A Fertility Doctor Debunks 5 Trending TikTok IVF Hacks
From eating McDonald’s fries and pineapple core to wearing warm socks and drinking pomegranate juice, TikTok is full of rituals claiming to improve implantation after an embryo transfer. But can any of them actually make a difference?
Dr Radha Venkatakrishnan, consultant gynaecologist and a specialist in reproductive medicine and surgery at CREATE Fertility, has shared his expertise with Belle and our readers, debunking five viral IVF trends and explaining what the evidence really says.
1. You don’t need to eat McDonald’s fries after an embryo transfer
“There is no evidence that eating McDonald’s fries after an embryo transfer improves implantation or helps an embryo stick.
“If fries have become part of someone’s IVF ritual, they can enjoy them without feeling guilty. They should simply be seen as comfort food, not fertility treatment.”
2. Eating pineapple core does not help an embryo implant
“Pineapple is a nutritious fruit, but, unfortunately, there is no clinical evidence that eating its core after an embryo transfer makes the womb more receptive or increases the chance of pregnancy.
“Bromelain has been studied in laboratory settings for its potential anti-inflammatory effects and possible influence on blood clotting. However, that does not mean eating pineapple will produce the same effects in the uterus or help an embryo implant. We simply do not have robust human trials showing that it improves IVF pregnancy or live-birth rates.”
3. Warm socks don’t equal a warm womb!
“Warm socks might make you feel cosy and relaxed, but, unfortunately, they cannot change the temperature of your uterus or improve blood flow to the womb.
“Your body is already very good at regulating your core temperature. Cold feet do not mean you have a cold uterus, and warming them will not make the womb more receptive to an embryo.”
4. Eating tomatoes will not improve egg quality
“Tomatoes are a healthy addition to the diet and provide lycopene, vitamin C and other useful nutrients, but there is no evidence that eating more tomatoes during an IVF cycle directly improves egg quality or implantation.
“Egg quality is strongly influenced by age and underlying biology. It develops over time and cannot be transformed by introducing one particular food shortly before egg collection or embryo transfer.”
5. You don’t need pomegranate juice or fertility cocktails to boost implantation
“Pomegranate juice and beetroot-based ‘fertility cocktails’ are often promoted as ways to increase blood flow to the uterus and support implantation, but neither has been proven to improve IVF success.
“There are biologically interesting theories behind these ingredients. Beetroot contains nitrates, which the body can convert into nitric oxide to help widen blood vessels, while pomegranate is rich in antioxidants. However, that does not mean drinking them directs extra blood to the uterus or increases implantation rates.”
Dr Venkatakrishnan says TikTok trends and advice can add unnecessary pressure at an already stressful time. He says: “If treatment is unsuccessful, patients may blame themselves for skipping the pineapple, having cold feet or eating the wrong meal. However, these choices do not determine whether an embryo implants.
“Some products can interact with fertility medication or may not be suitable during treatment, so always check with your clinic first.
“If fries, pineapple or warm socks make transfer day feel easier, enjoy them. Just remember that no single food or ritual can guarantee implantation, and always speak to your fertility team before making significant diet or lifestyle changes.”
