Sean Lauber: Does Sex Before or After Embryo Transfer Affect Implantation or Pregnancy?
Sean Lauber, Founder of Remembryo, shared on LinkedIn:
“Many fertility clinics recommend avoiding sex around embryo transfer. However, only a handful of studies have examined whether sexual intercourse actually affects implantation or pregnancy outcomes.
Overall, the evidence is mixed. Most studies found no difference in implantation, pregnancy, or live birth rates, while one randomized trial reported higher implantation and clinical pregnancy rates after protected sex the night before frozen embryo transfer.
The studies differed in several important ways, including the timing of intercourse (before, around, or after transfer), fresh versus frozen cycles, and protected versus unprotected sex, making them difficult to compare.
Researchers have suggested that sex might help implantation due to increased blood flow, hormonal changes, or improved immune signaling. One leading theory is that seminal plasma may help prepare the mother’s immune system for pregnancy.
Interestingly, the only randomized trial to find a benefit involved protected sex, suggesting the explanation may be more complex than exposure to seminal plasma alone.
At this point, there isn’t enough high-quality evidence to conclude that having sex around embryo transfer either improves or harms IVF outcomes.
Check out more details on Remembryo.
Like this post? Get a free weekly summary of the latest IVF research.”
Other articles featuring Sean Lauber on Fertility News,
-
Sep 13, 2026, 15:11Sachintha Alwis: From Impaired Sperm Motility to Microrobotics
-
Sep 13, 2026, 15:08Laurence Orbuch: Before Endometriosis Surgery, Ask…
-
Sep 13, 2026, 15:05Ademola Ayodele: IUI, IVF or Egg Freezing – Which One Is Right for You?
-
Sep 13, 2026, 14:59Fiona Pathiraja-Møller: Tennis Players No Longer Have to Choose Between Career and Family
-
Sep 13, 2026, 14:571-Day Virtual Experience for People Impacted by PMOS – PCOS Awareness Association
-
Sep 13, 2026, 14:53Ozor Victor: Behind Every Embryo Is a Story of Science, Precision, and Hope
-
Sep 13, 2026, 14:50Diana Kayal: What They Don’t Tell You About IVF
-
Sep 13, 2026, 14:44Vikram Sinai Talaulikar: A Heartfelt Thank You to All Who Donated and Supported “Menopause and Cancer”
-
Sep 13, 2026, 14:41Nicole McPherson: Changing IVF Practices Is Hard – Integration Needs to Be Easy