Complete Bed Rest improves the chances of success of IVF?

BURSTING yet another very common myth surrounding IVF treatment is that one needs complete bed rest after the embryo transfer. The IVF is a time-taking and costly procedure. Hence after embryo transfer, many women are afraid that their careless actions can lead to failure. Most women are worried that their chances of conceiving may decrease if they do not take bed rest or resume their day to day activities.

However, the fact is that there is no need to put your life on pause after the procedure. The idea of bed rest is an absolute myth. “Fertility and Sterility”, a study reported in 2013 by Gaikwad, Garrido et al. (Spain), reports that 10 minutes of bed rest could be essential post the procedure. The study included two groups of women, the first, who was told to take rest for 10 minutes post the procedure and the second, who was discharged immediately. The results concluded that the second group women, who were discharged immediately post the transfer had an 18% higher success rate and a 10% decrease was also observed in the spontaneous abortion rate, in case of the first group women who took rest after the procedure.

Let’s Understand, the embryo will not fall out of the womb as you move or stand up. We have to understand that the endometrium has its own movements and patterns. When the embryo reaches the uterus, it keeps it inside the uterine cavity, hence preventing it from expulsion or implantation in the inappropriate area. Therefore, it is important to understand that implantation does not depend on women’s posture or movement.

Movement, however, plays an important role in blood circulation. The longer a person lays down in bed, the slower the blood circulation is, which further affects the blood circulation to the uterus, which can hamper the growth of the embryo.

The more time you are going to spend in bed, the more time you have unnecessary thoughts, which is extremely dangerous as it will create more anxiety and stress. Talk your heart out to your counsellor/psychologist to gain a better understanding of any issues.

Instead of letting your mind wander into unnecessary thoughts, be with your family more, interact more, talk to your doctor for any doubts, watch good movies, go out for walks, do not indulge in a heavy workout. Look and create a positive environment for yourself.

The Most Important Tip: Every woman has a unique system of functioning, a different body type with different needs, before listening to anyone who has undergone IVF, kindly check with your doctor, whether you need to follow similar activities like them or not.