Frequently Asked Questions

• How should we make changes in our lifestyle during IVF treatment?

We should avoid smoking and alcohol use. We should not engage in strenuous exercises especially after the embryo transfer. You must take your medications regularly.

• Can I swim after the egg retrieval or embryo transfer procedure?

Yes, you can swim 48 hours after the procedure. 

• Is it safe to travel by car or plane after the embryo transfer?

Yes, you can travel by car within 4 hours or by plane the next day.

• Are there any restrictions on sexual intercourse after the procedures (egg retrieval or transfer)?

It is advisable to abstain from sexual intercourse starting from the egg retrieval procedure.

• Can I dye my hair during the treatment?

No.

• When can I return to work?

If your job is not physically demanding, you can return to work one day after the transfer.

• How many embryos can be transferred at once?

According to regulations, for patients up to the age of 35, only one embryo is transferred in the first and second treatments. For all other patients, a maximum of 2 embryos can be transferred.

• When is pregnancy confirmed?

Pregnancy is confirmed 12 days after the embryo transfer through a blood pregnancy test.

• What happens to the extra embryos?

Extra embryos can be frozen and used in subsequent attempts.

• How many IVF attempts can be made?

With patience, a success rate of approximately 90% is achieved after 4 attempts. The chance of success decreases after the 6th attempt.

• Do I need to rest after the transfer?

No, resting at home is sufficient; lying down does not increase the chances of pregnancy.

• What is the success rate?

The pregnancy success rate per embryo transfer is around 50%, varying with age. It can go up to 70% in younger patients but decreases to around 20% for those over 40.

• What factors influence success?

Age is a significant factor; success rates decline for attempts in patients over 35. Other factors include the cause of infertility, the duration of infertility, issues in both partners, and the quality of the formed embryo.

• What are the drawbacks of consanguineous marriages? Can assisted reproduction treatment be a solution?

Consanguineous marriage is referred to a marital union between a male and female with the blood bond. Considering the degree of closeness, the most disadvantageous consanguineous marriages occur between two first-degree cousins; who are the children of aunts and uncles. Marriages between grandchildren of siblings and marriages between second-degree cousins pose a lower risk of genetic disease transmission compared to marriages between two first-degree cousins.

Hereditary diseases that occur as a result of consanguineous marriages are usually metabolic diseases; which are quite numerous. Screening all types of metabolic diseases is not possible in any country around the globe today. However; if a hereditary disease in the family is known or if the couple has already a child with such a disease, these diseases are screened in the embryos obtained by in vitro fertilization. After such screening, only healthy embryos are transferred.