Embryo Transfer In IVF: What Are the Symptoms After Embryo Transfer?

In-vitro fertilization or IVF is an extremely exciting but equally exhaustive procedure. You have to be in pristine health before, during, and after the procedure. You also have the constant anxiety to double the fidgeting.

Embryo transfer brings on a whole new barrage of feelings. The two-week waiting period after the embryo transfer to assess if it results in a positive pregnancy test is an experience no one wants to wait through.

But, as everyone says, every good thing takes time to process. So, waiting after your embryo transfer is, in a way, waiting for some good news on the flip side. However, those two weeks of wait aren’t as uneventful as you think.

Our bodies are extraordinarily programmed and surprisingly magical. So, there are some positive signs of a successful embryo transfer in IVF.

Also Read: https://pregajunction.com/blog/embryo-transfer-ivf-signs-symptoms/

What are some Positive Signs of a Successful Embryo Transfer?

When we talk about the symptoms after embryo transfer, everyone is inciting the positive ones. But, on the other hand, no one wants to experience the painful or life-threatening symptoms that indicate a failed implantation and, in turn, a failed IVF cycle.

So, what kind of positive signs after embryo transfer should you look out for?

We have listed a few important ones in this article.

1. Bleeding or Spotting

Although bleeding during your pregnancy term can be a scare, it is also a possible sign of pregnancy. Once the embryo transfer is successful, your fertility specialist will ask you to watch for bleeding or spotting in your underwear.

It is known as Implantation bleeding, which indicates that the transferred embryo has successfully implanted into the uterine lining – hence a successful conception.

Bleeding a week after the embryo transfer is usually a sign of success. However, it shouldn’t be treated as solid evidence for pregnancy.

Sometimes, bleeding or spotting could be a consequence of the progesterone medications you are taking throughout your IVF cycle. Some women even tread the concept of bleeding or spotting as a bad omen, so we’d suggest you consider the other symptoms before you reach conclusions.

2. Abdominal Cramps or Pelvic Pain

Another positive sign of a successful embryo transfer and implantation is consistent abdominal cramps or pelvic pain.

However, like bleeding or spotting, the cramps and pain could be a side-effect of the synthetic hormones that you are on.

So, we’d always recommend that you discuss the possibility of this happening with your doctor to get a better idea about the situation.

3. Soreness and Tenderness in the Breasts

During pregnancy, the breasts of a woman undergo a lot of changes. And one of the most common ones is potent soreness and tenderness in the breasts.

So, once your embryo transfer is done, we’d recommend pressing down on your breasts to check for pain and tenderness. If you notice sensitivity while touching them, it could signify positive embryo transfer.

The primary reason pregnant women experience soreness in the breasts is the influx of pregnancy hormones. So, it can be treated as an early sign of pregnancy.

4. Chronic Fatigue and Tiredness

When undergoing such a physically taxing procedure as an IVF, it is very common to feel tired constantly. But, once the embryo transfer is done and you are in the two-week window waiting to take a pregnancy test, lookout for signs of chronic fatigue.

Stay vigilant of your symptoms and see if you feel detached and a sudden unwillingness to do anything around you. The sudden bout of tiredness could be due to pregnancy hormones and is a positive symptom.

However, doctors also clarify that the fatigue could be due to fertility medications and synthetic hormones. Despite the reasons, getting enough rest and time for yourself during those two weeks is crucial for your health.

5. Nausea and Vomiting

Before you say, “Oh! It might be the morning sickness setting in.”

It could or it couldn’t.

Morning sickness is one of the most common and early symptoms of pregnancy. However, it sets in during the 2-month mark.

So, experiencing nausea during the two-week wait after an embryo transfer is highly unlikely. But, if you struggle with nausea and have a hard time keeping food down, we recommend that you talk to your fertility specialist immediately to get your progress checked out.

6. Frequent Urination

The sudden urge to pee is a pregnancy symptom. It is one of the earliest signs of pregnancy. However, you need to look out for possible symptoms after your embryo transfer.

Ideally, the high frequency of urination is often due to the pregnancy hormones and the sudden rise of it in the bloodstream of the pregnant woman.

Hormones like hCG and progesterone both contribute to the issue. Sometimes, if your embryo transfer was successful, the extra blood levels in the body can also contribute to the heightened urge to pee.

While this is all good and safe, we’d recommend that you look out for any unsafe symptoms like painful urination, bleeding during urination, etc. These symptoms can be a buzzkill and need immediate medical attention.

7. Bloating

Do you notice a sudden tightness and fuller stomach appearance after your embryo transfer? Well, no, you haven’t suddenly gained weight around your abdomen. Instead, it is likely due to bloating.

Bloating is a very common issue during pre-natal stages in a woman. This is because most of the hormonal and body changes after embryo transfer, especially with the rise in progesterone levels, slow down digestive functions.

So, when you are eating and your food isn’t getting digested properly, it can lead to feelings of bloating. However, we’d recommend not treating bloating as a “sure” sign of a successful embryo transfer because synthetic fertility drugs could contribute.

8. Vaginal Discharge

Another ideal sign that your embryo transfer was successful is by looking into your vaginal discharge. Changes to the discharge’s consistency, appearance, and thickness could indicate your embryo implantation.

A white, clear, and slight odor vaginal discharge indicates successful embryo implantation and suggests that you are pregnant.

However, look out for associated symptoms like itching or burning with the vaginal discharge. If that happens, it could indicate a yeast infection that needs immediate treatment.

9. When you Miss your Periods

With all these symptoms and the hit or miss situations, the last and most important symptoms are when you miss your periods.

Once you get the embryo transfer done, your one symptom to look out for is a missed period.

If you have a regular menstrual cycle, you might want to look out for your ideal date of the cycle and see if you missed it. In case you do miss your period, we’d recommend taking a pregnancy test to check if you are pregnant or not.

What Happens when you Experience no Symptoms after your Embryo Transfer?

Surprisingly enough, not all women who undergo an IVF cycle experience all or any of the above symptoms we mentioned.

Around 10-15% of women don’t experience any symptoms, courtesy of pregnancy hormones like progesterone and estrogen. So, no symptoms after embryo transfer is that normal? The answer is yes.

Every symptom most women experience after an embryo transfer isn’t always indicative of successful implantation. This means that not experiencing any symptoms after your embryo transfer doesn’t rule out that you could be pregnant.

Your aim waiting through those two weeks would be to take care of yourself and get the rest you and your body need. Sometimes, all you have to do is sit back and catch a break.

Also, if you are experiencing any or most of the above symptoms, check out the intensity of the symptoms. You want to ensure that nothing is severe or causing you unbearable pain or discomfort throughout the process.

Can I do anything to improve my chances of conception after an Embryo Transfer?

The hard work, constant anxiety, pinpricks, and injections are part of your IVF journey. There are many taxing and invasive procedures throughout the cycle, from injecting the hormones before egg retrieval to getting your eggs removed from the ovary.

And, you have done everything you could do to improve your conception chances during this period.

Once the embryo transfer is done, your only job is to wait and relax during those two weeks. As painful and nerve-wracking it seems, there’s not much you can do after the embryo transfer is done.

Neither can you speed up the implantation process, nor do you do anything to get yourself pregnant quicker.

While you can’t do much to “improve” your chances of success after the embryo transfer, there are some precautions you can take to prevent any further risks.

Some of the most common precautionary steps include:

• Avoid heavy exercise
• Avoid penetrative sexual intercourse
• Avoid strenuous activities

Besides the don’ts, you also have to take care of your diet and ensure that you eat a balanced and nutritious diet. Including a healthy dose of protein, fiber, and healthy fats in your diet can support the implantation journey.

When is the Right Time to Take a Pregnancy Test?

Once you overcome the fateful two weeks after the embryo transfer and it’s finally time for you to take the pregnancy test, it is time for the harsh reality.

Was the embryo transfer successful?

Along with the store-bought home pregnancy tests, we recommend booking an in-clinic pregnancy test for better confirmation. Your specialist will more than likely sort that out for you.

If the pregnancy test comes out positive, your specialist will monitor you and your developing fetus for up to 8-10 weeks of your pregnancy. Once that’s done and there are no associated complications, your fertility specialist will transfer you to a regular OBGYN.

If your pregnancy test comes out negative, we understand that you are in pain. Despite so many efforts, things didn’t work out the way you intended. You can discuss further steps with your fertility specialist and get counseling and support if you need the same.

Also Read: https://pregajunction.com/blog/ivf-add-on-procedures/

FAQs

1-How soon do you know if IVF has worked?

Once the embryo transfer is done, you’d have to wait for at least two weeks before you can take a pregnancy test to confirm whether you are pregnant or not.

2-What are the negative signs of embryo transfer?

Distinguishing the positive and negative signs of an embryo transfer is difficult, especially with the confusing symptoms. Ideally, we’d recommend keeping an eye on the symptoms you are experiencing and ensuring that none of the symptoms are severe, painful, or uncomfortable.

3-How soon after embryo transfer do you get a positive pregnancy test?

You’d have to wait for at least two weeks before you can go ahead and take a pregnancy test to check if the implantation was successful or not.

Conclusion

Embryo transfer is hands down one of the biggest milestones in your IVF journey. It decides whether the months of waiting, anxiousness, and preparation were fruitful.

However, waiting for those 10-14 days after the embryo transfer is painstakingly slow. Then, with no possibility of knowing the results earlier, many women contemplate thinking about what would happen next.

We’d recommend that you take it slow. Take each day as a way to relax and catch a break after the constant hustle that you have been through. Sometimes, the best way is not to do anything at all.