The IVF protocol ends with the transfer of embryos into the woman's uterine cavity. The efforts of doctors end here, and for a woman a completely new stage of life begins - the expectation of signs of pregnancy. Many pin great hopes on assisted reproductive technologies, and therefore tend to see signs of pregnancy in any change in well-being after embryo transfer. What may indicate the success of the protocol, we will tell in this article.
When do symptoms appear?
After IVF, signs of pregnancy may appear somewhat later than after natural conception. This is due to the fact that implantation (introduction of the embryo into the endometrium) takes much longer. An embryo conceived naturally, under favorable conditions, is implanted approximately 8 days after conception. The process of implantation of the ovum into the functional layer of the uterus takes about 40 hours.
An embryo obtained in laboratory conditions is transferred into the uterine cavity during the so-called implantation window. The onset of implantation can occur both in a few hours and 3-6 days after the transfer, the implementation process itself takes from three days.
The first signs that may indicate pregnancy can physiologically appear only after successful implantation, since pregnancy is not considered to have occurred before it and the body does not perceive the embryo as part of itself. Therefore, it is too early to expect symptoms that indicate the onset of the long-awaited "interesting situation" is not worth it.
As a result of a successful protocol, pregnancy symptoms may begin to appear no earlier than 6-7 days after embryo transfer. It is possible that the signs will not appear until 14-16 days after replanting. If three-day embryos were transferred, signs of pregnancy will appear approximately 3-4 days later than after transferring five-day embryos.
All signs before delay and diagnosis are considered subjective and cannot serve as a basis for stating the fact of pregnancy, but it is they that cause the most questions in women, and therefore let's consider them in more detail.
First signs
After taking the eggs, in most cases, women are advised to take progesterone preparations, which should create more favorable conditions for the transfer of embryos - the endometrium should become looser and thicker. Against the background of progesterone therapy, a woman's sensations are about the same as in the second phase of the natural cycle.
After implantation, if it is successful, after a few days, certain changes in the woman's condition may appear. Let's make a reservation right away that they are only possible, but not mandatory and indispensable. Many women do not have any of the following. In the majority, 1-2 signs may be found, but not the entire list.
Chest
Some women, who are especially sensitive, note that a change in the state of the mammary glands is the first sign. The hormonal background that has changed after implantation implies an increased production of progesterone and prolactin, which causes the growth of the glandular tissue of the mammary gland and its slight increase in size. Soreness and tenderness of the nipples may occur.
This symptom is among the first to occur in about 30% of women. The rest note that nothing unusual happened to the breast, or it was surprisingly soft and painless, although it usually hurts a little by menstruation. It is such a "strange" behavior of the mammary glands that can serve as a symptom, but you should not rely on it too much if embryo transfer was preceded by long hormonal stimulation - in this case, the breast can be painful and sensitive, and also slightly enlarged due to the residual hormonal background after ovarian stimulation.
Feeling in the stomach
To feel something in the abdomen at least early. After in vitro fertilization, a woman may well experience a heaviness and a feeling of bloating in the abdomen. This is due to the increase in size of the ovaries after stimulation of superovulation. This is not considered a sign of pregnancy.
It is impossible to feel the implantation, but some women note that in a successful IVF protocol, a tingling sensation in the uterus was observed a week after the embryo transfer. Such sensations can be caused by previous hormonal stimulation, and can also be a sign of increased blood circulation in the uterus in case of successful implantation.
Small tingling sensations in the uterus are a consequence of softening of the uterine ligaments and the muscles of the reproductive organ, this is how progesterone works. Moreover, it is absolutely not necessary that the pregnancy has come.
Toxicosis
Signs of toxicosis after IVF should not be expected early. Any toxicosis is essentially a reaction of the immune system to the embryo and changes in the work of all organs and systems associated with the onset of pregnancy. Many women do not have toxicosis at all, and this is also not unusual.
Most often, signs of toxicosis appear at 6-8 weeks of pregnancy and gradually recede by 12-14 weeks, when the placenta is finally formed. In rare cases, in women with high immunity, toxicosis begins earlier - even before the delay in menstruation. Usually this is manifested by nausea, intolerance to some very specific smells and tastes.
Psychological state
One of the side effects of progesterone in a woman's body is psychological and emotional instability, which the expectant mother can be exposed to within a few days after the implantation. The concentration of progesterone increases, this is manifested by sleep disorders. Approximately 8-9 days after the embryo transfer, a woman may notice that it has become more difficult to fall asleep, wake up more often, or, conversely, constantly wants to sleep.
Mood can change quite quickly - from tears to laughter and vice versa. A woman can experience unreasonable anxiety, fear, apathy. The peculiarity lies in the fact that this state and mood is not long-term, it quickly changes to another.
Allocations
After quite aggressive hormone therapy, which was carried out at the beginning of the IVF protocol, pink, bloody, smearing discharge is considered quite normal in the early stages of pregnancy after IVF. For 14 days after embryo transfer, you will not surprise anyone at all. However, the discharge can be normal, light and slightly thick.
In the second case, the woman is more likely to notice some signs of implantation if they appear. We are talking about implantation bleeding.
When the integrity of the endometrium of the uterus is violated when the ovum is introduced into it, there may be minor spotting, which is not abundant and does not last more than a day. It should be noted that implantation bleeding is rare, and therefore it is not worth counting on such a symptom initially. In addition, the completed implantation does not mean that the fetus will develop normally and the pregnancy will continue. Sometimes the embryo stops developing immediately after implantation, in which case the pregnancy will not be diagnosed.
The appearance of profuse bleeding on any day after embryo transfer is an alarming sign that requires a mandatory examination by a doctor. Most often, it has nothing to do with a possible pregnancy.
Basal temperature
Basal temperature measurement is not very reasonable after IVF protocol. If pregnancy occurs naturally, after fertilization the temperature remains elevated, and this is what speaks of a possible conception that has taken place. After IVF, the basal temperature may be increased already because the woman has undergone hormonal therapy, follicle puncture, and also continues to take progesterone after embryo transfer.
Therefore, basal temperature measurement makes sense only if a woman has long-term observations of her temperature over several cycles in which no hormones were taken, and IVF was carried out in a natural cycle without medication support.
Other signs
Among the early signs are mainly symptoms that are caused by a changed hormonal background. Progesterone causes a decrease in a woman's immunity, and this statement is true for 100% of pregnant women. Therefore, after implantation or a little later, a woman may feel that she suddenly fell ill - a low temperature will rise (about 37.0 degrees or slightly higher), a runny nose and cough, headaches may appear. All these signs cause not only viruses and hypothermia, but also an important pregnancy hormone - progesterone.
If a woman has not been to crowded places, has not been in contact with sick people, has not overcooled, an increase in temperature and a slight runny nose can theoretically be regarded as a sign of early pregnancy.
Frequent urination is observed quite often. It may appear within a few days after implantation. A sign such as increased salivation is considered quite exotic. The woman may notice that the edge of the pillow is wet with saliva after sleeping.
Saliva is often produced in more quantities than is necessary due to changes in the functioning of the cerebral cortex, where, from the moment of implantation, a new temporary center appears - the center of pregnancy. It begins to "conflict" with neighboring areas of the brain, in particular, with the center responsible for regulating the production of saliva.
Reliable diagnosis
Diagnostics after successful IVF has its own characteristics. Pharmacy test strips are not recommended for women after the IVF protocol, since they determine hCG in the urine, and in the middle of the cycle, the woman experienced the introduction of hCG preparations for faster maturation of the eggs before they are removed by puncture.
The level of hCG may be elevated outside of pregnancy, and therefore doctors give clear recommendations - to do a blood test for hCG (not urine) only on the 14th day after embryo transfer.
A week later, on day 21 after the transfer of embryos to the uterus, the first ultrasound can be done, which will put an end to the question of whether the IVF attempt was successful. If not, then progesterone drugs are canceled, after a few days menstruation occurs. At the end of her period, the woman can consult a fertility specialist to plan and schedule her next attempt.
Reviews
Reviews of the first signs after embryo transfer are quite diverse. In addition to those listed above, there are also quite exotic ones - a woman often begins to yawn, as if she does not have enough oxygen, or constantly wants to stretch, although this has not been observed before.
Often women notice increased fatigue, even light housework causes a rapid heart rate and a desire to lie down and rest.
Many of the symptoms are not observed at all. And this is considered normal. Many doctors are inclined to believe that women invent early signs and symptoms for themselves, because they really want to get pregnant.
For more information on the first signs of pregnancy, see the next video.
