IVF can be a rollercoaster of emotions for us. On the one hand, you are excited to finally be able to get pregnant and have your own little baby.
On the other hand, you need to be anxious and wary of each symptom you experience during this period.
One such symptom that can scare you after embryo transfer is fever. Having a fever after embryo transfer can make you worry whether the IVF procedure will be successful or not.
So, in this article, we’ll discuss everything we know about fever after embryo transfer and what we need to do to overcome it without affecting your chances of pregnancy.
Is It Normal to Have Fever After Embryo Transfer?
Yes, a slight increase in temperature is normal and can be a sign of embryo implantation or hormonal effects. However, high or prolonged fever must be evaluated by your healthcare provider.
Feeling Feverish After Embryo Transfer: Is It Normal?
The days after embryo transfer is a very crucial stage of your IVF pregnancy. Feeling a bit feverish soon after embryo transfer can be scary. You will be anxious whether the illness will affect your pregnancy success rate.
You will also be confused about whether you can take any medication and if it would affect your pregnancy. However, don’t worry. Experiencing an increase in temperature after embryo transfer is not always a negative sign.
There are other reasons why you might experience a fever. Some are listed below.
Causes of Fever After Embryo Transfer
There are several reasons why your body temperature might climb during this waiting period. Some are natural parts of the process, while others require more attention:
Hormonal injections: The rapid hormone changes that occur in your body while taking hormonal injections can increase your basal body temperature (BBT) slightly. This is to provide your eggs with the right temperature to grow and develop into healthy, mature eggs.
The Immune Response: Hormonal treatment can temporarily shift your body’s resistance. Sometimes, your body’s temperature rises as a natural defense mechanism or as a reaction to the physical process of the transfer itself.
Embryo implantation: Your uterus needs to be at an optimum temperature to implant the incoming embryo and provide a nurturing and warm environment for it to grow. This “internal warming” can increase your BBT a little.
Actual Infection: In rarer cases, a fever is caused by an underlying illness or an infection (like a UTI). This is why tracking the “grade” of the fever is so important.
Flu After Embryo Transfer
Many women report feeling like they are coming down with a “flu” shortly after their transfer. You might experience a stuffy nose, sneezing or cough, fatigue, or mild body aches. This is often referred to as the “IVF Cold.”
While it feels like the flu, it is usually caused by high levels of progesterone. Progesterone can cause the nasal passages to swell and increase your core temperature, making you feel “flu-ish” even if you aren’t actually sick.
However, if your “flu” includes a high fever, a severe cough, or extreme exhaustion, it is best to check in with your specialist to rule out a virus.
101 Fever After Embryo Transfer
A body temperature of 101°F after embryo transfer is considered a mild fever. Mild fever in this range is often related to hormonal changes or the body’s immune response but should be monitored closely. If it persists beyond a few days, seek medical advice promptly.
Fever After Frozen Embryo Transfer
Fever after frozen embryo transfer (FET) is like fever after a fresh transfer, most of the time it is caused by hormonal medications or implantation. The chance of infection leading to fever is still very low, but it cannot be ruled out entirely. Keep an eye on a fever that is lasting or very high, and see your doctor.
Mild Fever After Embryo Transfer
Mild fever commonly occurs due to progesterone injections and implantation. This slight increase in body temperature is generally harmless and temporary.
Vomiting and Fever After IVF Embryo Transfer
Vomiting accompanied by fever after embryo transfer may signal ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) or infection. This requires urgent consultation with your fertility specialist to ensure safety.
What Are The Next Steps?
You might not want to, but sometimes, the world doesn’t work your way and you might have a fever some days after embryo transfer.
In such a case, you should have prior knowledge of what you should do at that time to prevent it from getting complicated. Here are some things you can do.
Test the duration of your fever
As we discussed above, your fever might also be due to implantation or hormone changes. But this temperature will decrease within a few days.
If you experience a fever for several days and the temperature keeps increasing each day, then it might indicate a serious issue.
Consult Your IVF Specialist
This is the best and most effective option for you to clear your doubts and treat the issue if you have a fever after embryo transfer. By getting advice of best fertility specialist will get you the medications that won’t affect you or your baby.
What Are The Other Symptoms After The Embryo Transfer?
Apart from a slight increase in body temperature, you might also experience other symptoms after embryo transfer. Below are some of those symptoms that might indicate a positive pregnancy for you.
- Light bleeding or spotting: You might experience light spotting about a week or two after embryo transfer. This is a sign of embryo implantation.
- Fatigue and tiredness: Like any pregnancy, you will feel increasingly tired.
- Mood swings: Your body undergoes rapid hormonal changes during pregnancy. This can cause mood swings and make you more cranky and moody.
- Cramping: Abdominal cramps can also be a sign of embryo implantation.
- Frequent urge to urinate: An increase in progesterone and hCG hormones during pregnancy can make you want to urinate frequently.
- Nausea and vomiting: These symptoms are also due to hormonal changes.
Conclusion
As you have seen, experiencing an increase in body temperature after embryo transfer is not always a bad sign. It can be due to embryo implantation, too.
However, if the fever persists and increases in temperature as days go by, visit our fertility hospital for a checkup and get your condition diagnosed. Consult with our fertility doctor and take the necessary precautions to counter it.
FAQs
You don’t need to worry if you don’t experience any symptoms even after a few days after embryo transfer. You can take a pregnancy test after two weeks and confirm whether you are pregnant or not. You can also take a blood test or ultrasound to confirm pregnancy.
Some symptoms that can indicate a positive embryo transfer are
- Light bleeding or spotting,
- Fatigue & tiredness,
- Mood swings,
- Abdominal cramps,
- Nausea & vomiting,
- Frequent urge to urinate, etc.
Mild fever after embryo transfer is common due to hormonal changes or implantation. However, high or persistent fever may signal infection and needs prompt medical attention. Always consult your fertility doctor before taking any medication.
Paracetamol/paracetamol is generally considered safe for relieving fever and pain after embryo transfer but should only be taken after consulting your fertility doctor to avoid any risk to the embryo.
Yes, fever can affect embryo implantation, especially if it is caused by an infection, as high body temperatures can interfere with the delicate process of implantation.
A slight increase in body temperature can occur after implantation due to hormonal changes, but a high fever is unusual and should be monitored. If persistent, it’s important to consult your healthcare provider.
