To rest or not to rest? That is the question.

One of the questions I am most often asked by patients before their embryo transfer is; “Do I need to stay on bed rest, or lay down for a few hours, after my transfer?”. The answer, emphatically, is NO! This is one of the oldest myths of IVF, that bed rest after embryo transfer will increase the likelihood of success. It makes sense, in a way, to think that if the embryo was just “put up there” that it could just “fall out of there”; however, this is simply not the case. That is one thing you do NOT need to waste your energy thinking about, fearing the embryo(s) will fall out.

It is important that patients understand that if a woman conceives spontaneously, she has absolutely no idea that the embryos are in the uterus at the time prior to implantation. She is not resting, or staying in bed, or refraining from daily activity, or standing on her head! Activity does not impact implantation…..if it did….nobody would ever get pregnant, especially ‘the old fashioned way’! Activity will not impact the embryos development inside the uterus, because, the embryo was MEANT to be there, that is the embryos natural pre-implantation environment. They will not fall out, because that is where they belong!

There have been a multitude of studies performed by IVF clinics all over the world that show that embryo implantation and pregnancy rates are not adversely affected by activity or improved by bed rest; patients can walk out, and even go to the bathroom (thankfully, since we’ve made you fill your bladder!) immediately after the embryo transfer.

Always remember that embryo implantation is not something that you can control. It is absolutely out of your hands. It is a complex biochemical interaction between the embryo and the endometrial lining of your uterus. Your body knows what to do!

By all means, if you want to take a few days to pamper yourself and lay in bed or on the couch to watch movies or read, DO IT! But if you would rather pass the long wait by working or if you have to resume daily activities, do not panic! You are absolutely not doing anything wrong, and in fact, are doing what you would be doing if you got pregnant without our help.