How to Support Your Embryo After IVF: What Really Happens in the First 14 Days After Transfer 

Once the embryo is transferred, the main work shifts from you to your body. The embryo begins looking for a place to attach within the uterine lining and connect to your blood supply. This process is largely automatic and happens without you feeling anything at all.

It’s important to remember one essential fact: even in natural conception, many embryos do not implant. IVF only makes this process more visible — it doesn’t change the underlying biology.

IVF, Transfer, and FET (KET): What’s the Difference and Why Does It Matter?

To clarify the basics: IVF is a treatment where the embryo is created in the laboratory and then transferred to the uterus. The transfer can be ​“fresh” (in the same cycle as the egg retrieval) or frozen — known as a FET/KET (frozen embryo transfer). The uterus can be prepared naturally (during your own ovulation) or hormonally using HRT (hormone replacement therapy).

For you, the key point is that recommendations after transfer are similar, but medications — mainly progesterone and sometimes estrogens — may differ depending on the type of cycle.

Interesting note: A large randomized study (COMPETE, 2025) found that for women who ovulate regularly, preparing the uterus for FET in a natural cycle resulted in higher live birth rates and lower miscarriage rates compared to HRT-prepared cycles.

Timeline After Embryo Transfer

Every body is unique, but the general timeline often looks like this:

• Day 0 (transfer day): Rest briefly, then go home.
• Days 1 – 3: The embryo is ​“getting to know” the uterine lining. Most women feel nothing — completely normal.
• Days 4 – 7: Implantation takes place (some may experience light spotting — many experience nothing).
• Days 8 – 12: The body may start producing more hCG — some tests pick it up, others don’t yet.
• Days 12 – 14: The most common time your clinic recommends taking an hCG test.

Important: Symptoms during this period are not reliable indicators of pregnancy. Hormones cause most symptoms — not implantation itself. 

How to Support Your Embryo After IVF

Rest, But Avoid Extremes

You don’t need to stay in bed all day. A short rest after the transfer is enough. Light daily activity, short walks, and your normal routine are all safe. Avoid only heavy physical strain, lifting heavy objects, and overheating (sauna, hot baths).

Follow Your Medication Plan — Not Every Internet Tip

Your medications have a real, evidence‑based purpose — especially progesterone, which stabilizes the uterine lining and creates ideal conditions for implantation.
Be cautious with ​“miracle tips” from online forums that contradict your doctor’s advice. Every IVF journey is individual.

Interesting note: Some studies suggest that combining different forms of progesterone may be more effective for women with low progesterone levels — but the optimal approach is always determined individually by your doctor.

When to Call Your Clinic or Seek Medical Help

Some sensations after transfer are normal. But contact your clinic if you experience:

• heavy bleeding (similar to or stronger than a menstrual period),
• severe or worsening abdominal pain,
• fever above 38°C, chills, or significant nausea,
• shortness of breath, chest pain, or calf swelling (rare but important),
• signs of severe OHSS (if you had stimulation): abdominal swelling, rapid weight gain, difficulty breathing. 

And remember: It is better to call unnecessarily than too late.

Your Emotional Well‑Being Matters More Than You Might Think

Stress does not ​“flush out” an embryo — that is a myth. However, chronic tension can affect hormonal balance.

Interesting note: Statistics consistently show that women who feel supported and well‑informed by their clinic describe the IVF experience as less overwhelming — and cope with outcomes, including negative ones, more easily.

What can help:

• avoiding constant testing or symptom‑spotting,
• open communication with your partner,
• small calming rituals (reading, gentle exercise, time outdoors).

Interesting note: A retrospective analysis from 2025 looked at women with genetically normal embryos. It showed that hyaluronan‑enriched transfer media (often called EmbryoGlue) did not significantly improve overall live birth rates, though subgroups with poor‑quality embryos may see nuanced differences.

Diet and Daily Routine: No Magic Tricks, Just Good Basics

While waiting for results, it makes sense to support your body with:

• fresh vegetables,
• quality protein,
• healthy fats,
• a good hydration routine.

Key supplements include folic acid, vitamin D, and omega‑3 fatty acids.

Completely avoid alcohol and smoking. A nutrition specialist can help tailor your diet if needed.
A light walk in fresh air can be very beneficial if you feel well.


Symptoms — what to trust and what not to trust: Tender breasts, pelvic pressure, fatigue, or spotting may or may not mean anything. Women who do and do not get pregnant report the same symptoms. Only the hCG test provides a reliable answer.

Tip: Interested in other patients’ stories? You can read them on our blog.

If the Outcome Isn’t What You Hoped For

It’s important to say this clearly: even if you do everything perfectly, the outcome is not fully in your control. If the embryo doesn’t implant, it’s not your fault. It doesn’t mean you did something wrong.

Modern IVF accounts for this possibility and offers many follow‑up steps — adjusting stimulation, additional testing, or advanced lab methods that may increase future chances.

Success often comes gradually, with careful diagnostics and good timing. You’re not alone, and IVF is a process — sometimes requiring more than one attempt.

Interesting note: Research presented in 2025 (including ESHRE data) showed that low progesterone levels on the day of transfer in HRT‑prepared cycles may be linked to lower success rates. Some clinics use ​“rescue” progesterone supplementation strategies to improve outcomes.

You Don’t Have to Go Through This Alone — How Prague Fertility Centre Can Support You

The period after embryo transfer is one of the most emotionally demanding stages of IVF. You’re waiting, observing your body, and wondering whether everything is going well. There’s no single perfect answer to how to help an embryo implant. You can create good conditions — follow your medication plan, avoid extremes, and give your body time — but the outcome is never solely in your hands.

That’s why it’s so valuable to have a team that truly supports you. At Prague Fertility Centre, care is built on individualized treatment, open communication, and long‑term planning. It’s not just about the transfer — it’s about everything before and after it, including support during the waiting period and guidance for the next steps.

What Prague Fertility Centre Offers

• A fully individualized IVF plan based on your history, age, and previous cycles
• State‑of‑the‑art laboratory techniques and extended embryo culture to the blastocyst stage
• Genetic embryo testing (PGT) for indicated cases
• Endometrial receptivity testing to better time the transfer, especially after repeated failures
• A dedicated doctor and personal coordinator to guide you throughout the process
• A supportive and transparent approach so you always understand why each step is recommended

If you’re unsure whether your treatment plan is optimal, or if you’re deciding what to do next — regardless of whether your result was positive or negative — we’re here for you. A consultation with a specialist can bring clarity, peace of mind, and a clear path forward.