What should I be aware of now that I have had a successful embryo transfer?

Congratulations – you have tested positive for pregnancy 14 days after your successful embryo transfer! In another 14 days, you will have a transvaginal ultrasound performed. If the doctor determines that the results are normal, you will undergo another follow-up ultrasound in one month. Through New Hope Fertility Center’s Customized Fertility Care, it is normal for you to undergo two vaginal ultrasounds in the beginning of your first trimester.

Post-Embryo Transfer Treatment

Using World Class Technology, the fertility specialists at New Hope Fertility Center are very cautious in their diagnosis of the health of a pregnancy post-embryo transfer. It is recommended that patients inform their obstetrician about the number of embryos that were transferred every time their transvaginal ultrasounds are being performed.

Transvaginal Ultrasounds

Early pregnancy transvaginal ultrasounds are very important because the procedure helps doctors detect an ectopic pregnancy. Although the chances of an ectopic pregnancy is slight, it must be diagnosed as soon as practical because it is a very serious and life-threatening medical condition.

• In about 2 percent of Frozen Embryo Transfer (FET) cases, a woman can experience an ectopic pregnancy
• Fresh embryo transfers can result in an ectopic pregnancy in 6 to 9 percent of cases

Knowing the number of embryos transferred will alert the patient’s obstetrician to look for any development of a pseudogestational sac – the presence of an ectopic pregnancy. Again, it is rare for an ectopic pregnancy and intrauterine pregnancy to occur at the same time. However, with IVF treatment, the possibility of ectopic pregnancy and intrauterine pregnancy occurring at the same time is higher than in a natural pregnancy.

hCG and Progesterone Level Monitoring

Your doctor must also monitor your hCG level – human chorionic gonadotropin hormone – produced during pregnancy. The hormone hCG is made by cells formed in the placenta, which nourishes the embryo when it is attached to the uterine lining. The levels of hCG are initially detected by a blood test 14 days after conception and double every 72 hours. However, if your hCG level tests for a value of 100 or less, this is considered a low level. Normally, hCG levels reach a peak in the first 8 to 11 weeks of pregnancy and then will decline and level off for the remainder of a healthy pregnancy.

You will probably have your hGC level and your progesterone level tested every 3 days to determine if the level has increased. If your hGC level does not increase, and your progesterone level is less than 5, there is a possibility that an ectopic pregnancy may have occurred. You must be vigilant to recognize the symptoms. You will be required to return for follow ups visits to monitor your hCG levels until it is normal.

Vaginal Bleeding in not Conclusive of a Problematic Pregnancy

If you experience bleeding after a confirmed pregnancy, do not panic. Vaginal bleeding during the early stages of pregnancy is very common. The chances of bleeding during pregnancy is higher if you are carrying twins. Also, if your endometrial lining is thin, you will also experience bleeding during pregnancy.

Patients who have a low hCG value – 14 days after the embryo transfer – will also experience bleeding. The cause of bleeding may be:

• An ectopic pregnancy,
• A biochemical pregnancy, or
• Abnormal embryo development

Diagnosis and Treatment of Vaginal Bleeding

Having regular ultrasounds monitoring is very important.

Your doctor will perform a transvaginal ultrasound to identify the cause of the bleeding. If the fetus is developing normally, and there is minimal bleeding, your doctor will prescribe progesterone vaginal suppositories

If you are only using Duphaston, you can also use Prometrium twice a day or use one Crinone. If you are currently applying progesterone vaginal suppositories, you doctor may increase the dosage by using medications such as 2 tablets of Prometrium twice a day. If you are unable to use a suppository, you may inject 40 to 60 mg of progesterone oil per day. Because of heavy bleeding, vaginal suppositories of progesterone are not recommended.

Treatment After Successful Embryo Transfer

Also, the bleeding problem cannot be resolved if you used a low dosage of progesterone medication. Progesterone treatment may not stop your bleeding immediately. During the early stages of pregnancy, bleeding may be intermittent. Some patients can even experience bleeding up to 4 months into their pregnancy. Injection of progesterone oil can be replaced with progesterone vaginal suppositories once the bleeding is stopped.

Remember, the cause of bleeding during the early stages of pregnancy is unclear. There is no relationship between bleeding and a lack of progesterone. To be sure, do not expect that taking progesterone medication can help stop the bleeding. Whether progesterone medication is applied vaginally or injected, there will be no immediate effect on stopping the bleeding. If you are not in pain, and your bleeding is not heavy, you do not need to go to the emergency room.

Preeminent Healthcare Provider

To discover more about what you should be aware of when you are expecting, please click the link below and enter your information, or simply call 212-517-7676. A fertility specialist from New Hope Fertility Center will be in touch with you shortly. Thank you for visiting my blog!