Sex before IVF: Hi everyone, I'm booked... - Fertility Network UK

Fertility Network UK

56,453 members59,771 posts

Sex before IVF

Hopeful_88 profile image
10 Replies

Hi everyone, I'm booked in for IVF with egg collection planned for the end of March. This will be my first IVF cycle, been TTC coming up to 4 years in August. I've never been pregnant/never had a positive test.

We have a details appointment next week so I called my clinic asking about the appointment and if I need to do anything beforehand. She asked if we have had unprotected sex since my last period, I said yes, once just after my period finished, and she said we shouldn't have had sex and should have been told not to (I haven't received any correspondence, which is why I called up, so I didn't know!). I think this was more to do with the possibility of affecting the trial embryo transfer but I wasn't fully sure. I'm now super scared it's going to affect our first IVF attempt although she said it should be OK because it was right after my period, but I haven't heard anything since, so I'm freaking out.

My question is, has anyone else had a similar experience, or had to postpone their IVF due to having sex in the lead up to it?

Thanks for any information or support xxx

Written by
Hopeful_88 profile image
Hopeful_88
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Read more about...
10 Replies
Millbanks profile image
Millbanks

Hi lovely,

They usually tell you not to because they don't want the possibility of a pregnancy during treatment. If they pump you full of drugs while you're pregnant the outcome would probably not be great. My clinic always asked us to do a pregnancy test before commencing any treatment.

I wouldn't worry about it affecting your treatment (unless of course you are - in which case win / win).

xx

Hopeful_88 profile image
Hopeful_88 in reply toMillbanks

Hi hun thank you so much for your reply and for the explanation. That makes sense. I'm so annoyed at myself!

I don't know how strict they are but my main worry is that the clinic will cancel, so I'll call them tomorrow if I still haven't had the appointment information sent through yet. That's a good shout that I can ask if it's ok for me to do pregnancy tests throughout the treatment just in case. I feel it's highly unlikely I won't be pregnant coz it's so early in the cycle (and nothings happened in 4 years) so i will keep track of when I ovulate to see if I should be worried about pregnancy.

Such a worrying time thinking it might not happen after waiting years for this opportunity! Feeling so stupid and adding to the stress!

Thanks so much Millbanks xxx

Millbanks profile image
Millbanks in reply toHopeful_88

Ah don't beat yourself up - they should have said!!

I'm sure it'll be fine xx

Hopeful_88 profile image
Hopeful_88 in reply toMillbanks

Thank you so much for the reassurance Millbanks, really appreciate it :) xxx

TTC0011 profile image
TTC0011

Hey, my clinic asked no unprotected sex - must use condoms. It was a non-negotiable. It’s do with the possibility of pregnancy and the drugs - they can be harmful. As above poster mentioned if you ask to take a test they’ll probably be ok with it.

K_LNB profile image
K_LNB

no expert here but I would have thought having sex pre treatment would only be a concern if you are on a long protocol. With short protocol you’d only start drugs once you have a bleed (which obviously wouldn’t happen if you did turn out to be pregnant!). The exception to this would be if your clinic insists upon norithisterone before your bleed for scheduling reasons, however the advice I got from my clinic was that it wouldn’t be harmful to a growing baby in the event one was pregnant (the internet disagrees so not sure!).

Fruitandflowers profile image
Fruitandflowers

Agree with Millbanks that it's more about the chance of you getting pregnant, not knowing and then taking all the meds. I think they did warn us not to have intercourse on our first round which I thought was pretty ironic given we'd been TTC for 6 or 7 years by then and never had even a snifter of natural pregnancy. I was thinking how if that had happened how brilliant it would have been and how much money etc we could have saved! Plus all they/you need to do is a urine pregnancy test or two. I guess there's always a chance and there were quite a few ladies on here who did get pregnant whilst on meds (especially down regging I think) but they were ok.

Hopeful_88 profile image
Hopeful_88

Hi all, thanks so much for the replies and sharing your experiences. I will try not to worry to much as it was early in the cycle and haven't had a positive test in 3.5 years so I suspect the chances are low, and ofc we will be 100% safe from now on whilst going through this process! Xxx

LittlePea23 profile image
LittlePea23

Thanks for the question I was going to ask the same thing. We are hoping to start come my next period and have our next appointment next week. It's around my ovulation window now but don't want to impact starting!

Hopeful_88 profile image
Hopeful_88 in reply toLittlePea23

Makes sense LittlePea23 , it's pretty confusing going through it for the first time and not having the full guidance from the clinic. Good luck with everything!

Not what you're looking for?

You may also like...

IVF struggles 😕

Hi Guys, I've never posted on one of these pages before but I feel so alone with the whole...

Ivf period nightmare

We have been so excited after our last appointment with our consultant. We were told that finally...
JLB2 profile image

Cyst after faild ivf

Hi ladies, Just wanted to know any of you experienced cyst after faild IVF? I still have lower...
Anna00 profile image

First consultation before starting IVF

Hi everyone❤ Finally had my first consultation today at ninewells dundee, had bloods taken and...
CRxMRx profile image

No Period and IVF

Hi All, Firstly a lovely community you all have, im sure there are other guys here but let me say...
samsam2 profile image

Moderation team

See all
Claire_FNUK profile image
Claire_FNUKAdministrator
JA-fnuk profile image
JA-fnukPartner

Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.

Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.