After embryo transfer...

One of the most alarming moments in an IVF cycle - for me at least - was standing up for the first time after embryo transfer.  I could never quite get over the idea that an embryo could just fall straight out when you get up after the transfer. Speaking to other people since, I've learnt that I'm not the only one to feel that way. It's quite common to worry that you might somehow jeopardise your chances of success if you stand up too quickly - or if you do too much in the days after embryo transfer.

Some complementary therapists advise a couple of days bed rest after embryo transfer, but research shows that this makes absolutely no difference to outcomes at all - and you can bet your bottom dollar that fertility specialists would all be encouraging their patients to stay in bed if there was any chance that this could possibly increase success rates.

When fertility treatment doesn't work, we want to know why and start looking for reasons.  Most often, there is no clear reason but you can rest assured that the one thing that really won't make a difference is how long you spend lying down in the first couple of days after embryo transfer.

US clinics ignoring guidelines on embryos

I've just been reading an alarming story explaining how many clinics in the US completely ignore professional guidelines on the number of embryos that should be transferred during IVF for younger women. Here in the UK, a maximum of two embryos would be used and many women under 35 are now choosing to have one embryo put back at a time to reduce the risk of multiple pregnancy.

Apparently 80% of clinics in the US regularly transfer more that the recommended number of embryos, with some routinely transferring four embryos for women who are under the age of 35. Of course, many blame "pressure from patients", which clearly indicates that they haven't made any attempt to warn their patients of the often tragic consequences of high order multiple pregnancies. What's more likely to be the cause is their own lack of awareness of the risks they are taking with the lives of these future children and their mothers - and perhaps their own inadequacies as fertility specialists, as any consultant worth his or her salt should be aiming for success without needing to transfer four embryos.

These statistics were highlighted by the recent case of octuplets in the States. In that case, the doctor claimed to have transferred just six embryos, but even six is probably five too many in a younger women who'd already had a number of successful IVF pregnancies. You can read more about the findings here