IVF and Bleeding By Sonja Kristiansen, MD on February 25, 2014

The proper placement of high-quality embryos into the uterus is the single most important stage of the in vitro fertilization (IVF) process. Bleeding in and of itself is not necessarily a sign of an unsuccessful embryo transfer; however, depending on the nature of the bleeding, it could indicate that pregnancy will not occur. At the fertility center of Dr. Sonja B. Kristiansen in Houston, IVF bleeding risks are kept to a minimum through the use of state-of-the-art technology and equipment, the gentlest transfer techniques, and the skills and experience of our entire team.

At Houston Fertility Center, nothing is more important to us than the safety of our patients and the preservation of their dreams of starting or expanding their families. With every IVF procedure we perform, we devote our full attention and all of the resources at our disposal to give our patients the highest possible chance of achieving healthy, successful pregnancy.

Types of Bleeding That Can Occur after Embryo Transfer

First, it should be noted that having a single experienced doctor performing all stages of IVF improves the odds of success considerably. Dr. Kristiansen will be your doctor through every step of the IVF process, ensuring consistency of approach and technique, not to mention assurance on your part that the doctor who earned your trust during your initial consultation is the same doctor who will be by your side throughout your experience.

It is also important to reiterate that not all bleeding after the embryo transfer is an indication that something has gone wrong. In fact, bleeding is a relatively common occurrence, even among those whose IVF procedures result in pregnancy. In most cases, light spotting or extremely light pink or red bleeding is simply a result of implantation or an unknown, yet not harmful, factor. There is a chance, however, that even light bleeding represents the start of the period or, if implantation has occurred, a miscarriage.

It is also possible for the endometrium to be scraped during the embryo transfer, causing blood to enter the endometrial cavity. If this occurs, the embryos cannot survive. It is not unusual for dark blood to appear during a successful transfer; however, if the blood is bright red, the odds are very high that the transfer has gone wrong. This is why it is extremely important to entrust your IVF procedure to someone with a gentle touch, the best equipment, and extraordinary precision, such as Dr. Kristiansen.

If bleeding occurs after pregnancy has been confirmed, whether light or heavy, it is important that Dr. Kristiansen be notified immediately. This could indicate an abnormal pregnancy (such as an ectopic pregnancy, in which the pregnancy is occurring somewhere besides the uterus) or a miscarriage. The heavier the bleeding, the more likely it is to be of concern. However, even heavy bleeding does not necessarily mean that the health of the fetus is being threatened. Dr. Kristiansen will diagnose the cause of the bleeding and determine the state of the pregnancy, hopefully being able to deliver good news.