2WW Do's, Don'ts and Symptoms
The dreadful Two Week Wait or 2WW. This is definitely the
hardest part of the whole IVF cycle for the women. The suspense of waiting
fourteen days to find out if a pregnancy has occurred can be agonizing. After
14 days, you will have a blood test in
order to measure the level of the hormone HCG (human chorionic gonadotropin).
Sex
For an IVF fresh cycle, do not have sex two to three days before the egg retrieval. For a Frozen Embryo Transfer, sex is not allowed after the embryo transfer.
Hot Baths
Do not take hot baths; no warmer than 99 degrees. The hot water raises your body temperature which could interfere with implantation or cause a miscarriage. Warm baths can actually help you relax so if you are worried about your body temperature getting too high, keep a cold glass of ice water next to the bathtub to drink while you relax.
Work
Working can be good for you unless it becomes stressful and interferes with a healthy way of life. Use good judgment when deciding to stay on the job during the IVF process.
Travel
Not many doctors recommend traveling during the IVF procedure. You will be required to be at the doctor's office almost everyday to check on your progress. Sometimes, your doctor may allow a few days between visits but traveling for just a few days is still not good idea. The in-vitro fertilization process has many unexpected twists and turns; no one can predict what will happen in your case. Therefore, it is wise to stay close to the doctor's office. After, you find out you are pregnant and the baby is healthy, take a nice celebration trip.
Not many doctors recommend traveling during the IVF procedure. You will be required to be at the doctor's office almost everyday to check on your progress. Sometimes, your doctor may allow a few days between visits but traveling for just a few days is still not good idea. The in-vitro fertilization process has many unexpected twists and turns; no one can predict what will happen in your case. Therefore, it is wise to stay close to the doctor's office. After, you find out you are pregnant and the baby is healthy, take a nice celebration trip.
Exercise Exercise seems to be safe if you exercise r  egularly. Light exercise such as, walking, jogging, low impact machines and light weight lifting are recommended; at least that is what most experts say. Some doctors say exercise has been known to release stress during the IVF process but others say it decreases your chances of getting pregnant. This subject should be discussed with your doctor. It might be smart to stay away from the gym just until your first blood test. |
Only Tylenol (extra strength) for headaches or Tums for stomach ache is recommended during the IVF procedure. Taking other medication besides the medications recommended by your doctor could interfere with your fertility medication. Call your doctor with any problems such as, rashes, migraines or dizziness. They may allow you to take something else but it is a case by case decision that only your doctor should make.
HPT (Home Pregnancy Test)
The 2WW is a very stressful time; therefore, most women are too anxious to wait for the blood test so they take a HPT. All HPT detects levels of HCG but different brands detects different levels that range from 20mIU to 100mIU. Anything above 5mIU is considered positive. These tests can be very accurate if you remember a few things:
HPT (Home Pregnancy Test)
The 2WW is a very stressful time; therefore, most women are too anxious to wait for the blood test so they take a HPT. All HPT detects levels of HCG but different brands detects different levels that range from 20mIU to 100mIU. Anything above 5mIU is considered positive. These tests can be very accurate if you remember a few things:
1) If the HPT is taken before day 6 (after retrieval), it can show a false positive due to the HCG injection.
2) These tests only measure HCG levels and do not detect ectopic or chemical pregnancies.
3) They are not 100% accurate.
Symptoms Reported During 2WW (Two Week Wait)
Anyone will tell you that the most difficult time during IVF is the 2WW. Every woman wants definite symptom(s) that tells them that the IVF cycle was a success and they are pregnant. But there is no definite answer to this question because everyone is different and sometimes women have no symptoms at all. There are also many myths out there about how pregnancy feels, causing women to become paranoid with these symptoms.
Most natural pregnancies are not discovered until the woman misses their period (around 4-6 weeks). This is the time when they experience symptoms such as, nausea or breast tenderness. The IVF process allows women to discover they are pregnant much sooner than with a natural pregnancy; therefore, the symptoms might be different and more difficult to pin point..
There is no symptom that will tell you if you are pregnant or not. The following table lists symptoms that are frequently reported by women during the 2WW at different stages of pregnancy. And remember that you should not over analyze every twinge and try to relax.
Most natural pregnancies are not discovered until the woman misses their period (around 4-6 weeks). This is the time when they experience symptoms such as, nausea or breast tenderness. The IVF process allows women to discover they are pregnant much sooner than with a natural pregnancy; therefore, the symptoms might be different and more difficult to pin point..
There is no symptom that will tell you if you are pregnant or not. The following table lists symptoms that are frequently reported by women during the 2WW at different stages of pregnancy. And remember that you should not over analyze every twinge and try to relax.
During 2WW 3-4 weeks After one month
| Temperature Increase | Missed Period | Lower Back Pain |
| Temperature Decrease | Vomiting / Nausea | Food Cravings |
| Spotting | Spotting | Spotting |
| Cramping | Cramping | Cramping |
| Tighness in Abdomen | Frequent Urination | Frequent Urination |
| Twinges in Abdomen | Breast Tenderness | Breast Tenderness |
| Fatigue | Fatigue | Fatigue |
| Headaches * | Headache | Darken Nipples |
| Rash * | Stretching | Stretching |
| No symptoms | Emotional | Emotional |
| Discharge | Bloating | Constipation |
| Night sweats | Acne | Dizziness |
| Leg Cramps |
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This site should not substitute personal professional, legal or medical advice.
This site should not substitute personal professional, legal or medical advice.
