Many years ago (but not so many), the diagnosis of pregnancy was based on subjective signs, on the physical gynaecological examination and on the classical pregnancy test, performed on the urine.  The certainty of the state of pregnancy could not be early, and possible  pathologies of early pregnancy sometimes went unobserved.  In the last years the routine use of ultrasound and of the plasmatic dosage of BhCG has enormously simplified the early diagnosis of pregnancy and possible initial complications.

12 days after transfer of the embryo the woman undertakes a pregnancy test (the dosage of  BhCG or the beta subunit of chorionic gonadotropin, a hormonal substance that is produced from the moment of implantation of the embryo in the uterine cavity) to see if pregnancy has commenced.  If the test is positive, it is repeated the week after to control the evolution of the pregnancy.  The first ultrasound is forecasted for the 6th to 7th week of amenorrhea (absence of menstrual bleed), and should be accompanied by a gynaecological check up.  If the result is negative, menstruation occurs generally, 10-20 days after embryo transfer, and to make another attempt of Assisted Reproduction the couple has to wait for at least two months.  The new attempt has to be preceded by an examination to evaluate the possible causes of failure and to decide the techniques to be used for the next attempt.