Objective: To assess whether bed rest following the embryo transfer (ET) procedure contributes to the implantation process and pregnancy rate.
Design: A prospective (patient-influenced) study.
Setting: An in vitro fertilization (IVF) unit of an academic medical center.
Patient(s): Four hundred six patients undergoing controlled ovarian hyperstimulation and IVF.
Intervention(s): All women undergoing in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET) cycles in our unit were given a special individual counseling session before the ET procedure in which they were informed that our previous experience showed no advantage for bed rest over immediate ambulation after ET. The women were allowed to select the practice of their choice, and they were assured that their decision would have no influence on their further treatment.
Main outcome measure(s): The stimulation pattern and cycle outcome were compared between the two groups (bed rest and immediate ambulation).
Result(s): Of the 406 patients counseled during the study period, 167 preferred immediate ambulation and 239 opted to stay in the unit for 1 hour's bed rest. There were no significant differences between the groups in mean patient age, number of embryos transferred, and other variables of the assisted reproductive technique cycles. Pregnancy rates did not differ between the groups: 41 out of 167 (24.55%) in the immediate-ambulation group and 51 out of 239 (21.34%) in the bed-rest group.
Conclusion(s): Immediate ambulation following the ET procedure has no adverse influence on the ability to conceive.