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What can I do to increase my success after embryo transfer?

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7 fertility expert(s) answered this question

Answer from: Raúl Olivares, MD

Gynaecologist, Medical Director & Owner
Barcelona IVF
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I know that this is going to probably be the most viewed video because that is what all women want to know. What can I do to improve my outcome once the embryos have been transferred when I’ve had that wonderful embryo transfer inside my wonderfully prepared endometrium? I’m afraid that I need to say that there’s very little that you can do.  What happens after the embryo is transferred depends a lot on the dialogue between the embryo and the endometrium.  This is something that cannot be modified, changed, influence by any external things.

From a psychological perspective, we don’t want the patient to think that if the outcome is negative and despite us insisting that they can do very little to change the outcome, we don’t want them to think they could have done something better. Therefore, we recommend patients consider themselves pregnant once the embryo is transferred and do the same things that a pregnant woman should do. Avoid toxics, strong physical effort, and risky situations, but as I’ve said, that is something that should help them cope with a potential negative, not something that is going to increase the implantation rate.

As I always say, when a couple gets pregnant naturally, they are actually leading a normal life, they go to the gym, have a glass of wine, they do whatever they want to do. If the embryos want to implant, they will implant, regardless of what the patient does.

Try to lead a normal life, try to be occupied with the things that you usually do and only try to avoid all the things that make you feel guilty if the outcome is negative, but that’s it. Unfortunately, not that much to do.

Answer from: Patricio Calamera, MD, MSc, ObGyn

Gynaecologist, Specialist in Reproductive Medicine
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As we talked previously, actually, right now, we recommend having a normal life. Basically as we said before, there’s nothing that can improve or decrease our success rate in the order of resting, diet, vitamins, medications, etc. You just have to follow your doctor’s instructions. It’s very important to take progesterone. So, basically that following the protocol and being followed up by your doctor would be the best recommendation.

Answer from: Rami Wakim, MD FRCOG FACOG FICS

Gynaecologist, Consultant in Reproductive Medicine
Phoenix Hospital Group
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I would say basically: medication. Your medication is of utmost importance. So abiding by the protocol your clinic or your doctor has recommended – please stick to it. We don’t want missing medication as this creates a lot of hassle and worries which could be avoided. The other thing is regarding the fresh embryo transfer and the frozen embryo transfer. If at egg collection it is found that you have an element of ovarian hyperstimulation, whether mild or moderate, and the recommendation is not to have a transfer, please listen carefully to the advice of your doctor and the clinic. It is a way to avoid risks to your health by transferring the embryo. So if we postpone the embryo transfer, after the suspicion of ovarian hyperstimulation, then we would do it and recommend it to you. So the thing to avoid is to make sure that you don’t have any symptoms of ovarian hyperstimulation.

Answer from: Marcel Štelcl, MUDr, PhD

Gynaecologist, Chief Physician
ReproGenesis
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Unfortunately, there aren’t any special things to increase the probability of success. So the best way, how to be pregnant is to have a normal life and forget that you had the embryo transfer. It’s easy to say and difficult to do.

Patients ask me if they should do something more, like taking corticoids, low molecular heparin, or some vitamins, etc. They feel that if they will use more medication, the chances will be higher. But it doesn’t work like this. Every medication has also side effects, and there are many interactions inside of the body, medication interacts together, and we don’t know how it interacts and what’s the chemical result of this interaction. So it’s better to use only medication which is recommended, and not to use more.

Answer from: Ali Enver Kurt, MD

Gynaecologist, Specialist in Obstetrics & Gynecology
Vita Altera IVF Center
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This is important because approximately every patient is asking the same question regarding embryo transfer – what do I have to do? How can I raise the success rate? Normally, there is nothing to do. The only thing I say to my all patients is to use the medications correctly, not to change anything, and keep the same doses. If you see any adverse effects, ask your doctor and do not change anything by yourself. That’s it. After embryo transfer, you should avoid sexual intercourse, but that’s it. There is nothing else, unfortunately.

Answer from: Arianna D’Angelo, MD

Gynaecologist, Consultant
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Because you are having IVF, we already would recommend reducing the amount of alcohol, or even stop drinking. It is the same recommendation as if you were already pregnant. So no smoking, obviously, taking your folic acids and vitamin the same way it’s been prescribed. And, yes, avoid any drugs, any medicine. Always double-check with your doctor before taking any medication.
That again is something that has been covered probably at the beginning of the preconception phase, where we want to make sure that the couple, not just the woman but also the man, are actually prepared physically, mentally, and emotionally in the best way.
That would be preconception counseling and support counseling during the treatment. There is no magic recipe really, and there’s no correct or wrong answer to this question.

Simply do things that make you feel happy and well and make you have no regrets at all. Because the last thing you want is to think “Oh, I shouldn’t have done that! Is it because I’ve eaten this? Or is it because I went out with my friend.” So just do anything that makes you feel happy.

There have been all sorts of things I recommend or suggest for patients or you can see those suggestions on social media. One of them is to go for a McDonald’s meal straight after the embryo transfer. Because the fries at McDonald’s are actually fried with a special oil, which contains lots of, I presume, Omega-3 or polyunsaturated oil. I’m not really sure what it contains, but apparently, embryos like that.

There is no right and wrong answer, but just be careful with what you read and what people say. But there is no magic trick to improve the chances. It’s very important to keep taking your medications the way they’ve been prescribed. If there is an issue with taking medications, if you’re not happy, or if you feel like the pessaries are leaking out, or the injections are not going in the right way, then always talk to your doctor or to the fertility nurse. It’s better, always better to double-check that you are doing the right thing. But, yes, other than that, there is no magic answer.

Answer from: Carleen Heath, Clinical Embryologist, Dip. RC Path

Embryologist, Laboratory Manager
GENNET City Fertility
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There are many factors involved in the development and implantation of an embryo, many of which cannot be controlled or influenced by your actions.  Continue to take all prescribed medication on time, drink plenty of fluids, eat a healthy, balanced diet and take part in gentle activity if you wish.  The wait to take the pregnancy test can often feel like a very long time, and it is important to be kind to and look after yourself throughout the waiting period.

About this question:

What are things to consider - to do or avoid to make sure I'm safe after the embryo transfer?

How can I maximize implantation after the embryo transfer? Is there anything that I can do after ET to increase my chances?

 

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