Signs Of Failed IVF (in 2ww)

How do I know if my IVF implantation failed?

Will My Symptoms During The 2ww Tell Me Whether I Am Pregnant or Not?

Signs Of Failed IVF (in 2ww)

Many people describe the journey of IVF treatment as a never-ending roller-coaster ride, filled with heart stopping peaks and troughs of emotion. And in what is all undoubtedly a challenging period, the time after your embryo transfer and before you can take a pregnancy test can be one of the worst.

Often referred to as the Two Week Wait or 2WW, it can be a period of isolation and doubt. After weeks of daily monitoring and conversations with your nurses and Fertility Specialist, this period can seem to be an interminable wait. A pregnancy test is not reliable until 16 days after your egg collection and because you’ve been focusing on your body for the past four weeks (or more), you’ll notice and analyze every twinge, symptom or sensation. Iranian Surgery’s Counsellors, Nurse Coordinators and Fertility Specialists are all available to support you during this time and we have a range of tools and programs to help you cope.

Will My Symptoms During The 2ww Tell Me Whether I Am Pregnant or Not?

During the 2ww (2 weeks wait, from embryo transfer to the pregnancy test) it is very natural to wonder about the fate of the embryos which are transferred to the uterus. Every woman who has had an embryo transfer longs to know the outcome of her IVF cycle. Every minute of the 2ww lasts an hour – and the 2ww is the longest wait for any woman who has undergone IVF.

When going through the 2ww, women become aware of even the slightest change that happens to their bodies. “I am feeling warmer than usual”; “I have a tingling feeling in my breast”; “my nipples are sore”; “I could sense a muscle being pulled in my pelvic region”; “I have a strange vaginal discharge”; “I urinate frequently”; “I feel nauseous – does this mean I am pregnant?” This is the question that lingers in the mind of every woman – whether they explicitly acknowledge it or not. This can be made worse by a worried spouse who solicitously asks every day – “How are you feeling?” Many women constantly surf the web to read about the 2ww symptoms of women who got pregnant after an embryo transfer. Although this can make the 2ww interesting and can help some women to cope with it, many women start to panic too when they do not experience any symptoms. Others start imagining that they are pregnant or if they have any of the about symptoms.

Are there really any symptoms which could tell you whether you are pregnant or not, before taking a pregnancy test?

Sadly, the answer is no. While every woman is different, the reality is that your body cannot provide you with any clue during the 2ww which could tell you whether you are pregnant or not. Women who do not have any symptoms at all find they are pregnant – while women who experience all the symptoms can end up getting a negative pregnancy test. During the 2ww, your body is under the influence of the two most important sex hormones – estrogen and progesterone. These sex hormones have an influence on many of your body functions. Because of excess progesterone, your body becomes warmer than usual; your digestive system becomes sluggish and you can suffer from constipation; water accumulates in your tissues leading to sore breasts and nipples; you might have low-back pain, cramps and so on. High estrogen can make you nauseous; can cause breast pain, and might make you sensitive to smells. So, the symptoms you experience during 2ww are only due to the high levels of these hormones, which is why they are so similar to the symptoms of PMS (premenstrual syndrome). The only proof whether you are pregnant or not is a positive blood pregnancy test.

What is Implantation Bleeding?

Some women have a little bleeding around the time the embryo buries itself into the uterine lining —when implantation occurs. Although some women experience this, many do not. Therefore, if you don’t experience spotting during the 2ww, do not think that you are not pregnant. Implantation bleeding is a phenomenon that has no scientific explanation. Your embryo is microscopic and its implantation does not cause bleeding. It is assumed that the hormonal changes that occur at the time of implantation of the embryo cause this light bleeding.

Similarly, if you have spotting a few days after your embryo transfer, please don’t panic. However, if spotting increases, please contact your clinic.

Why Can’t You Have Sex During 2 Weeks Wait?

After the transfer, most fertility specialists will advise you to abstain from sex until you take a pregnancy test. This is also known as pelvic rest. There is conflicting evidence about whether having sex affects implantation or live birth rates. However, most doctors will be cautious and recommend that you avoid sex for at least a week after the embryo transfer.

There are two reasons why you should avoid sex during the 2-week wait. First, after the transfer, the reproductive system is more vulnerable to infection. Getting an infection at such a critical time as your implantation window can be problematic, and doctors want to avoid it as much as possible.

The second reason is that having penetrative sex and orgasm can cause the uterus to contract. During this critical implantation window, it is best to avoid any activity that can cause the uterus to move and contract significantly, such as sex and strenuous exercise.

I am Bleeding Before a Pregnancy Test, Should I Stop All my Medications?

Please do not stop your medicines without consulting your doctor even if you are bleeding profusely. Many women may also experience bleeding during pregnancy. The doctor should order a beta HCG blood test to get more information.

Read more about: Signs Of Failed Implantation After IVF