Spotting & cramping after IVF in 2ww

[HopingForARainbowin2021]

Hi, I had an embryo transfer last Wednesday. It went smoothly. Then on Thursday afternoon, I had a little bit of spotting. Friday was fine. Saturday morning again saw dark brown/black spotting. It scared me so I called the clinic. They said it's normal to have some spotting but if increases then to contact them again. The spotting has stopped since then. But I have minor cramps on the back on the right-hand side, some minor cramps on the right side in front & some in the pelvic area. The cramps go as quickly as they come and i feel them 2-3 times a day.

Other than that I have no symptoms at all. With my previous IVFs I never had spotting but had various symptoms like nausea, headache, heavy breasts...

I don't really know what's going on.

Have you ever experienced cramping in 2ww or no symptoms after IVF but the cycle has been successful?

I felt a pain around 4 days after embryo transfer both times, first was a fresh and the second a FET. The embryos implanted both times. Like you I felt a pain on one side both on the front and the back. It def felt like implantation pains as they were so localised.

I think the nausea and tender breasts etc can be a result of the progesterone but stronger than normal cramps are more like to be implantation pains. Fingers crossed for OTD

@mowglika - thank you. I have no symptoms at all this time except spotting & cramping. Hoping for the best

I’ve had a bit of spotting today and cramps ever since I had embryo transfer 3 days ago! It’s feels like my period is about to start 😭 I hope not! Wishing you the best. This waiting period is so hard

@orchid10 - someone told me the spotting could be your body’s way to tell you to rest. It could also be sign of implantation. So don’t worry too much. Just rest if you need to. All the best to you too

Indeed, the waiting period is hard. I have to test on Sunday. But since morning I have got period like cramps. So a bit worried.

Hi @HopingForARainbowin2021 have you had a fresh or frozen transfer? If it was fresh, the cramps can be from your ovaries settling back down after all the stims. I had that on my fresh transfer - it was a BFN in the end but I'm sure the cramps weren't an indication of that, cramps were just my body recovering.

Brown blood is old so the bleeding the day after transfer could be because of irritation from the actual EC or transfer process, or from the pessaries if you're using them.

I had a FET last Friday and I really understand how hard it is not to second guess whether things are a good or bad sign. I'm not holding out much hope for myself because of my age & egg quality. I've had cramps on and off for a few days but no spotting. I keep reminding myself it would be early for me to get my period given my usual cycle (plus progesterone should delay it) so cramps are unlikely to be period pain.

No other symptoms for me, either. The thing is, for every person you find who had your set of symptoms (or none) then had a BFP you'll find another who had a BFN. It's so incredibly difficult not to try to guess what your outcome will be but only you are you, if you know what I mean! Hang in there.

@lucymills1234 - Thank you for your reply

I know what you mean. Every symptom can be either good or bad. The same symptoms apply to BFN & BFP.

I have had no spotting since then. But cramping has increased today. It's all over the place, front, back :( so very worried. But only few days to test day now; so will find out soon

@lucymills1234 - pressed post before completing the full message

I had a fresh transfer. Actually, on all of my IVFs we have had 1 or 2 eggs and nothing to freeze. So I know some irritation can be due to all the stims. But it's so hard not to worry.

Hope your cramps subside soon. Good luck to you. Sending you lots of love & warm wishes