Going through IVF treatment is not cheap and it's not easy. However, it is all worth it if you become pregnant and are able to grow your family. There are no guarantees with IVF, and not everyone who tries it will be successful. However, there are a few things that you can do to increase your chances of success.

Get your vitamin D levels up.

Studies suggest that women who have adequate vitamin D levels are more likely to successfully become pregnant via IVF. A few months before you plan to undergo IVF, have your vitamin D levels tested. If your levels are low, then take supplements and spend more time in the sunshine to try to raise your vitamin D levels. It's really common for women to have low vitamin D, especially in areas where winter means staying inside and away from the sun, but thankfully, this is also an easy issue to correct.

Take steps to reduce your stress levels.

Stress affects your hormone levels and can make it more difficult to become pregnant, both with and without the assistance of IVF. A few months before your treatment, start taking steps to reduce your stress levels. Enroll in a yoga class, take up meditation, start hiking, or find some other activity that makes you feel relaxed and rejuvenated. If stress is really eating you up, you may even want to talk to a therapist who can help you discover better ways to deal in a mental sense.

Lose weight if you are overweight or obese.

Being overweight can affect your hormone levels. Fat tissue actually produces estrogen. If you are overweight or obese, losing some weight prior to IVF can increase your chances of becoming pregnant. Make sure you lose weight in a healthy manner via diet and exercise. Steer clear of crash diets that have you consuming less than 1,200 calories per day, and avoid weight loss pills, which are often laden with caffeine that may actually make it harder for you to conceive.

Don't smoke.

If you are not a smoker, then great—you're in the clear. But if you do smoke, you need to quit prior to IVF. Smoking really reduces your chances of conception pretty drastically. If you struggle to quit, attending support group classes or visiting a hypnotherapist can really help.

IVF has helped numerous parents grow their families, but it is not 100% successful. Keep this in mind as you follow the tips above.