Waiting to find out if your fertility treatment worked can be one of the hardest parts of the process, whether you’re coming off an IUI or an embryo transfer. This guide covers both what’s happening clinically during the wait and how to get through it emotionally.
The two-week wait is so important in the infertility world that it has an abbreviation: the TWW. This is the time between your embryo transfer or IUI (intrauterine insemination) and when you return to the clinic for a pregnancy test.
The TWW can vary from 9 to 14 days depending on your clinic. It may not exactly be two weeks, but it certainly can feel like a hundred years when you’re going through it.
Either your embryo is attaching to your uterus and starting to grow or it’s not. Some of us are good at waiting; most of us are not. At this point, you’ve done your part — now it’s largely up to nature. But there are still things you can do to help your embryo along, as well as a few things to avoid.
If you’ve had an embryo transfer, there are some specific clinical dos and don’ts your care team will want you to follow. Here’s what to know, plus how to manage the emotional side of the TWW no matter which treatment path brought you here.
What to Do (and Avoid) After Your Embryo Transfer
- Do take your prescribed medications. If you’ve been prescribed progesterone, take it as instructed. If you remember nothing else, remember to do that. Progesterone supports the growth of your embryo. Set up reminders on your phone or with Alexa or however you remember appointments — your mind is going to be all over the place, so setting up backup reminders might be helpful.
- Don’t take any other medication you haven’t already discussed with your nurse or doctor. Call your CCRM care team if you’re considering another medication for any reason.
- Don’t put anything in your vagina for 1 week. The one exception is any medication your doctor prescribed, such as suppositories. Otherwise, no baths, hot tubs, or swimming pools for one week. Refrain from sex and self-pleasuring as well. A desk job is fine to continue, but please take it easy in all regards. After the first week, you can go back to your more regular activity level — just don’t overdo it, and no heavy lifting. Please, let someone else put your suitcase in the overhead bin.
- Do take your prenatal vitamins.
- Do call if you have any bleeding or cramping. Let your CCRM team decide if the symptoms you may be experiencing are significant — there’s no need to worry alone. These symptoms can actually be a good sign, and they happen frequently.
- Do come in for a blood pregnancy test (sometimes called a “beta”) when your clinic schedules it — typically around 10-14 days after your FET or insemination — whether or not you think you’re pregnant. A blood test is the most accurate test for pregnancy and can give your care team more information than a positive or negative result from a home test alone can.
Eating and drinking during the TWW
Steer clear of caffeine, chocolate, and all alcohol, along with raw meats, sushi, and raw shellfish — and keep taking your vitamins. Eat like you’re already pregnant.. At this early stage, it likely won’t do much harm either way, but it’s good practice to start now.
How to cope emotionally during the TWW
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Take a breath and manage stress
Take a deep breath and prepare yourself for the fact that the next two weeks might be a challenging stretch. You’ve just gone through the whirlwind of fertility treatment, and now everything slows down — giving you a chance to regroup and reflect.
Studies have shown that the 4-7-8 breathing technique can help reduce anxiety, improve sleep, and lower stress. Here’s how it works:
- Find a comfortable place to sit
- Empty your lung
- Close your lips and inhale through your nose for a count of four
- Hold your breath for a count of seven
- Exhale completely through your mouth, making a whoosh sound, for a count of eight
- Repeat the cycle up to four times
It’s also worth remembering that it’s stressful to go through infertility, and even more stressful to go through treatment. But how much you stress will not affect your chances of implantation. So go ahead and feel whatever you’re feeling, then try to focus on the good, like how brave you are to be going through this at all.
2. Stay active
Doctors used to prescribe bed rest for this window, but not anymore. If you have a desk job, use it to keep your mind occupied. Do the things you love — just skip the heavy lifting or intense exercise. Take it easy for the first week, then light walks and mild exercise are fine. Get outside and enjoy the day.
3. Practice self-care
While distraction can help keep your mind off the wait, it can also feel stressful if your schedule is too packed. This might be a good time to cancel non-essential commitments and take some time for yourself instead.
Schedule a massage or a therapy appointment. Try journaling, eat your favorite foods, and do things that help you relax. Buy yourself a small treat or get your hair done — you deserve a reward for everything you’ve been through over the last few weeks or months.
4. Find healthy distractions
If distraction (rather than rest) is more your speed, here are a few ideas:
- Grab lunch with a friend
- Read a good book you can immerse yourself in
- Try something new, like a hobby you haven’t tried or a new recipe
- Declutter your office, photos, or email inbox
- Get outside for a walk
Should you test early at home?
Many fertility specialists recommend waiting for the clinic’s official blood pregnancy test (your beta) rather than testing at home early. Everyone’s body is different, and embryos can implant at different times — one person might get a positive test 8 days after IVF, while someone else may not see one until day 14.
The TWW is already an emotional rollercoaster, and testing early can add to that anxiety. That said, you might be someone who needs to know ahead of time before you hear from your clinic. If you decide to test early, use your first morning urine, since it tends to be the most concentrated.
Try not to go overboard with testing, since it can become its own source of stress. And if an early result comes back negative, it doesn’t necessarily mean you’re not pregnant — it may just be too early to tell. Whatever you decide, wait for your scheduled blood test at CCRM to get the most reliable answer.
Is bleeding or cramping during the TWW normal?
Spotting or light bleeding during the TWW can actually be a good sign — implantation itself can cause it, and cramping can happen post-treatment too. Either way, it doesn’t necessarily mean your treatment went one way or another. If you’re bleeding or cramping and are concerned, call your clinic. And for what it’s worth, your embryo cannot simply “fall out,” even over a bumpy car ride or a big pothole. Your uterus isn’t hollow like a balloon — it holds the embryo securely, even if you’re jumping up and down.
Find a support system
It can help to reach out to a small circle of trusted friends or family for support. Talk to your partner about how you’re feeling and let them know how they can best help you. Screen your calls if you need to, and consider finding an online support group of people going through the same thing. Surround yourself with people who encourage and lift you up, and if you can, give yourself permission to limit time with anyone who brings negativity right now.
Consider planning a low-key date night with your partner (or a friend) for the evening of your results — something to look forward to either way, win or lose. It can also help to schedule a session with a therapist, life coach, or acupuncturist before and after your transfer; talking through your emotions with a professional or using acupuncture to help manage stress can offer real relief during this stretch.
Keep a journal or scrapbook through it all, even if it’s just for you. Documenting what you’re going through — the hard parts and the hopeful ones — can be its own form of support, and a record of how far you’ve come.
The bottom line
You don’t have to endure the TWW alone. Don’t hesitate to reach out to one of our CCRM fertility counselors or your local CCRM clinic for extra support or to answer any questions along the way.
