Spotting After Embryo Transfer

Is spotting a positive sign after embryo transfer or negative? Does spotting indicate the failure of the embryo transferring procedure, or does it signify a miscarriage?

These are a few of the questions that must have been running in your mind lately.

Women are told to check their panties for blood or poke their breasts to see if it firm as they are told that these are the symptoms that signal a successful implantation.

Meanwhile, Dr. Tanmoy Mukherjee, an infertility specialist at RMA, New York, says that a pregnancy cannot be confirmed until you take a pregnancy test. However, it is a nature of a human to look for a positive sign, especially when they are waiting for it.

There is a two-week period after the embryo transfer, where doctors would suggest you take rest. This is the period in which implantation occurs and although it is only two weeks, it might seem like an eternity. This is why, you are more likely to look for signs that say that you are pregnant and your efforts were worth it.

However, some of you must be confused thinking if bleeding or spotting after embryo transfer is a sign of pregnancy or miscarriage. In this article, we are going to discuss what spotting after embryo transfer means. So, read on.

To begin with, an embryo transfer is a technology where an embryo is artificially placed in a woman’s womb. Couples do not opt for such pregnancies until one of them is diagnosed with infertility. In order to fulfill their dream of parenthood, they look for treatment such as IVF (In Vitro Fertilization).

Although desired results are not guaranteed, individuals expect to conceive after the completion of the procedure. However, there is a waiting period of 15 days, during which it will be finalized whether you are pregnant or not.

Normally, women are concerned when they see bleeding or spotting during their pregnancy, even in its early stage. But, is it really something to be concerned about?

What Causes Spotting After Embryo Transfer?

As per the normal physiology of women, one of their ovaries releases an egg to the fallopian tube during their menstrual cycle. Pregnancy occurs when a sperm enters and fertilizes it. After 4-5 days, the embryo will be matured and it will move towards the uterus and sticks to the uterine wall. This process is referred to as implantation.

Causes Of Spotting After Embryo Transfer

During implantation, spotting is seen in most women, although not in everyone. In short, it is the process of implantation that causes bleeding. Such bleeding or spotting is commonly called implantation bleeding or spotting.

Similarly, during IVF, eggs are retrieved and combined with sperm in the laboratory. They form multiple embryos and the appropriate one is chosen for the procedure and is transferred to the uterus. Until now, all the processes were induced. But, from now on, things can only happen naturally. So, if the implantation is taking place, then it is only a natural process.

While it was okay when you had to bleed in a spontaneously conceived pregnancy, how come it is concerning when you obtained the pregnancy through IVF?

In simple words, spotting after embryo transfer is no different from implantation spotting that occurs after a normally conceived pregnancy. But there are also other instances where spotting is common during the treatment.

When Is Spotting More Common?

Implantation is not the only process that may lead to spotting after embryo transfer. During IVF, you can expect spotting as soon as you begin the treatment. In the early stage, you will be given ovulation induction medicines to increase the number of eggs your ovaries release a month.

This might bring changes in the hormone levels which might lead to spotting. This type of spotting is common in women taking progesterone suppositories as they are known to make your cervix more sensitive. So, whenever you enter into sexual intercourse with your partner, it will result in bleeding due to the sensitivity of the cervix.

Spotting is also seen in a class of women undergoing IVF treatment during the process of egg retrieval. To collect the egg. A catheter attached to a needle is inserted into the vagina causing inflammation, irritation, mild cramping, and spotting. However, these side effects are cleared in a few days.

But still, you are supposed to pay attention to it, because not all spotting after embryo transfer is normal.

When Should You Be Concerned About Spotting?

Spotting after embryo transfer is normal until it is not coupled with painful cramps or vomiting. If that happens, you should know that something is not well with your pregnancy. These types of bleeding can occur due to reasons other than implantation, such as the manipulation of the cervix, which the doctor might have done due to some sort of technical difficulties experienced in the middle of the procedure, or the use of vaginal suppositories.

Several vaginal suppositories are provided by doctors to prepare your uterus to receive and hold the embryo.

In some rare instances, spotting after embryo transfer results in miscarriage. Thai happens when there is an ectopic pregnancy. An ectopic pregnancy is a pregnancy where the embryo is implanted somewhere else rather than the uterus, mostly the fallopian tube.

While a fallopian tube is a fragile structure that is only meant to serve as a pathway for the sperm and egg, it does not have the strength to hold a fetus. To the worst, the situation might even lead to a ruptured fallopian tube. This is quite serious and you should be giving proper medical attention immediately.

Conclusion

Spotting after embryo transfer is often considered to be a distressing condition, whereas, it is normal during implantation during normally conceived pregnancy or induced pregnancy. Spotting is also seen during the medication period due to the sensitivity caused by the medicines to the cervical cavity.

Moreover, light spotting is common after egg retrieval in some women. However, you should be concerned when such spotting occurs along with severe stomach cramps. This might be an indication of danger. It can even lead to a miscarriage. So, consult your doctor when you experience abnormal spotting after embryo transfer.

Spotting After Embryo Transfer – Will It Lead To Miscarriage?