What happens after IVF?

After fertilisation and embryo development, your team explains whether an embryo transfer is planned and whether any suitable embryos will be frozen. Mild bloating, pelvic discomfort, breast tenderness, tiredness, or light spotting can follow treatment or hormone medicines. These sensations cannot confirm pregnancy, so rely on the test date rather than an early home test unless your clinic advises otherwise.

Take prescribed medicines exactly as directed and do not stop them because of spotting without speaking to the clinic. Keep the pregnancy-test appointment, follow advice about activity and sex, and contact the team before taking a new medicine. Emotional strain is common during the waiting period; choose support that feels useful and ask the clinic about counselling if worry is affecting sleep or daily life.

Contact your fertility clinic urgently for severe or increasing abdominal pain, heavy bleeding, faintness, breathing difficulty, chest pain, or rapidly increasing abdominal swelling. These symptoms can need prompt assessment after ovarian stimulation or embryo transfer. Once pregnancy is confirmed, one-sided pain, shoulder-tip pain, or bleeding also warrants urgent medical advice.

Ask when embryo transfer will occur, which medicines to continue, when to test, and how the result will be communicated. Clarify what happens to remaining embryos, which symptoms are expected, and who to call at night or on a public holiday.