Do You Need Some Rest In IVF Procedures?
Is bed rest necessary after an embryo transfer or is it a myth made by our ancestors? This is one of the most common questions that gets asked the most. Why do you think people are eagerly waiting to know this? From the question, it seems like women are not at all interested in taking rest no matter where they are in their life. Nobody chooses an IVF just for fun or to experience what it is.
They will only experience them when they are compelled to do it. The procedure costs a leg and an arm, so don’t you think you should be doing whatever you are supposed to do? If the doctor recommends you take rest, you should understand that it is what your body needs and if they say rest is not mandatory, then you are still supposed to ensure that you are not burdening your body with something unnecessary, yet hard.
The chances of success in an IVF procedure are relatively higher than any other infertility treatment. But, this doesn’t mean that you expect success every time you do. Your carelessness should never be the reason for an abortion. Instead, you should be the first one to ensure your safety. After all, you said yes to IVF in the hope of conceiving a child in the first place.
So, until your dream comes true, you are asked to be responsible for your actions. However, if you ask a strict bed rest is necessary after an IVF procedure, then we will have to brief you about the procedure and its significance before we take you to the right answer. So, scroll down.
What Is An IVF Procedure?
IVF (In Vitro Fertilization) is a commonly used procedure whereby an egg is retrieved from a female body and is made fertilized by sperm in a laboratory. It assists with the conception of a child by preventing genetic problems. It is a recommended solution for those suffering from uterine fibroids, damaged fallopian tubes, endometriosis, and ovulation disorders. Indeed, IVF is one of the most effective forms of infertility treatment, especially in the class Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART).
IVF is not necessarily carried out using a couple’s own eggs and sperm. A third person’s egg or sperm can also be used during the process. Moreover, in some cases, a gestational carrier, one who carries an embryo after it is implanted in the uterus, may also be involved.
Normally, during the procedure, women are provided with ovulation induction medications prior a couple of weeks before the surgery to make them produce multiple healthy eggs instead of one in a month. This enhances the chance of pregnancy as the doctors can move on to the second egg if the first one fails to meet the desired requirements. So, after collecting the egg from the ovaries, it is fertilized by sperm outside their bodies.
The sperm used are either collected from their partners or from donors hours before the surgery. It can also be collected and frozen to use whenever needed. Once the egg is fertilized, it becomes an embryo and is transferred to the uterus. Generally, IVF takes around 3 weeks to complete all processes, but sometimes, it can take longer than a month.
Can IVF Always Be Successful?
The success of an IVF procedure depends on various factors including the cause of infertility and your age. If the cause is not that complicated, then you are more likely to enjoy parenthood via an IVF treatment. But in some cases, more than one embryo is transferred to the uterus causing multiple pregnancies at the same time. This is one of the drawbacks as it will be hard for couples, especially women, who will have to carry more than one fetus in their womb. It might result in causing more distress to the parents as the entire journey will be hard. Would you take a rest in this case?
Is Rest Mandatory After An IVF Procedure?
The simple answer is no. Technology and medicine have grown tremendously in the past few decades we are currently at the point where we do not have to spend more time on anything regardless of its significance in our life. You can imagine how important would conceiving be to couples who have been trying to conceive for a long time. However, doctors, nowadays, do not recommend strict bed rest to patients who undergo IVF procedures. This is because of the trust in the technology which is used.
However, the law of nature requires women to take care of themselves during pregnancy, regardless of whether it is natural pregnancy or artificially induced. Only the beginning of the procedure is different, the rest are the same. Your body same as an induced embryo and a self-formed embryo. It releases the same amount of hormone unless you take hormone-stimulating medications. Therefore, no matter how you get pregnant, you have to ensure that you are not overdoing anything. Neither there is a need for a strict bed rest, nor can you do whatever you want to.
In case of multiple pregnancies, rest becomes mandatory after the IVF procedure. Other than that, you are only supposed to pay extra attention to your health. In 1997, a study discovered that there was no apparent difference in pregnant women who took 24 hours of rest and 7 hours of rest. In a 2005 study, another group of scientists found that the success rate of an IVF had nothing to do with the amount of rest taken immediately after the surgery.
Conclusion
Pregnancy is not a war and hence it should be treated normally but with care. Generally, you should be able to carry out your everyday activities without any trouble even after an IVF procedure. Some women might experience pain after the surgery for which rest can be recommended. Still, in normal cases, you are even allowed to do moderate exercises which are basically good for both the mother and child. However, performing vigorous exercises may lead to exceeded energy consumption and discomfort.
So, do what you can and make sure that you are not completely lazy. Rest is only needed when there are any kind of complications. Unless everything is normal, you should be living your life exactly like how you did before the procedure. But always remember to abstain from further intercourse as it might interrupt the growing embryo.
