Fresh Embryo Transfer Process: What to Know

Fresh transfer is part of an IVF cycle. After eggs are collected and fertilised in the laboratory, the fertility team assesses the embryos and agrees whether transfer is appropriate in that cycle. The uterus is prepared with medication or through the body's own cycle, depending on the plan.

For the transfer, a clinician passes a thin catheter through the cervix and releases the selected embryo into the uterus. The procedure is usually brief. Micronised progesterone may be prescribed to support the uterine lining, and the clinic will tell you when to take a pregnancy test.

Follow instructions about medication, appointments, hydration, and arriving at the clinic. Wear comfortable clothing and ask whether you need a partly full bladder for the procedure. Afterward, continue prescribed medicines and follow the clinic's advice about work, exercise, sex, and travel.

Mild cramps, pelvic pressure, or light spotting may occur. These sensations cannot confirm whether implantation has happened, so wait for the planned test rather than interpreting every symptom. Keep a note of concerns and contact the team if symptoms change.

Call your fertility clinic promptly for increasing abdominal swelling, significant pain, heavy bleeding, fever, vomiting, breathing difficulty, or reduced urine. Seek urgent help for severe pain with faintness or collapse. These symptoms may need assessment during or after the stimulation and transfer period.

Ask how many appointments remain, which medicines are essential, what happens if symptoms develop, and when the pregnancy test should be taken. You can also ask why fresh transfer is suitable for your cycle and what the alternative plan would be if transfer is postponed.