the deadline for becoming parents," Doctor Thuy said.

Thanh Ba