Flying post IVF transfer

stace2524 · August 2014

So I'm new here but have a question that I'm sure you ladies will be able to help me with...
If my 4th IUI doesn't work (trying to stay positive but realistic) we will move right into IVF. BCPs in September and the actual ER/ET in October. We already have a 10 day trip planned to Europe at the end of the month. What have you heard about flying post ET? From lurking I know a lot of you travel to get to your RE, anyone fly? If so, how long do they like you to wait post ET before flying? In looking at the calendar it seems ET would occur 3-4 days before having to fly.
I would hate to miss a cycle and wait til Nobember but at the same time do not want to spend the money on a round of IVF just to see it wasted. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated!

gnl42 · August 2014

I haven't flown personally after a transfer, but I know that other ladies definitely have. Your RE may or may not recommend bed rest after, but even if he/she does, it is typically only 24 hrs (or 48 hrs at most). The main thing that comes into play is the beta. My RE does 9dp5dt (9 days after a 5 day transfer, it would be 11days after a 3 day transfer) - but this varies from clinic to clinic - I have seen as early as 8dp5dt or as late as 14dp5dt. I think you can wait to do the bloodwork when you return from the trip, but it could be extra waiting and it depends on how much the unknown would bother you. It doesn't seem like it would be that long of a wait though and the trip might be a good distraction (even without the wine). I don't think flying itself is any kind of risk to your chances. As I said, I did not end up traveling (bc my first cycle ended up getting cancelled), but I also had a trip planned - my RE said it was totally fine and I was going to be flying to Asia. It is more a matter of how comfortable you feel being far from home during that time, but you should also ask your RE in case he/she feels differently. Good luck to you! I hope you will get lucky with this last IUI and then it won't even be an issue.

Mrs.Ess · August 2014

I hope you don't end up needing to make this decision because your IUI works.

But if you do, I would be concerned about the timing of ET more than anything else. 3 days between potential ET and leaving for your trip doesn't give much wiggle room. What if you have to stim a little longer and your ER/ET happen a bit later? From following everyone here it sure seems nothing is set in stone with those calendars

I get very nervous about those kinds of things so personally, I would probably wait until after the trip to start the IVF cycle if it works with your RE. That way you can enjoy Europe without worrying about everything that goes along with it. But again, I am typically overly cautious

. Best of luck!

gnl42 · August 2014

That is a very good point @mrs.ess! You have a few days of wiggle room, but not much. I guess you would have to be willing to take the potential risk of having to cancel the trip if things don't go as expected.

jencity9 · August 2014

I was going to say the same as PPs. I think flying is probably fine... You'll have some cramping and stuff but sitting on a long flight is fine. But the timing of all that would give me anxiety. Even with estimated dates, you never know. I ended up stimming a fairly short amount of time which I somewhat expected, but it took an extra week on Lupron for me (long Lupron protocol) because my E2 took forever to go down. So for me I would have estimated ER at 7/28 and ET 3-5 days later but ended up ER was 8/5 and ET on 8/8.

stace2524 · August 2014

Thanks for the great advice! I was thinking about trying to shorten the BCPs too so I'm def going to ask my RE!

Excellent point on the ever changing dates, I can hope that it's going to go as planned but we all know how that goes....

Jzyla · August 2014

Sounds like you already got lots of good answers - and I agree the dates are the biggest factor. I just wanted to add that my RE said it's totally fine to fly, and because I'm an anxious person, I also asked my Chinese Medicine Practitioner (they are waaay more cautious than Western docs) and she said it was totally fine too - as long as it wasn't a super long flight to Australia or England or something, lol. FX that you don't even have to worry about it.

LO95 · August 2014

Aside from the dates, I will be honest and say that I did not feel very good at all after egg retrieval and that lasted after egg transfer. (I didn't feel bad from egg transfer, just the ER.) Given that this would be your first IVF, I'd be careful about committing to much. I will also say I didn't realize how emotional it would be. Just my two cents.

Twinkie0612 · August 2014

We cycled out of town with our donor embryo cycle and flew home they day after our transfer. Flying is not an issue at all.

daydreamernyc · August 2014

While there is no medical issue with flying afterwards, like others have said, I also did not feel that great for days after ER. Basically it wasn't until 3-4 days after ET that I started feeling better. Personally, I would be concerned about the timing and your ER being a few days later than expected. If that happened, would you cancel/rebook your trip? Alternatively you can always convert to a freeze all cycle and then do a FET when you are back.

Flying post IVF transfer

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