Bed Rest After IVF Transfer

When you’re undergoing (IVF), the day when your doctor places the embryo in your uterus may feel like a distant dream.

So, when the big day arrives, it’ll be quite a spectacle! Most individuals would agree that embryo transfer is one of the most exciting parts of the IVF procedure.

After that, you can feel as if you’re on pins and needles, waiting to see if it was successful.

It’s reasonable to be concerned about embryo transfer after treatment and what will happen next. It’s the final step of your IVF cycle before you get a pregnancy test.

So, do you need to stay in bed after an embryo transfer?

The answer is simple, NO.

There is no need to obtain a full night’s sleep once you arrive home. Staying in bed does not improve the chances of implantation success.

What we do recommend is that you relax for a day or two — that is, no physical activities or intensive exercise.

You can go about your everyday routine as usual, including going to work, light exercise, and traveling if necessary. Keeping as much of your normal routine as possible can also help take your mind off the ‘two-week wait’ before your pregnancy test.

The Research –

Numerous recent studies have discovered that quick bed rest following an embryo transfer is unnecessary.

• Researchers determined in 2005 that there was no difference in pregnancy rates between groups of women who got up right after an embryo transfer and those who rested for an hour thereafter.
• A scientific study published in 2011 summarised much research on bed rest and embryo transfer. The authors concluded that there was insufficient evidence to warrant bed rest after IVF or embryo transfer operations.
• Research published in the prestigious peer-reviewed journal Fertility and Sterility (Fertil Sterile 2013; 100: 729-35) found that resuming regular activities (including using the restroom) shortly after the embryo transfer resulted in higher pregnancy rates than bed rest.

It was discovered that a combination of bed rest and inactivity, as well as an increase in estrogen, increased blood clot formation and insulin resistance. Finally, these blood clots may obstruct the fetus’s growth and development by cutting off blood supply to locations where it is desperately required.

Light activity, on the other hand, boosts blood flow, decreases stress, and reduces inflammation. These elements have been linked to a healthier fetus’ growth and the mother’s overall health.