Immediate Ambulation Versus Short-time Bed Rest in Sub-fertile Women Undergoing Embryo Transfer

Bed rest after embryo transfers has been clinically advised without robust scientific evidence. Most of the assisted reproductive units routinely recommend a variable period of bedrest immediately after embryo transfer (ET) procedure without clear scientific evidence of its benefit. Three Randomized controlled trials (RCT) that included 712 embryo transfers with variable duration of bedrest did not report a benefit in pregnancy outcome. Only one study, however compared bedrest with no bedrest. In contrast, a 2013 RCT reported a harmful effect on the pregnancy outcome.

However, data on patients using embryos derived from their own oocytes are limited. In addition, there was no subgroup analysis to exclude confounding factors like number of oocytes retrieved and quality of embryos transferred. Few of these studies included embryos transferred after preimplantation genetic diagnosis.

The rationale behind bedrest come from the belief that decreased physical activity will help in embryo retention within the uterine cavity after replacement6. Ultrasound examination before and after ET with immediate ambulation did not show any uterine displacement of the air bubble. if gravity displaces transferred embryos, then staying with full bladder in supine position will make the anteverted ante flexed uterus more horizontal and increase the gravity effect.

Moreover, although bed rest is one of the most practiced treatments to improve reproductive outcome, most clinicians consider it the least crucial factor.

In investigators' unit, post ET instructions, which, may take up to 5 minutes, are practiced immediately after ET to patients while lying in bed. The aim of the study is to compare the effect of this practice with immediate ambulation and giving instructions after emptying the bladder in a sitting position on the reproductive outcome in patients undergoing assisted reproductive treatment.

Inclusion criteria

• Couple undergoing In vitro fertilization, Intracytoplasmic sperm injection, Frozen embryo replacement or Frozen Intracytoplasmic sperm injection
• Age between 20 to 40-year-old
• Couples who are willingly accepting to participate in the study. Both husband and wife will sign the consent.

Exclusion criteria

• Women with diminished ovarian reserve (AMH < 1.2 ng/ml or AFC < 7)
• Women with unilateral or bilateral hydro salpinx
• Women with bilateral endometriomas
• Women with adenomyosis
• Women with large (more than 3 cm uterine fibroid)
• Women with fluid or polyp in the uterine cavity
• Women with known chronic endometritis
• Women with H/O recurrent >2 pregnancy loss or implantation failure
• Were enrolled in this study before