The GAPS Diet as outlined in the bestselling book by Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride MD is one of the most effective ways to heal and seal the gut wall in order to reverse a variety of autoimmune conditions. It is based on the 100-year-old, science-backed Specific Carbohydrate Diet.
Conditions resolved by GAPS include eczema, psoriasis, ADD/ADHD, autism, Celiac disease, allergies, asthma, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, IBS, obsessive-compulsive disorder, depression, anxiety, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, fibromyalgia, diabetes, cancer, and the list goes on. This book is a must-read for those who suffer from any sort of autoimmune disease, mild or severe.
Dr. Campbell-McBride says that, on average, it takes a child 6-18 months on the GAPS diet for the gut to heal, while an adult may take longer possibly up to three years.
While the good news is that the GAPS Diet is only a temporary diet to heal the gut, the bad news is that the diet is highly restrictive with the elimination of many foods that cannot be consumed until symptoms of autoimmune illness have completely subsided and the gut is sufficiently healed. These foods include:
- All grains and any food that contains them. This includes wheat, rye, rice, corn, oats, amaranth, Kamut, spelt, barley, millet, buckwheat, teff, triticale, bulgur, tapioca, quinoa, and any others.
- Starchy vegetables like white and sweet potatoes, parsnip, arrowroot, cassava, and taro. Even those that contain beneficial resistant starch must be avoided temporarily.
- Regular and soaked beans and legumes must also be avoided which includes pretty much all of them with the exception of green peas and navy beans.
- All sugars including the lactose in milk and cream must be avoided. Honey and very ripe fruit would be the only sweets allowed. Fermented dairy like yogurt and kefir as well as butter and store-bought or homemade ghee are permitted unless the GAPS condition is severe.
While many folks desperately want to heal their autoimmune illness using GAPS, the restrictive nature of the diet is off-putting, to say the least even if it must only be followed temporarily.
As a result, giving people the means to heal as quickly as possible while on GAPS is very important so that the diet can be used for as short a time as possible.
If you are already on GAPS or considering using it to put your autoimmune disease behind you for good, here are four techniques suggested by the clinic Biodynamic Wellness in San Diego to facilitate rapid healing. Â If using these methods reduces your time on GAPS by even 6 months, it will no doubt be well worth the effort!
Methods to Supercharge Gut Healing While on GAPS
Castor Oil Packs
The castor bean (Oleum ricini) is known principally for its laxative effects. A pack placed over the abdomen, usually with heat applied, allows the oil to be absorbed into the lymphatic circulation to provide a soothing, cleansing, and nutritive treatment.
The castor oil pack works well to speed the healing of many disorders specifically those involving the digestive system. It is not to be used during pregnancy, heavy menstrual flow or the presence of internal bleeding. This article contains detailed instructions on how to prepare and use a castor oil pack to speed healing and shorten your GAPS journey.
Okra Pepsin E3
Okra Pepsin E3 is a supplement that supports intestinal mucosal tissue, bowel function, and cleansing. Agricultural experts call okra a “powerhouse of nutrients” with much of its nutritive value found in soluble fiber gums and pectins which greatly promote gastrointestinal health. This supplement is particularly helpful for alternating periods of diarrhea and constipation which plague many people suffering from autoimmune illness.
Okra Pepsin E3 also promotes phagocytosis, the biological process which removes debris and harmful microorganisms from the body. Â In addition, immune function is stimulated and the mucilage from the okra coats and provides intestinal lubrication that acts as a cooling agent, easing gastrointestinal discomfort.
Fecal Transplants
This new technique which has gained popularity over the past few years has been clinically shown to be safe and 100% effective and is nothing short of astounding in helping children and adults regain normal digestive function very rapidly.
The effects of a clinic or DIY fecal transplant cannot be replicated with any other technique. It can best be described as “probiotic treatment on steroids”.  Some holistic doctors around the country are quietly performing the procedure for their patients, but the good news is that people can easily do it safely at home with a $10 enema bag. No insurance companies to haggle with and no expense/travel long distances to find a doctor who will do it for you.
Just be sure to select a healthy donor. According to Biodynamic Wellness, exclusively breastfed, vaginally delivered babies from Moms who follow the principles of Traditional Diet would be ideal donors along with an older sibling or adult with the same background.
Drainage Remedies
Drainage remedies like those from UNDA, Heel, Pekana, and Guna are also extremely helpful (and easy to administer) in healing the mucosal lining of the gut and respiratory tracts.
You can locate a classical homeopath in your area to prepare these remedies for you, or alternatively, you can contact Biodynamic Wellness who can make them for you as needed without the need for a long or expensive consultation. A brief health history including age, weight and gut condition over the phone (takes about 2 minutes) is necessary to prepare the remedies appropriately. This helps determine the ideal dosage.
These remedies can also be found online but it might be difficult to determine proper dosages.
More Information on the GAPS Diet
GAPS or Autoimmune Paleo for Healing the Gut
GAPS Diet: Heal Your Autoimmune Disease Now
Overwhelmed by the GAPS Diet? Â Help Has Arrived
The Five Most Common GAPS Diet Mistakes
GAPS Diet Heals Ulcerative Colitis
Hannah’s Story: 2 Years on GAPS Diet Heals Autism
Chronic Stomach Pain and Bloating Gone!
Is there any way to harm yourself my doing self home enemas for fecal transplants? I honestly am a bit scared to do it for myself, but if it will speed recovery then I think it is worth it. I am on month 1 of GAPS, so I have a long road ahead. Aren’t there any smaller companies that sell a safe product or is it all medical based with insurance involved? I honestly do not know a good source if I did do them myself.
Long beach, ca
Hey Laura! I live in Long Beach (CA) too and am in the same situation. Did you ever find a good local ft donor? Hoping to maybe try this myself. 🙂
Hi Sarah,
My mom and I found out yesterday that she has uterine cancer. Do you think the GAPS diet is a viable option for her, as well as the best option? She is coming to stay with me and I will follow the diet religiously if it will give her a good chance at recovery. There are so many cancer protocols out there, and it’s hard to figure out the best avenue to take. We are not going the poison, cut, burn route. Thanks for your help.
Cancer is autoimmune so of course GAPS might be helpful. However, GAPS takes time and sometimes people with cancer don’t have a lot of that to spare so a more aggressive holistic approach to arrest the cancer quickly may be in order. I would suggest Dr. Nicholas Gonzalez MD in New York or Dr. Tom Cowan MD in San Francisco. Both will do remote consultations I believe .. you just have to send in your medical records for them to review. Both of them will be at the Atlanta WAPF Conference next month by the way speaking on curing the incurable. My best to your mother for a full recovery.
I see that fecal transplants are getting more and more attention recently. In homeopathy we use a group of remedies called “bowel nosodes” that are made from gut bacteria. Because they are prepared in a homeopathic pharmacy, they are no longer contagious and are safe to use, just like any homeopathic remedy – they serve as a catalyst for the body to heal itself, like turning a key in the ignition. The bacteria are not alive and the remedy contains mere nano-doses of the original substance.
The bowel nosodes are very effective in treating gut disorders including food allergies and behavioral problems including Autism. They can also be used for infectious diseases, including something as serious as MRSA. In my practice I find that a nutrient-dense diet and homeopathy go hand in hand. A well applied homeopathic remedy or series of remedies can help speed the healing process when supported by the diet, be it GAPS or basic WAPF-type, etc.
Deborah – you beat me to it! Every time I see the fecal transplant mentioned I think of the bowel nosodes!
I agree with the tenets of the GAPS diet. Your colon requires three main things in order to work properly: a healthy diet (free from irritating foods), periodic cleanses, and periodic infusions of good bacteria (probiotics). Ideally you will commit to all three of these elements. Giving your body good bacteria could be as simple as taking a probiotic pill, but even a high quality probiotic pill will do little good if your colon is clogged up and you continue to eat bad bacteria and toxins. A diet that includes fermented foods, like those often recommended by Sarah, is advised.
To get immediate relief from irritable bowel syndrome symptoms I recommend that you get your hands on some slippery elm bark (ulmus fulva). I used to have IBS, and whenever I got cramps or nausea I would take two capsules of slippery elm bark and my symptoms would subside within 15 minutes. Slippery elm is an extremely safe herb, and it has a mucilaginous effect on the linings of the stomach and intestines (that’s a good thing). Slippery elm coats and protects mucous membranes such as those found in the gastrointestinal tract. Slippery elm bark has been shown to effectively soothe inflamed or irritated stomach and intestinal wall linings. Slippery elm bark is most effective between meals or at least twenty minutes after eating. The cure for IBS (and IBD) is detailed in my book, but this supplies some fast, temporary relief.
Another supplement to pick up to start healing your gut is some L-glutamine powder. L-glutamine has been proven to help repair damaged intestines. In fact, L-glutamine is perhaps the most important nutrient for the integrity of your intestinal walls and serves as an energy source for your immune system. I suggest using a pure L-glutamine powder, but capsules are also okay. Take 2,000mg (2 grams) two or three times a day on a truly empty stomach. Before you go to sleep is a good time to take L-glutamine if you don’t eat immediately before sleeping. It’s a good idea to not eat right before sleeping anyway, because it gives your digestive tract more time to rest and heal each night.
If you’re suffering from heartburn or gastro esophageal reflux disease (GERD), drink one ounce of organic Aloe Vera juice (made from inner filet) in-between meals and take a digestive enzyme supplement right before meals. Aloe Vera can sooth the symptoms of irritated bowels and helps to keep your digestive system healthy. It neutralizes stomach acid naturally, so it’s a wonderful remedy to use instead of commercial antacids that often contain ingredients that I wouldn’t want in my body. A good digestive enzyme supplement contains the enzymes protease to digest protein, amylase to digest carbohydrates, and lipase to digest fats. These enzymes can make it a lot easier for your body to break food down and they help give your pancreas a rest. By breaking down food into smaller pieces it is easier for your intestines to handle the food, and makes it easier for your body to deliver nutrients from the food into your bloodstream. Your pancreas can only make a limited amount of enzymes, and if you have been eating anything other than raw food (and who hasn’t right!?) your pancreas has been working hard to produce enzymes to digest those foods. Heartburn is a common symptom of enzyme deficiency because without the enzymatic catalyst for the digestive reaction to take place, virtually all your body can do is throw more hydrochloric acid (HCL or stomach acid) at the food in your stomach.
If you’re constipated you should increase your magnesium and/or vitamin C intake because magnesium draws water to your bowels and larger doses of vitamin C has a laxative effect.
Namaste,
Joel Blanchard
Hi joel.
i was wondering if you suggest a certain brand of l glutamine. thanks
On the Gaps diet list aloe vera is classifed as Illegal. Can you explain why? and when it would be ok to add to the diet? There is so much information that states it is good for IBD and many other aliments but yet it is illegal on the diet.
Am just into my 2nd year on GAPS and am recovering nicely. I occasionally cheat with gluten free things which have rice and/or tapioca etc. Have eaten the occasional organic corn or potato chip. Kombucha is fine to a point, too much isn’t good. Before gaps I was 30-40lbs overweight and had severe vertigo, fog brain, inflammation everywhere and chronic migraine. At 57 I’m much improved but sticking with diet for the most part. I’ve not heard of any of the therapies listed but may consider them.
Thanks Sarah for an informative post.
The Okra doesn’t appear to be gluten free. And it is manufactured in a facility that processes wheat. Have you heard from anybody taking this if they’ve had problems with cross contamination?
Hi Steve, the okra remedy is used by GAPS Certified Practitioners at Biodynamic Wellness who have not apprised me of any issues with regard to using it with their patients.
ADD/ADHD is considered an auto immune disease?? I’m just doing some research on it now as I believe my 8 year old may have a minor issue with it. I refuse to medicate and have been looking I to dietary possibilities. But the GAP diet is pretty restrictive. I’m not sure what to think, but never considered it in the same category…?
Yes it is. Many things that folks think are just genetic are in fact fixable with diet change and healing/sealing the gut.
Autoimmune diseases are caused by your immune system attacking its own cells. If ADD was autoimmune there would be evidence of increased immune cell activity/ inflammation. I have not come across any studies that support this claim that ADD is autoimmune. Could you link references to articles that support this claim you are making?
From what I have read, diet will help everything. I don’t think that focusing on a good diet and using medication have to be mutually exclusive. Each case to their own, some may benefit entirely from dietary change but others, further along the spectrum, appear to need the added help of medication.
You are completely insane claiming that ADHD/ADD is an autoimmune disease. Considering the fact that I have lived with the diagnosis since third grade, and that it continues to plague me in my adult life, I think I would know. My parents tried all sorts of alternative therapies, but the only thing they did was give me a rash or make me smell like fish for the rest of the day; I was still on the verge of failing my classes. I haven’t had to deal with organs shutting down (like lupus) or my joints becoming arthritic (like rheumatoid arthritis) or my body attacking it’s own healthy tissue, which is the DEFINITION of an autoimmune disease! And autism, really? Clearly you have not read any current research about it. They found genetic markers in the human genome (scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&q=autism+genetic+marker&btnG=&as_sdt=1%2C13&as_sdtp=)!
In fact, 90% of the things you listed are not autoimmune diseases! Do your research from actual medical journals, or at least cite your sources so your readers can get a truly infomed opinion. Using information without telling us where you got it from is a terrible practice, and I am surprised anyone would think you are credible.
Finally, thanks so much for perpetuating the stigma that people with the listed conditions have to face every day. Because of these kinds of articles, where any research you HAVE done is taken horribly out of context, people are misguided and don’t get the proper treatments. ADHD is not curable. Autism is not curable. They are treatable, absolutely, but not with what you have suggested. If my parents had followed your advice, I would have been labeled “stupid” for flunking out of school. Instead, I’m set to graduate from a good school with a degree in psychology, and minors in biology, computer science, and statistics.
Please note the book link above where ADHD/ADD is listed as an autoimmune condition that is fixable with the GAPS Diet. It is caused by toxins from undigested food leaking into the bloodstream due to compromised gut wall. This is described by Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride MD and is backed up with the scientific evidence she presents in her book.
Direct quote from McBride: ‘We live in the world of unfolding epidemics. Autistic Spectrum Disorders, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD/ADD), schizophrenia, dyslexia, dyspraxia, depression, obsessive —compulsive disorder, bi-polar disorder and OTHER NEURO-PSYCHOLOGICAL AND PSYCHIATRIC PROBLEMS in children and young adults are becoming more and more common.’
She acknowledges the diseases you listed as neuro- psychological and psychiatric problems. They are not autoimmune, where did you get that information from? When you sell yourself as a health guru that many vulnerable peope will listen to you need to get your facts right. An autoimmune disease physically breaks your body down, what if someone got this information and tried this diet in lieu of their medication for an actual autoimmune disease?
Please read the book … ADD/ADHD are indeed neurological but they are also autoimmune in nature and can be healed by healing/sealing the gut. I have met Dr. Campbell-McBride MD myself and have listened to her lecture for hours on end so I am quite familiar with her approach to healing ADD/ADHD.
I’m not really replying. I don’t know how to enter the blog to ask a question. I have MTHFR 1298 and Dr. Ben Lynch says where to start is healing the gut and mine is in sad shape. I won’t list all my issues, but in trying the low inflammatory diets when I get off all grains I loose weight like crazy and I’m super thin to start with. After trying the Gerson diet I went from 112 pounds down to 98 lbs. I managed to get back up to 106, but that was with bringing back in real sour dough bread (helps with the gluten dairy pain), grains and a few beans. When I tried the grain brain diet I went shooting back down to 99 lbs, so I added some grains back in. I take digestive enzymes rotating between all different kinds. I can’t do the turmeric or ginger supplements because they tear my stomach up. Any suggestions. Practitioners never address issues with sick underweight folks. Any thing you can tell me or a direction you could point me in would be wonderful. I’m 58, and have been struggling for years. I don’t have much of a life. (I also have nasty insomnia- just had to say as it’s my worst nightmare.)
Sarah is correct.Dr. Mcbride has a very different approach to autism/adhd and other psychological issues.You would need to thoroughly study her point of veiw before writing it off and I would warn you from the latter, especially if you are going to be dealing with anyone with any of these issues.
Rachel,
“ADD/ADHD is considered an auto immune disease??” This is not a widely held belief by people/doctors who perscribe “medication” for all who suffer from ADD/ADHD.
“I’m not sure what to think, but never considered it in the same category…?” I completely understand I was in the exact same category of thinking with my own issues.
Do your own research. There are many different forms of treating “diseases” and the more time I spent reading books the more informed I became. For good book sources look back on Sarah’s previous posts. Sarah’s beliefs are much different than many people out there, but I found them to be more accurate and her research, suggestions and posts were much more helpful, accurate and non-biased than MOST sources.
Good Luck and trust in your own knowledge and experience most of all.
Thank you. I’ve recently read some articles about France and how they deal with a very low incidence of ADHD, and it’s through diet. I’m definitely going that way. Just trying to figure out how to change our diet, stay within our budget and use our large food supply if wheat, grains, beans etc that probably isn’t non-GMO as I didn’t know anything about that before. Frustrating when you invest time and money into doing what you think is right for your family, only to discover otherwise.
Yes it can be a little frustrating. I felt it at the beginning and also very overwhelemed from the large learning curve.
There is learning and effort needed, and sometimes pain from “healing crisis”, but the result after is worth it to me. I have found that once you get further into it the cost is not that prohibitive.
Again check out what Sarah has done for you. Her blogs have done A LOT of the work for you. She has given everyone many resources and tricks to prioritize time, effort and costs.
Take Care
Hi, Rachel,
David is correct that ADHD is not an autoimmune disease. As someone who has dealt with this since the third grade, trust me, diet alone isn’t going to do it. My parents tried that to no avail, along with countless other alternative therapies.. I spent one year on Ritalin, but it stopped working, so I was taken off of medication until my senior year in high school. During second semester, my therapist had me see a nurse practitioner, who put me on a time-released medication. My GPA in high school jumped a full two points after they put me on medication. Before that, I had failed three of my classes and had to do them over in summer school in order to graduate. I’m not insisting you medicate, it’s not my place to tell you how to raise your children, just asking that you think about it. It really has made a world of difference for me.
There is actually an interesting hypothesis running around lately that suggests the reason we have such a high prevalence in the US as compared to other countries is because all the restless, need-to-get-up-and-go people immigrated to the US. I haven’t looked for any research to support this, but it’s something I have heard more than one of my professors mention.
Additionally, just a thought. It might be a good idea to get your child checked out by a doctor, as some of the symptoms of ADHD can manifest in other things, as well.
Good luck, and I wish you guys the best.
I cured my 6 yr old of ADHD following a strict version Weston Price diet and using Biokult probiotics. She didn’t go off of grains, but did go off of all sugar for awhile and used only honey as a sweetener for 6 months. By strict, I mean she had bone broth either in food or with a meal twice a day and Great Lakes gelatin added to a smoothie or soaked oatmeal for breakfast. She got Epsom salt/baking soda detox baths up to twice a day for the first few months when the die-off was the worst. We also had a biomeridian body scan done and used the homeopathic drops to expedite the process. She was also extremely low in magnesium from fluoride in our water. We have since bought a Berkey filter and spray her w/homemade magnesium oil a few times a day.
Probiotics are a must (start low and slow), get pastured meats, raw dairy, learn how to make perpetual broth. Small amounts of green tea sweetened w/honey (she liked hers iced) and kombucha greatly helped w/die off as did lemon juice.
It can be cured!!! She has a great attention span now and her accompanying oppositional defiance disorder is gone as well. We can now easily homeschool and she reads on a 2nd grade level.
Don’t listen to those who say otherwise. My child is living proof.
I followed the same regimen with her and was able to get my gut in shape after a high dose of antibiotics following a csection earlier this year. I feel better than I have since I was a teenager.
Hi Rebekah, can you please elaborate more on the diet. I find GAPS very,very strict and can not apply it to my child. Thank you. Tina
I followed Weston Price/Nourishing Traditions principles exactly, but went a few steps further: no sweeteners but honey, no wheat, only white rice not brown. She had copious amounts of broth and gelatin. She had a few pastured egg yolks a day. I juiced for her (a carrot, stalk of celery, an apple) with a few tablespoons of beet kvass stirred in. I upped her antioxidants to allow her cells to purge themselves of junk: fermented cod liver oil, arcerola vitamin c (30 mg), tons of Kerrygold butter, plenty of saturated fat as it works as an antioxidant. I also got her daily sun exposure and gave her a few vitamin D drops during days on end of cloudiness. Of course she also had small amounts of kombucha, saurkraut and sometimes kefir.
After a few months of this, I took her in for a biomeridian body scan. She had NO Candida albicans left, but some other funguses, parasites, viruses. The test showed she was in the midst of heavy detoxification. She had gut dysbiosis, but not leaky gut. She was low in good gut bacteria.
During this time I installed chlorine filters in our showers and a chlorine ball for the tub. I began making my own toothpaste and only used Dr Bronners baby soap on her and vinegar and organic vinegar diluted with water for her hair conditioner. I’ve never used toxic cleaning products like commercial laundry detergent or dryer sheets, etc.
We stayed dedicated to only eating at home, purchasing pastured animal products, raw dairy and organic produce. I also sprayed her with homemade magnesium oil a few times a day as the test showed she was really low, probably due to fluoride in our water. That alone can cause ADHD.
After much healing, I bought Einkorn wheat to soak or sprout and she handled it perfectly. Before when she had wheat, she made life miserable. She now handles sprouted spelt okay. She also now handles unrefined, organic sweeteners just fine.
Before doing this protocol, she had perfect bowel habits, but still had ADHD and oppositional defiance disorder.
I will say that if leaky gut is present, GAPS should be followed. It would be annoying, but it doesn’t last forever. I’m thinking of doing it for myself every spring for about 6 weeks just bc our world is so toxic and Roundup is sprayed everywhere.
Very encouraging and inspiring story…thank you for sharing. I am a true believer that the body can heal itself of anything!!
I would love to know what homeopathic drops you used.
We are doing the gaps diet …my son (6) who isn’t diagnosed ADHD, but has had many issues in school, put at a separate table, many notes and calls, described as not a bad kid, but as impulsive, having little self control, disruptive, hyper, lots of energy is another we have heard…..since doing the diet mid January BIG changes:). This semester no behavior checks, back at regular table, his teachers commented, other teachers have commented, and my husband is now fully on board with my food journey…highly recommend! Btw his taste buds have totally changed, it was super had at first(major detox, sick) but now we are smooth sailing. The boy requested that delicious salad and loves avocados with breakfast…so very different than 3 months ago, it is worth fighting through the hard stuff!
PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE pay attention.
I have tried what you have suggested, but was too sick to stick with it. The pain was so much that I couldn’t take it anymore.
THE ONLY THING THAT WORKED WAS OZONE. It is more effective than the fecal transplant and much, much safer.
I have been doing 6 rectal insufflation/day for the last 45 days and the mucous is still coming out. I am not a fan of “Mr Oxygen”, I would not buy any machines or supplements from him. He is by no means perfect, BUT he is a decent enough source to start your research into this life saving knowledge.
I am by no means an expert. I am an accountant not a doctor, but I can tell you that if it wasn’t for ozone I would not be alive today at the age of 34.
Good luck to everyone
P.S. The second most effective modality/treatment I have tried has been kombucha. Combine kombucha and ozone and you will win.
Kombucha is actually not recommended on the GAPS Diet.
I know I was going by what my body and what came out of it told me. I will believe what my experience and eyes see more than what a stranger tells me.
If kombucha doesn’t work for you then don’t use it. If it does (like me) then use it. Again I am just writing about me.
Sarah, a personal thank you for your hard work and what you are giving society with your efforts. I personally hold you in high esteem.
Kombucha is allowed on the full gaps diet, after you have completed intro and some healing has taken place. (you can verify this if you search for kombucha in the faqs on gaps.me)
Did you do a special diet with the ozone? My autistic son is currently doing ozone but his diet is horrible.
I am very interested in trying that castor pack recommendation. Thanks for including the link to detailed instructions! I may well look further into a couple of others from this list.
I am, however, too leery of the okra derived supplement. I’m just going back to intro with my GAPS journey as soon as I’m done with the water fast that I am currently doing and I know (and confirmed by looking it up again) that okra is on the “foods to avoid” list in my copy of Gut and Psychology Syndrome. It is a mucilaginous food. There may be some explanation of why some GAPS followers have been recommending that lately but I’m going to avoid it as a whole food and as a supplement for now and probably for the next few years.
Note that the staff at Biodynamic Wellness are GAPS Certified Practitioners.
I did not know that. Thanks, Sarah. 🙂
Can you do castor oil packs in the follicular phase of an IVF cycle?
I don’t think it’s a good idea, but consult with your doctor to be sure.
Dr is not going to know the answer to that
If you are concerned about your health in total please consider checking out Creighton Fertility Care. It has a higher success rate than IVF and is not harmful to the body. IVF will cause more gut problems as well as other hormonal issues. I fully understand the desire for having a bay but please consider this as an alternative to IVF. It is proven, safe and MUCH more successful but not as well known because it does not bring the big bucks IVF does.