Egg Retrieval: A Day-by-Day Guide to What to Expect

Egg retrieval is often the part of IVF that feels most intimidating. It is a procedure, which means an operating room, sedation, and needles in places you would rather not think about. If you are feeling nervous about it, that is completely understandable.

But here is what most women who have been through it will tell you: the anticipation is usually worse than the reality. The procedure itself is quick, you will not remember it, and most people feel well enough to be back to normal activities within a day or two.

That said, knowing what to expect removes much of the fear. This guide walks you through the days before, during, and after egg retrieval so you can approach it feeling prepared rather than anxious. We will cover the practical details, what you might feel, and how to set yourself up for the smoothest recovery possible.

For a complete overview of all fertility treatment options, see our comprehensive Treatments guide.

The Days Before Retrieval

Egg retrieval does not happen in isolation. It is the culmination of 8 to 14 days of ovarian stimulation, during which your follicles have been growing and your eggs maturing. If you are not yet familiar with the medications used during stimulation, now is a good time to review what each one does.

Your Final Monitoring Appointments

In the days leading up to retrieval, you will have several monitoring appointments to track your follicle growth. Your doctor is looking for follicles that have reached approximately 18 to 22 millimeters in diameter, which indicates the eggs inside are mature.

When enough follicles have reached this size, your doctor will schedule your trigger shot and retrieval.

The Trigger Shot

The trigger shot is a precisely timed injection that causes final egg maturation and prepares the eggs for release. Without it, your eggs would not be ready for retrieval.

You will receive very specific instructions about when to take your trigger shot, typically 34 to 36 hours before your scheduled retrieval. This timing is critical. If you take the trigger too early, your eggs might ovulate before retrieval. If you take it too late, the eggs may not be mature enough.

Set multiple alarms. Have someone remind you. Do whatever you need to do to ensure you take this shot at exactly the right time.

The Night Before

The evening before your retrieval, you will be instructed to stop eating and drinking at a specific time, usually midnight or several hours before your procedure. This is because you will receive sedation, and having an empty stomach reduces the risk of complications.

You might also be given instructions about which medications to take or avoid on retrieval day. Follow these carefully.

Try to get a good night's sleep, though we know that is easier said than done when you are nervous. Have everything you need for the next day ready to go: comfortable clothes, your ID and insurance information, and anything you want for recovery at home.

Retrieval Day: What Happens

Arriving at the Clinic

You will need someone to drive you to the clinic and take you home afterward. You cannot drive yourself because of the sedation.

When you arrive, you will check in and be taken to a preparation area. You will change into a hospital gown and remove any jewelry, nail polish (some clinics require this for oxygen monitoring), and contact lenses if you wear them.

A nurse will place an IV line in your arm, which will be used to administer fluids and sedation medication. Your vital signs will be checked, and you will have a chance to ask any last-minute questions.

The Procedure Itself

When it is time, you will be taken to the procedure room. The room looks like a small operating theatre, which can feel intimidating, but remember that this is a routine procedure for your medical team.

You will lie on your back with your feet in stirrups, similar to a pelvic exam. The anaesthesiologist or nurse anaesthetist will administer sedation through your IV. Within moments, you will feel relaxed and then fall asleep.

You will not feel or remember the procedure. Here is what happens while you are sedated:

Your doctor uses a transvaginal ultrasound probe to visualize your ovaries. Attached to the probe is a thin needle guide. The doctor carefully guides the needle through the vaginal wall into each ovary, puncturing each mature follicle and aspirating (suctioning out) the fluid, which contains the egg.

Each follicle is drained one by one. The fluid is immediately handed to an embryologist in an adjacent lab, who examines it under a microscope to identify and collect the eggs.

The entire procedure typically takes 15 to 30 minutes, depending on how many follicles need to be retrieved.

Waking Up

You will wake up in a recovery area, likely feeling groggy and a bit disoriented. This is normal. A nurse will monitor you and ensure you are recovering well from sedation.

You may have some cramping, similar to period cramps, which is normal. You might also feel bloated, which you probably already were from stimulation, and this may temporarily worsen.

Before you leave, the embryologist or a nurse will tell you how many eggs were retrieved. Try not to compare your number to others; what matters is the quality of your eggs, not hitting some specific number.

Physical Recovery: The First 24 to 48 Hours

Most women feel well enough to resume light activities within a day or two, but the first 24 hours require rest.

Immediately After

You will stay at the clinic until you are alert enough to leave safely, usually 30 minutes to an hour after waking. Your companion will help you get home.

For the rest of the day, plan to rest. You will likely feel tired from the sedation and may want to nap. Many women describe feeling "out of it" for the rest of the day.

What You Might Experience

Cramping: Mild to moderate cramping is common and usually manageable with over-the-counter pain relievers like paracetamol. Avoid ibuprofen and other NSAIDs unless your doctor says otherwise, as these can sometimes affect implantation if you are doing a fresh transfer.

Bloating: Your ovaries are enlarged from stimulation, and the procedure can temporarily increase bloating. Loose, comfortable clothing is your friend.

Spotting: Light vaginal spotting or bleeding is normal. Heavy bleeding (soaking a pad in an hour) is not normal and should prompt a call to your clinic.

Constipation: Between the hormones, reduced activity, and sometimes pain medications, constipation is common. Stay hydrated and consider a gentle stool softener.

Fatigue: Between the procedure, the hormones, and the emotional intensity of IVF, feeling tired is expected.

What to Do

Rest for the remainder of retrieval day. Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water, which also helps prevent ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS). Eat light, easy-to-digest foods. Use a heating pad on your abdomen for comfort if cramping is bothersome.

What to Avoid

Do not drive for at least 24 hours. Avoid strenuous activity, heavy lifting, and intense exercise for several days. Do not have intercourse until your doctor clears you. Avoid alcohol while recovering.

Days 2 to 5: Continued Recovery

Most women feel significantly better by day 2 and close to normal by day 3 to 5.

Gradual Improvement

Cramping typically decreases each day. Bloating may persist a bit longer, especially if you had many follicles retrieved or if you are at risk for OHSS. Energy levels should return to normal within a few days.

Returning to Normal Activities

Light activities can usually be resumed the day after retrieval. Walking is fine and may even help with bloating and constipation. You can return to work when you feel ready, which for many people is the day after retrieval, though some prefer two days off.

Avoid high-impact exercise, swimming, and baths (showers are fine) for at least a week, or until your doctor clears you.

When to Call Your Doctor

While most recoveries are straightforward, some symptoms warrant a call to your clinic.

Warning Signs

Contact your clinic if you experience heavy vaginal bleeding that soaks a pad in an hour, severe abdominal pain not relieved by over-the-counter medication, fever over 38 degrees Celsius, difficulty urinating or inability to urinate, significant abdominal swelling or rapid weight gain (more than 1 kilogram per day), nausea, vomiting, or diarrhoea that is severe or persistent, or dizziness or shortness of breath.

These could indicate complications like OHSS, infection, or internal bleeding. While serious complications are rare, it is important to seek help if something does not feel right.

Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome (OHSS)

OHSS is a potential complication of ovarian stimulation in which the ovaries over-respond and become swollen and painful. Fluid can leak into the abdomen, causing bloating, nausea, and in severe cases, more serious symptoms.

Risk Factors

Women with PCOS, high antral follicle counts, low body weight, or those who produce a large number of eggs are at higher risk. Your clinic will monitor you for signs of OHSS and may take preventive steps if you are at elevated risk.

Mild vs Severe

Mild OHSS is relatively common and resolves on its own with rest and fluids. Moderate to severe OHSS is less common and may require medical intervention, including IV fluids or, rarely, hospitalisation.

If you experience significant bloating, reduced urination, rapid weight gain, severe nausea, or difficulty breathing after retrieval, contact your clinic immediately.

What Happens to Your Eggs

While you are recovering, your eggs are beginning their journey in the lab.

Fertilisation Day

On retrieval day or the following morning, your mature eggs will be combined with sperm through conventional IVF or ICSI (where a single sperm is injected into each egg).

The Day-One Call

The morning after retrieval, you will receive a call with your fertilisation report: how many eggs were mature and how many fertilised normally. This is an exciting but sometimes nerve-wracking moment.

Embryo Development

Over the next several days, your embryos will be cultured in the lab. Not all fertilised eggs will develop into viable embryos; this attrition is normal. Your clinic will update you on embryo progress, typically on day 3 and day 5 or 6.

Emotional Recovery

The physical recovery from egg retrieval is usually quick, but the emotional side deserves attention too.

The Waiting Game

After retrieval, you enter a waiting period: waiting for fertilisation results, embryo updates, and eventually, transfer or pregnancy test results. This can be emotionally taxing.

Processing the Experience

Some women feel relief that retrieval is done. Others feel anxious about what comes next. Some feel physically uncomfortable and emotionally drained. All of these responses are normal.

Be gentle with yourself. Rest when you need to. Lean on your support system. This is a lot, and it is okay to acknowledge that.

Medical Disclaimer

This article provides general information about the egg retrieval process. Your experience may differ based on your specific protocol and clinic procedures. Always follow the specific instructions provided by your medical team.