What should I avoid before embryo transfer?

There’s nothing really that should be avoided before the embryo transfer, of course, if you have been through an IVF and your ovaries have been stimulated, and you’ve gone through an egg collection,  these ovaries could be bigger and more tender than usual. There could also be a low risk of bleeding if you are too active, or you do an activity really strong intensity. In terms of what can have an impact on an embryo transfer, that’s fine.

There’s nothing you can do, the things that we recommend in between the egg collection and the embryo transfer are more things related to reducing the risk of complications after the egg collection. It’s the same for the things that we recommend during the stimulation and before starting the treatment. It’s mostly related to being sure that you are in your best condition if you get pregnant. Also, you are not going to do anything that can reduce the chances.

Once you have started the stimulation and until the embryo transfer, the recommendations are usually looking for reducing the risk of having complications like bleeding, pain, bloatedness, and things like that.  In terms of increasing the efficiency of an embryo transfer,   there is nothing special you can do.

One of the things to avoid before the embryo transfer is always stress. So avoiding stress is the main thing. How to avoid stress? You have all the facilities, all the alternative therapies, you have hypnotherapy, you have acupuncture, you have relaxation techniques. So I really insist that every woman preparing for the embryo transfer should be in a more relaxed state than a stressful one.
The other thing we should avoid is having too much abdominal distension. So that’s why keep your food light and not heavy meals like we should be having frequent snacks instead. When you know that you will be having a fresh transfer, straightaway after the egg collection, the ovaries might be a little bit enlarged and you might feel a little bit of discomfort. So as much as we try to minimise the discomfort, the better it is.

Usually there’s no restriction on food or anything. Of course, we always tell our patients that even during conception try and follow guidelines such as there are some amazing NHS websites about what you can eat and what you can’t eat in pregnancy, so try and adapt that diet even during conception. In terms of do’s and don’ts, we try to tell our patients not to have any hot baths or anything after the embryo transfer. Not to wear any strong perfume or deodorant because embryos are very sensitive to such strong smells but apart from that, there is no other restrictions. The most important parameters are that after the egg collection, the patient needs to keep on taking their medications regularly, daily, on time but apart from that, there is absolutely no restriction whether that’s from a food perspective or a lifestyle perspective. We do tell our patients do not engage with any heavy exercise – certainly post egg collection. Some gentle exercises are absolutely fine. On the day of embryo transfer, we say please take it easy. Again no running the marathon but just a nice walk, a gentle stroll and that’s absolutely fine.

Before embryo transfer, there are two things women should take care of. First of all, it is very important to have a full bladder. Again, it is very important that the bladder is not completely full. What we usually advise our patients before the embryo transfer is to empty the bladder in the morning and then drink about 4 glasses of water. If the bladder is very full, this sometimes can cause problems during the embryo transfer and passing of the catheter.

Also, it is important to avoid sexual intercourse in the morning and the night before as orgasm can increase the contractions of the uterus. Regarding vagina medication, at our unit, we do not have a problem with that, a patient can put it in the morning. Generally, it is important to make sure that the patient is not stressed. Have a good night’s sleep the day before. Avoid wearing perfume, especially alcohol-based perfume, because this can cause problems to the embryo during the procedure.

It is necessary to know that embryo transfer is something like a meeting for conversation. So it’s necessary to avoid stress. Many patients are stressed because they expect some pain, etc. But in the majority of cases, it is not painful, and it is like gynecological examination. So I usually recommend you do not stress. We sometimes need a full bladder for better performance of embryo transfer. So I recommend not going to the toilet before embryo transfer, and that is all.

As far as we know, before the embryo transfer, there is only one contraindication and that’s sexual intercourse, especially in the last 24 to 48 hours. It is not allowed because in the semen there are some materials that can cause contractions in the uterus so we don’t want it. So in the last 24 to 48 hours, you have to avoid sexual intercourse and the second thing and most important thing, to use the medications correctly. This is the most important thing, otherwise, there is no other thing to be careful of.

You are allowed to have a glass of wine because this is a stressful period for the woman and you take a lot of medications. Patients who undergo anesthesia during oocyte pick up may find it very difficult for them psychologically and physically, so, sometimes they need some form of relaxation. So one glass of wine does not make too much of a difference but don’t finish the bottle.

There is no right and wrong answer to this question. People have to feel comfortable and have no regrets in the future. Unfortunately, there is nothing that is actually extremely dangerous. It very much depends, if whether this is a fresh embryo transfer or a frozen one. With the fresh embryo transfer, the ovaries are still swollen. Remember, you’ve just been through an operation to retrieve your eggs. So, therefore, obviously, we would ask to avoid any strenuous exercise or anything that can put your ovaries at risk of rupture or torsion.

Have a gentle lifestyle during that period of time. But with the frozen transfer, there is not much to avoid. The ovaries are perfectly fine, and there are no major risks. Because we do tend to do the embryo transfer with a full bladder, avoid going to the toilet just before coming for an embryo transfer. But other than that, there are no right and wrong things, it’s what you feel comfortable with.

On the day of embryo transfer, avoid wearing strong body creams and perfumes as the scent of these can have negative effects on embryos within the lab. Also avoid skipping meals on the day.  You may be required to drink an amount of water to fill your bladder for the procedure, so ensure you have something to eat as well.