This week we’re presenting a beautiful study in London, which has been awarded for being the Best Oral Presentation in the Congress and we would like to thank all colleagues that have taken part in it. The study shows what happens to embryos when they get to the uterus, both naturally through the fallopian tubes and after an In Vitro Fertilization treatment through the cervix.

The endometrium (the inner membrane of the uterus) has several motion schemes and during the embryo’s arrival phase, its function is to keep it in the uterine cavity, impeding its expulsion and implantation in inadequate areas.

In this video of an embryo transfer, we can see how the microdrop containing the embryos is moved from one place to another following different motion patterns: undulating, vibratory, slow, fast, and with rest phases.

After an embryo transfer, most of our patients feel guilty for not resting enough, especially when the cycle isn’t successful.

We tell them rest isn’t necessary right after embryo transfer or even during the days after, but they’re surprised by this fact and don’t pay much attention to us.

They’re afraid if they get up or make any kind of effort, such as going to the restroom, the embryos “will fall”; they think they must be alert to keep them in the uterus.

This generates an added anxiety to the stress of not being able to rest as much as they’d wish. Additionally, this coincides with the most nerve-generating and emotional lability phase: the two week wait until the pregnancy test.

It’s a waiting period that’s full of desire and hope that the embryos will implant, full of fear of failure and full of emotion.

These findings downplay the importance of rest and support the early mobilization of patients after embryo transfer. I believe it will help to know that implantation doesn’t depend on anything you can do or stop doing, and that once embryos arrive to our uterus, the endometrium is in charge of the rest…

It’s as if it cradled the the embryos for their implantation in a good spot!