Pregnancy Symptoms After Embryo Transfer and When to Take the Pregnancy Test

Pregnancy Symptoms After Embryo Transfer, and When to Take the Pregnancy Test

Summary: No symptom can confirm or rule out pregnancy in the days after embryo transfer, because support medication such as progesterone causes exactly the same symptoms as early pregnancy. The only reliable answer is a blood pregnancy test 14 days after the transfer. Testing earlier can give a false result, negative or positive, and only adds to the worry.

Are there pregnancy symptoms after embryo transfer?

This is one of the questions patients ask most during the waiting time, which is a hard and anxious period. The honest answer is that symptoms at this stage do not tell you the result.

You may notice:

·       Breast tenderness or heaviness.

·       Bloating or mild cramps like period pain.

·       Tiredness, sleepiness and mood swings.

·       Light spotting or brownish discharge.

These can happen just as much whether or not you are pregnant, because the progesterone you take to support the uterine lining causes them. And some women become pregnant without feeling anything at all.

No symptoms does not mean the attempt has failed, and having symptoms does not mean it has worked.

Does spotting mean the attempt has failed?

Not necessarily. Light bleeding can happen during this time for different reasons, and the pregnancy may continue normally. The important thing: do not stop your support medication on your own. Tell the clinic, and continue treatment until the test unless the doctor tells you otherwise.

When should I take a pregnancy test after embryo transfer?

We ask our patients to have a blood pregnancy test 14 days after the day of transfer, not before, so that the result is certain.

Why wait 14 days?

·       After implantation, the pregnancy hormone needs time to rise in the blood to a level that can be measured reliably. An earlier test may be negative even when you are pregnant.

·       The trigger injection given before egg retrieval contains the same pregnancy hormone, and it can stay in the body for some days, so an early test can be positive even when you are not pregnant.

·       An early, uncertain result adds anxiety and may lead some women to stop their medication by mistake.

Blood test or home urine test?

We prefer the blood test because it measures the amount of hormone accurately. If you use a home test, do not do it before day 14, and rely on the blood test in the end.

What happens after the result?

·       If the result is positive: carry on with your medication as prescribed. The test may be repeated to check that the hormone is rising, and an ultrasound is then arranged to see the pregnancy sac.

·       If the result is negative: do not stop the medication before speaking to the doctor. Dr. Layyous will review the attempt with you and plan the next step.

When to call the clinic straight away

·       Severe bloating, rapid weight gain or shortness of breath.

·       Heavy bleeding like a period or heavier.

·       Severe abdominal pain or severe dizziness.

·       A high temperature.

Tips for the waiting time

·       Carry on with normal daily life; complete bed rest is not needed.

·       Take your support medication on time.

·       Avoid searching for symptoms again and again; it raises stress and does not change the result.

·       Lean on your husband and the people you trust.

Read more in our articles on [what to do after embryo transfer](/procedures-a-patient-should-follow-after-in-vitro-fertilization-ivf/) and [symptoms at each stage of IVF](/what-symptoms-can-a-patient-expect-during-an-ivf-program/).

This article is for general information and does not replace a medical consultation.