Does Semen Help With Embryo Implantation Post IVF?

Should I Have Sex During IVF Cycle?

THE BOTTOM LINE

Yes! According to one study, his spunky-swimmers help with The Situation At Hand.  It's like an army of his men disposed at the site of impact to offer good cheer and encouragement to the embryo, "Dig that trench baby! Do it, put your back into it."  

According to the Oxford Journals, Human Reproduction, "Intercourse during an IVF cycle has the potential to improve pregnancy rates since exposure to semen is reported to promote embryo development and implantation in animals."  Also, "The proportion of transferred embryos that were viable at 6–8 weeks was significantly higher in women exposed to semen compared to those who abstained (11.01 versus 7.69 viable embryos per 100 transferred embryos, P = 0.036, odds ratio 1.48, 95% confidence interval 1.01-2.19). Hence exposure to semen around the time of embryo transfer increases the likelihood of successful early embryo implantation and development."*

THE TAKEAWAY

Deploy those sperm ladies! We're pretty sure your partner won't object.

One caveat to keep in mind, Bird and Bees: "Conversely, coitus-induced uterine contractions or introduction of infection may have a detrimental effect." So make sure to keep super clean before sexing up and no oral before 'pound-town,' as my husband "sometimes" likes to call it. 

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THE NITTY GRITTY

"A multicentre prospective randomized control trial was conducted to determine if intercourse during the peri-transfer period of an IVF cycle has any influence on pregnancy success. Participants undergoing thawed embryo transfer (Australian centre) or fresh embryo transfers (Spanish centres) were randomized either to abstain or to engage in vaginal intercourse around the time of embryo transfer. The transfer of 1343 embryos during 478 cycles of IVF resulted in 107 pregnancies (22.4%), with 125 viable embryos remaining by 6–8 weeks gestation. There was no significant difference between the intercourse and abstain groups in relation to the pregnancy rate (23.6 and 21.2% respectively), but the proportion of transferred embryos that were viable at 6–8 weeks was significantly higher in women exposed to semen compared to those who abstained (11.01 versus 7.69 viable embryos per 100 transferred embryos, P = 0.036, odds ratio 1.48, 95% confidence interval 1.01-2.19). Hence exposure to semen around the time of embryo transfer increases the likelihood of successful early embryo implantation and development."*

*Oxford Journals, Human Reproduction; The effect of intercourse on pregnancy rates during assisted human reproduction

Kelton P. Tremellen1,4, 
Diana Valbuena2, 
Jose Landeras3, 
Agustin Ballesteros3, 
Javier Martinez2, 
Sergio Mendoza2, 
Robert J. Norman1, 
Sarah A. Robertson1 and
Carlos Simón2

Oxford Journals
Medicine & Health
Human Reproduction
Volume 15, Issue 12
Pp. 2653-2658.

(No conflicts of interest present in the above source)