IVF transfer is a simple and painless process. It starts with a fertility doctor conducting a complete medical check-up of you and your partner (which includes vaginal testing, and genetic testing), followed by a fresh or frozen embryo transfer using a fine catheter to place the embryo past your cervix into your uterus.
This procedure is usually guided by an ultrasound that gives the specialist visibility of the ideal placement for the embryo. However, like every other medical procedure, after the embryo transfer, the female in question has to be extra cautious about her health and the activities she participates in.
In this article, we will be teaching you everything there is to know about travelling after an IVF transfer. So, without further ado, let’s begin!
Is a Bumpy Car Ride After IVF Transfer Dangerous?
An uneven road isn’t dangerous until you are driving at high speed. So, the answer to this question is “No,” one bumpy car ride will not affect the implantation, specifically if you are travelling at low speed.
However, it is advised that you should avoid going on bumpy roads as they can cause jerky movements, which might cause discomfort and complications in the future.
Keep in mind that travelling on a bumpy road isn’t recommended during the entire pregnancy, especially the last three to four months, as it can be dangerous for both the mother and the baby.
Therefore, try to be as careful as possible.
It’s OK to Travel After IVF Transfer
Did you know that travelling after an embryo transfer can help you escape stress? Stress is one of the most triggering factors for the reproductive system, and IVF being an emotional roller coaster, can be a very stressful journey for the mother.
So, just because you are on fertility treatment doesn’t mean your life has to halt. If travelling is important for you and your partner, you should make an appointment with your fertility doctor and discuss your plans with them.
In most cases, the doctor will give you permission to travel only after knowing that you will take care of yourself and the baby.
The two-week waiting period after the IVF transfer requires you to get multiple ultrasounds and blood tests to track any abnormalities and monitor the growth of the fetus. Because of this, the doctor might ask you to wait a day or two until all your tests are clear.
In case of emergencies, talk to your doctor and find a way to work around the last-minute plans. Here are some tips and tricks that can help you prepare for travelling post-embryo transfer:
- Before you get on the airplane, speak to your fertility specialist and get any required travel vaccinations.
- Whether you are undergoing IVF treatment or are already pregnant, learn about the fertility clinics and support centres at the destination. You can even ask your fertility doctor for a recommendation.
- Ask your doctor to give you a note which explains the medications that you need to take while travelling.
- Stock up on your medications so that you always have them when required. Purchasing all necessary medicines is essential as many countries or states restrict tourists from buying medications.
Normal Post Embryo Symptoms
During the two weeks between the embryo transfer and the pregnancy test, some common post-IVF symptoms might arise. These include:
- Feeling tired
- Bloating
- Mood swings
- Cramps
- Sore breasts
- Mild abdominal pain
- Diarrhoea
- Light spotting
- Joint pain or muscle aches
Note that many of the symptoms mentioned above are similar to how you might feel during menstruation. Therefore, it is advised to stay calm and relaxed. However, in case of severe pain, contact your fertility doctor immediately.
How Many Days of Rest Should I Have After an IVF?
According to research, the first 24 hours after an embryo transfer are the most critical. This is the time when the embryo attaches to the uterine wall before it can fully implant, which can take several days. Therefore, it is advised that you should stay home and rest for at least 1 or 2 days after an IVF embryo transfer.
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Our Recommendations After an Embryo Transfer
Are you ready to conceive a beautiful baby? Here are three things that you should do after an embryo transfer to increase your chances of getting pregnant:
Recommendation 1: Take the Whole Two Weeks Off, or at least the First One
You have just undergone a potentially life-changing experience. So, indulge in self-care and take an extra week off as you give your body the time to accept the change, celebrate the transition, and wait for the next step of the IVF transfer.
It typically takes the embryo five to ten days to implant. During this time, pamper yourself as much as possible, travel a bit, skip a vigorous workout, do some shopping, mow the lawn, read a good book, or if you don’t know what to do, simply just Netflix and Chill!
More than serving as a physical precaution, taking some time off to rest can help you deal with mood swings and keep you calm during the process.
Recommendation 2: Eat Well and Get Lots of Rest, But Don’t Forget to Exercise
If everything goes down according to the plan, you will grow a small baby inside your belly in the next nine months. So, it is about time you start eating like you are already pregnant.
According to fertility specialists, take out chocolate, caffeine, tobacco, and alcohol from your diet and replace them with various fruits, vegetables, and foods rich in iron, vitamins, and calcium.
However, this doesn’t mean that all you need to do is sleep in your bed and eat healthily. In fact, according to a study in 1997, the outcomes of an IVF transfer of a patient who had 24 hours of bed rest and a patient who had 20 minutes of rest were the same.
Therefore, fertility doctors recommend that you should try to stay active during the long two-week waiting period.
Recommendation 3: Don’t Skip Your Medications
Although the idea of skipping medications that you were taking before the IVF transfer can be tempting, make sure that you talk to your fertility doctor first.
Generally, after an embryo transfer, the doctor will prescribe you medications to keep the embryo alive and your uterine environment optimal.
The easiest way to make sure that you don’t miss your daily medication regime is to either set a reminder system on your phone or create a chart and place it on the fridge. Here are some tips to help you out:
- If your fertility doctor has prescribed you two daily doses of progesterone (such as Utrogestan), set a 12-hour gap reminder.
- If you are prescribed three daily estrogen pills, take one pill after every meal and schedule the meals every eight hours.
- If the doctor has asked you to take Crinone, set a loud alarm to ensure that you inject it every day at the same time before going to bed.
What Not to Do
Want to give your embryo a fertile and healthy environment to grow in? Here is a list of three things that you should avoid doing in the next few hours and days after the embryo transfer:
Point 1: Avoid Extreme Temperature
After the IVF transfer, it is your job to ensure that your body temperature stays normal for the next two weeks. You can simply do this by avoiding hot baths and staying out of saunas and hot tubes, as they can leave your body vulnerable to infection.
Furthermore, try to keep yourself warm and cosy and have quick warm showers instead of long bubble baths.
Point 2: Don’t Have Sex
According to research, having sexual intercourse can increase uterine contractions, which could disrupt or interrupt the implantation of the embryo in the uterine wall.
Therefore, it is highly recommended that you and your partner avoid having sex in the next 10-15 days after the IVF transfer.
Point 3: Don’t Panic
This is one of the most important pieces of advice that any medical professional will give you. Although it’s much easier said than done, keeping yourself calm and avoiding stress is one of the best ways to ensure successful implantation (pregnancy) after an IVF transfer.
The easiest way to do this is by educating yourself about the normal post-embryo transfer symptoms.
During the critical two-week period, remember that you need to give your body the time and environment to accept the embryo and to emotionally and physically recover from the IVF process itself.
So, relax, take things easy, and try to be as positive as possible.
Does Traveling Impact Implantation at All?
Until now, there is no evidence that travelling can impact the success rate of IVF transfer. Any abnormalities attributed to the endometrium, embryo, or immune system can result in the failure of the IVF process. However, none of these is caused by travelling.
So, if you are worried about travelling after an embryo transfer, you can hit the road or take to the sky without care, as it does not affect the embryo transfer.
Is It Okay to Fly After Embryo Transfer?
According to renowned fertility doctors, there are many patients who land on the day of the embryo transfer and fly back in the evening and get pregnant. Therefore, taking a flight after the fertility appointment doesn’t really have a negative impact on embryo implantation and is considered very safe.
However, many doctors recommend that the patient stays in the same city for at least 24 hours after the IVF transfer as complications occur during this time.
In the case of long-haul flights, the doctor will advise you to take normal precautions, like exercising your legs from time to time and staying hydrated in order to prevent the risk of DVT (deep vein thrombosis).
Should I Be Bending After Embryo Transfer?
Even though embryos don’t fall out, it is during this time span (14 days or 2 weeks after the IVF transfer) that the embryo has to fully attach itself to the uterine wall – something which you cannot do yourself.
Therefore, you should avoid participating in vigorous activities such as exercising, bending, or lifting weights. This is advised because you want your embryo to remain in the uterine cavity and not get pushed into the Fallopian tube, as it can result in a tubal or ectopic pregnancy.
So, whether you want to use the stairs or go to the bathroom, you can do whatever you want but don’t bend or run as it can cause complications in the IVF transfer.
Should I Be Riding a Bike After an Embryo Transfer?
Women undergoing an embryo transfer need to protect their reproductive organs, especially during the two-week waiting period. This means that they should avoid all kinds of strenuous workouts like running, intense aerobics, and riding a bike.
High-intensity and high-impact exercises can put your whole body under physical stress, which can be dangerous for the embryo.
Summary – Traveling After IVF Transfer
One of the most important things to remember during the stressful IVF process is that whether the embryo implantation is a success or not depends on how receptive your uterus is and the quality of the embryo.
This means that there’s not much that you can do to influence the final outcome.
With that said, know that travelling after the infertility treatment doesn’t have an impact on the success rate of your IVF transfer. It only depends on your health and luck. Once the embryo transfer is complete, the doctor will ask you to rest for one or two hours, after which you will be free to do whatever you want, as long as it doesn’t involve climbing a mountain, riding a bike, drinking alcohol, smoking a cigarette, or complete bed rest.
While it is easy to blame and punish yourself if the IVF cycle fails, this is futile and will only make you feel bad about yourself during a horrendously difficult time. Therefore, you should give yourself time to heal and move forward until you are strong enough to give IVF transfer another shot.
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