Some men put on medical scrubs when they join their partners for an embryo transfer. My husband? He opted for a clown costume. Not literally, but I’ll never forget the moment he surprised me with novelty glasses and a clown wig right after my very first embryo transfer. We had come across a study in Fertility and Sterility suggesting that laughter at that moment could boost pregnancy odds, so he decided to throw in a comedic twist.
Although that IVF cycle didn’t succeed, I appreciated his effort—and honestly, we were willing to try just about anything to get that sought-after BFP (short for "big fat positive"). I certainly did, from gulping down bone broth to getting vitamin D shots and munching on Brazil nuts every day.
And I’m far from alone: secret Facebook groups and online forums are packed with women swapping advice on how to improve their IVF success rates. Some tips are grounded in medical evidence, while others are essentially old wives’ tales—but a handful have become almost rituals during IVF, widely shared and discussed in infertility communities.
So, which of these common "myths" are purely fiction, and which might actually be worth trying? I consulted Dr. Rudy Quintero from CARE Fertility to get the facts.
IVF Myths Debunked: What’s True and What’s Not
IVF Myth #1: Eating Pineapple Core for Five Days After Embryo Transfer Can Boost Conception Odds
Pineapple is already thought to trigger labor, but can it help with pregnancy itself? According to Quintero, the five-day pineapple core routine is "one of the most popular myths" he encounters among his IVF patients. While he acknowledges there’s "a lot of anecdotal evidence" supporting pineapple’s benefits, he notes that scientific data is scarce.
So why all the hype around pineapple? The fruit contains bromelain, an enzyme with anti-inflammatory, anticoagulant, and blood-thinning effects. (Most bromelain is in the core, which is why people slice it into five pieces and eat that part.) Some fertility doctors prescribe low-dose baby aspirin—also a blood thinner—to enhance uterine blood flow, so the idea is that pineapple might mimic that effect.
"If you’re spending tens of thousands on IVF and want to try something with at least some supporting data, baby aspirin is probably a better choice," says Quintero. "Eating pineapple core is fine, but it won’t make or break your outcome."
IVF Myth #2: You Must Wear Warm Socks During the Two-Week Wait
A key principle in Chinese medicine is that a "cold" uterus—meaning one with poor blood flow and circulation—can contribute to infertility. While many people turn to acupuncture and herbal remedies to address this, some women also take the precaution of wearing warm socks throughout an IVF cycle to prevent heat loss from the body.
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Do warm feet actually mean a warm uterus? Not really, says Quintero. "Your core temperature remains fairly stable, and that’s where your embryo is [inside the body]. Even if you feel cold, your core is likely at a normal temperature." That said, wearing socks certainly can’t hurt—especially if they’re a cute pair of IVF good-luck socks.
IVF Myth #3: Drinking Pomegranate Juice Can Thicken Your Uterine Lining
Achieving that ideal 8-millimeter-plus lining is the ultimate goal in IVF, but can pomegranate juice help you get from point A to point B(aby)? Many women swear by drinking it for the first 13 days of their cycle, but according to Quintero, the medical community "knows very little about uterine lining and what makes it truly thick outside of the normal estrogen a person produces. In discussions with my colleagues, very few of us have recommended pomegranate juice [for preparing the body for pregnancy]."
IVF Myth #4: Eating Brazil Nuts During the Two-Week Wait Can Lead to a Healthy Pregnancy
Brazil nuts aren’t just delicious—they’re also rich in selenium. A study published in the journal Metallomics found that selenium helps promote healthy egg follicles in female cows, and the same study revealed that levels of GPX-1 (a protein linked to selenium) were significantly higher in women who became pregnant after a single embryo transfer.
So it’s easy to see why Brazil nuts have gained a reputation in IVF circles as a go-to food, but Quintero advises eating them "in moderation." Too much selenium can be toxic, so it’s important to stay within a safe range. The recommended daily allowance for women aged 19 to 50 is 55 micrograms, with the maximum safe amount being 400 micrograms per day. Translation? One or two Brazil nuts—which typically contain 68 to 90 micrograms each—per day should be more than enough.
IVF Myth #5: Eating McDonald’s Fries After an Embryo Transfer Boosts Your Chances of a BFP
Could fast food be a quick fix for infertility? If only it were that straightforward—Quintero says there’s absolutely no basis for this widely held IVF superstition.
The myth might stem from the fact that some doctors recommend salty foods to prevent ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome after egg retrieval, but it has somehow evolved into a popular post-transfer ritual. So should you bother? "It’s just an old wives’ tale, but this can be a highly stressful procedure, so go ahead and eat comfort food if it makes you feel better," says Quintero.
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On a broader level, Quintero suggests that women going through IVF apply the same logic to all the myths above. "I’m not one to discourage patients from trying something if it’s harmless and not overly expensive. Whatever can make the journey feel less stressful and more manageable, I’m all for that."
So go ahead—stock up on Brazil nuts and pineapple, cozy up in those socks, sip pomegranate juice, and yes, say "I’m loving it" to those greasy fries.
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