I know on good authority from one of the IVF Goddess site members that there is a clear advantage to combining air travel with IVF.
Apparently, when you’re wearing all the necessary paraphernalia, you’re treated to VIP treatment, bordering on that of a rock star with his instruments, as you’re individually checked in and greeted by crazed crowds.
And, of course, it’s the only time in his life that he can tell Customs, “Yes, sir, I have drugs in my carry-on,” without being escorted out to spend the rest of his life in prison.
Unfortunately, the VIP treatment ends there and doesn’t translate into an upgrade or anything, although surely this should be included in the price or at least be an optional extra, don’t you think?
I remember flying interstate for my frozen embryo transfer and at that moment I felt like I was on a top secret mission that involved sending a special package. That the package was in my womb didn’t matter, it still felt like there was some sort of protocol surrounding it, say, an embryo escort.
But should you fly when undergoing IVF? Probably not, if you have a crippling fear of flying and need heavy sedation before the plane leaves the airbridge. However, from a medical point of view, doctors have no objection, just as they have no objection to pregnant women flying and there is no documented reason why they shouldn’t.
Even if you’re on a long-haul flight, you can still inject yourself, as diabetics do, in the toilets and most modern planes have needle disposal containers in the toilets for that purpose.
If, like me, you need your partner’s help injecting yourself, you’ll have to accept that too, though not if it bears a striking resemblance to Ralph Fiennes or will have the crew banging on the door waiting their turn.
In fact, it would be a good idea to let a crew member know what to do, after which you will most likely be escorted to a less dirty and more spacious business class bathroom.
Flying after embryo transplantation is also fine, according to medical journals, as long as the plane is pressurized. Translate to no DC-3 nostalgia for dinner flights over Botany Bay or flying World War II submarines in the Atlantic, but any modern jet is fine. Of course, there is a small risk of depressurization, but there is a much higher risk of having a traffic accident on the way back from the clinic.
Which brings me to a problem for the transit authorities. Now that so many women are undergoing IVF, shouldn’t we have ‘Embryo on Board’ stickers to counter all the ‘Baby on Board’ snooze?
So while there is no convincing or any evidence to suggest that you shouldn’t fly when you have IVF, there is one case where it might, in fact, be a good idea. If you can fly somewhere where you can relax or take a break during this time, you can relieve the pressure and that can only be good for both you and the embryo.