Bed rest after embryo transfer: Is it harmful?

Many interventions have been proposed to increase the success of assisted reproductive techniques (ART). The most controversial is bed rest after embryo transfer (ET). Patients are frequently advised to restrict their physical activity (PA) during ART, and many fertility clinics recommend bed rest after ET for variable periods of time. It is the author's belief, however, that there is insufficient evidence to support the recommendation of bed rest after ET. In fact, accumulated data indicate that bed rest after ET or restriction of PA during ART not only fails to bring about benefits, but may actually be detrimental and associated with worse ART outcomes. As such, it is considered that the long-standing policy of bed rest after ET should be abandoned. Patients should not be encouraged to rest in bed after ET, and should maintain their routine PA during ART. If the practice is to be changed, it is important to recognize the reasons why patients tend to restrict their PA during this time period. Health professionals may play a key role in this context.