What care needs to be taken pre and post embryo transfer?

Today, most women prefer to follow their dreams and passion before planning on a family but are often worried about postponing the pregnancy. Many misconceptions with irrelevant or incomplete information from unreliable sources have caused great confusion on how to decide between career and conception. A fear exists that postponing pregnancy could result in a permanent loss. Thankfully, Reproductive Medicine has made development to an extent where women can now fearlessly decide their priorities. Many assisted reproductive technologies (ART) are now available, with which the decision-making in such cases becomes easier. One such medical wonder is the frozen embryo transfer (FET).

In addition to the above, couples who have serious health issues undergoing treatment that could carry a risk of damage to the sperm or egg can also store the embryos and opt for transfer and conception post-treatment after the recovery period.

Frozen embryo transfer is a step in the IVF cycle where one or more embryos are frozen to enable these embryos to be stored. These stored embryos are then used later when the woman desires to conceive.

Once you are ready for the embryo transfer, there is not much to do regarding medications as you would have already received if any are required. The most important thing to look at before the embryo transfer is to make sure the embryos are viable and healthy so that the chances of successful implantation are very high. The doctor also performs a preimplantation genetic screening (PGS) to check for any chromosomal abnormalities and choose the best embryo to result in a successful pregnancy and the delivery of a healthy baby. PGS is done to check for certain conditions like:

• Fragile X or other genetic disorders.

• Tay Sachs

• Cystic fibrosis.

• Once the healthy embryos are chosen, they are implanted into the uterus for further pregnancy.

The period between the implantation of the embryo and the confirmation of pregnancy, the two-week waiting period, is accompanied by many emotions that could involve happiness and anxiousness. Still, it is essential to stay relaxed and calm and let your body prepare for the procedure’s success. It is the time to nurture yourself and take care of your mind and body. There are many ways to keep yourself at ease and relaxed and give your body the time to prepare for the good news. Some of the best practices are:

• Ensure good sleep.

• Watch a good movie.

• Listen to music.

• Go for a walk.

• Eat a nutritious diet.

• Engage in a happy conversation with family or friends.

While above are some things you should consider, there are also certain things that you should avoid!

• Avoid vigorous physical activity.

• Refrain from sexual activity in the period immediately following the procedure.

• Refrain from tobacco and alcohol.

• Avoid exposure to extreme temperatures.

• Avoid exposure to toxic substances.

With all the above, it is always advisable to regularly follow up with your healthcare professional, who will guide you through the entire process and be your robust support system until the delivery of your baby.

The procedure involves a lot of expertise and is therefore very important to be performed by a specialist. It is advisable to approach the best fertility hospital.

GarbhaGudi IVF Centre has recently been ranked among India’s top 10 IVF centres. It has some of the best fertility doctors in Bangalore performing the procedure successfully and helping couples experience the joy of parenting with proper planning before delaying conception.