Will I Feel Pregnant After IVF?

Early Pregnancy Symptoms After IVF: What to Expect

IVF, or in vitro fertilisation, is a widely used fertility treatment option for women. In this process, eggs are combined with sperm in a laboratory setting. This advanced method is highly beneficial for couples who have tried for so long but can not naturally achieve pregnancy. IVF involves several complex steps and reproductive technology.

If you are undergoing IVF or considering it, you may wonder: "Will I feel pregnant right after the procedure?" Let us break down the procedure first and then what you can expect after IVF, addressing your concern.

Will You Experience Early Pregnancy Symptoms After IVF?

Yes, it's possible to experience some early pregnancy symptoms after IVF. But it's important to know that this experience can vary significantly. Some women may experience certain symptoms, while others may not feel anything in the early days.

Also, note that some symptoms can be confusing, as they may be similar to the side effects of IVF medications.

The Common Early Pregnancy Symptoms After IVF

Let us take a deeper look at the symptoms you may experience after IVF:

1.Implantation Bleeding

It is possibly the most obvious sign after IVF. The majority of women notice slight spotting or bleeding after the embryo places itself into the uterine wall. It generally occurs 6-10 days after the in-vitro fertilisation process.

2.Breast Tenderness

Similar to the natural pregnancy, women undergoing IVF may experience breast pain or tenderness. It happens due to the drastic hormonal changes in the body after IVF. This early pregnancy sign is also common when females consume hormone medications during treatment.

3.Mild Cramping

Many female individuals feel mild cramps, almost similar to period cramps. This is typically a healthy sign of successful embryo implantation and is not a concerning matter unless you feel severe pain.

4.Bloating or Constipation

As the body faces severe hormonal changes, digestion slows down. As a result, females deal with bloating and constipation issues at this time. 

5.Frequent Urination

If you feel the urge to urinate frequently, it can be a sign of early pregnancy after IVF treatment. After embryo implantation, the uterus starts to grow, so your body feels pressure on the urine bladder.

6.Fatigue

Feeling tiredness throughout the day is a typical early pregnancy symptom. The majority of women face this issue due to increased progesterone levels in the blood. 

Why Do Couples Choose IVF?

Many couples and individuals choose IVF when natural conception isn’t working or isn’t an option. IVF offers hope by directly addressing a variety of fertility challenges. Here's why people often opt for this treatment:

• They face unexplained infertility. Sometimes, even after multiple tests, doctors can’t find a clear reason for infertility. In such cases, IVF becomes a practical next step.
• One partner has a medical condition. Health issues like blocked fallopian tubes, low sperm count, endometriosis, or irregular ovulation can prevent natural conception. IVF helps bypass these problems.
• Other fertility treatments didn’t work. When treatments like fertility drugs or intrauterine insemination (IUI) fail, couples often move to IVF for better chances.
• The woman is of advanced maternal age. As women age, their fertility naturally declines. IVF helps improve success rates, especially for women over 35.

How Are Pregnancy Symptoms After IVF Different from Natural Pregnancy Symptoms?

They are usually similar to normal pregnancy symptoms. However, certain symptoms, like mild cramping and bleeding, may be more noticeable in this case. It happens because of the hormonal medications, treatments and procedures involved. 

When Should You Opt for a Pregnancy Test After IVF?

In IVF, the timing of a pregnancy test is vital to get accurate results. The majority of specialists recommend waiting two weeks ( almost 10 to 14 days) after embryo implantation. In medical terms, this period is considered a two-week wait.

This period offers sufficient time for the embryo to implant into the uterine lining and release the primary pregnancy hormone (hCG) into your bloodstream.

Here, you may ask, "Why not test earlier?" Testing early (right after IVF) can lead to false-negative or false-positive results. If hCG levels are not yet increased, the test may provide a false negative result, suggesting you're not pregnant even if you are. 

Besides, hCG trigger shots (fertility medicines used in IVF) can mimic pregnancy hormones and cause false-positive results.

Also Read:

→ What are the 5 Stages of IVF

→ What are the Side Effects of IVF

→ Is IVF a Painful Process

→ What is IVF Treatment Used for

→ What is IVF and How is it Done