Embryo transfer is part of the process of assisted reproduction for women who are trying to conceive, commonly known as in vitro fertilization, or IVF. For one reason or another, natural conception may be an unsuccessful struggle for some women, and so they may turn to alternative methods of conception, including in vitro fertilization, to assist them with being able to conceive and have a successful pregnancy.

Embryo transfer is the step in the process of in vitro fertilization where the embryo is placed into the female patient’s uterus with the intention that it will latch onto the wall of the uterus and result in a pregnancy. For a typical embryo transfer, the egg is harvested from the patient during the same menstrual cycle in which it is going to be placed back into the uterus. Deferred embryo transfer refers to the same process, except that the embryos are generated and collected during a previous menstrual cycle and then frozen via an embryo cryopreservation technique so that they can be thawed and used for the in vitro fertilization process at a later time.

Success rates for conception and a successful pregnancy have so far been the same whether the embryo transfer is performed using a fresh embryo or a frozen one. Deferred embryo transfer provides a viable option for women who have healthy eggs but may not want to conceive right away, as it allows their eggs to be harvested and preserved for use at a later time when they are ready to try to conceive.

Successful embryo transfer first requires the female patient to produce several eggs as part of her menstrual cycle, which will then need to be harvested. In a typical menstrual cycle, only a single mature egg is produced.

For the purpose of embryo collection, the patient is given a series of potent fertility drugs that will induce ovulation and cause her to produce several mature eggs at one time, instead of the typical single egg. The retrieval of the eggs is then completed under sedation in a quick process of intra-vaginal aspiration. Once collected, the eggs are then combined with a semen specimen that has been obtained from either the male partner or a donor in an IVF laboratory.

This will start the process of embryo development and within three to six days following the egg fertilization, the embryos will be evaluated for viability to be used for the embryo transfer. The selected embryos will then be transferred back into the female patient’s uterus with a soft transfer catheter and the assistance of abdominal ultrasound to ensure accurate and optimal placement for successful implantation.

Following your embryo transfer, you may be advised by your doctor to take some additional precautions to help promote the implantation of the embryo. It is recommended to take it easy during that time, take some time off work if needed, get plenty of rest and listen to how your body is feeling.

– Avoiding strenuous activities is also advised, including running, jogging, aerobics, heavy lifting, cycling, and other activities that can put your body under stress. Walking and other moderate physical activities are still safe, though.
– Consume foods as if you were already pregnant, following the guidelines for what to eat and what not to eat, as well as taking a multivitamin containing folic acid and drinking plenty of water to stay hydrated.
– Avoiding sexual intercourse is recommended until after your pregnancy test to confirm if the transfer was successful, as it can interfere with implantation.
– Your doctor can let you know if there are any limitations on medications you can take.
– Avoid baths, hot tubs, swimming pools and beaches that could increase your chance of an infection.
– Don’t take an at-home pregnancy test! Your doctor will schedule a date for you to go back to the clinic for an hCG test to confirm whether or not you are pregnant. At-home tests have a higher chance of a false positive or false negative.

If you have questions or want more information about embryo transfer, then we encourage you to contact our team of leading healthcare professionals at The New Hope Center For Reproductive Medicine. You can contact us through our website or call us today. We serve patients from Virginia Beach VA, Rudee Heights VA, Lynnhaven VA, Linkhorn Estates VA and Dam Neck VA.