Preparing for Egg Retrieval: Physical & Emotional Guide
Your egg retrieval is scheduled. After weeks of injections, monitoring appointments, and watching follicles grow on ultrasound screens, the day is finally approaching. You might feel relief that the stimulation phase is ending, anxiety about the procedure itself, or some complicated mix of both.
Egg retrieval is a pivotal moment in the IVF process. Everything you've done so far has been building toward this: the medications, the blood draws, the careful timing. And everything that comes after depends on what happens in that procedure room.
It's normal to feel nervous. Even women who've been through retrieval before often feel anxious as the next one approaches. The unknowns are significant: How many eggs will they get? Will they be mature? What will recovery feel like? Will this cycle work?
This guide covers both the practical and emotional sides of preparing for egg retrieval. Because showing up physically ready matters, but showing up emotionally prepared matters too.
Understanding What Egg Retrieval Actually Involves
The Basic Procedure
Egg retrieval is a minor surgical procedure, typically lasting 15 to 30 minutes. You'll receive sedation (usually twilight anesthesia), so you won't feel pain or remember the procedure.
Your doctor uses a transvaginal ultrasound probe with a thin needle attached. The needle passes through the vaginal wall to reach each follicle, and the fluid containing the egg is aspirated (sucked out) from each follicle. The eggs are immediately handed to the embryology lab, where they're identified, assessed, and prepared for fertilization.
The number of eggs retrieved varies widely based on your age, diagnosis, ovarian reserve, and response to stimulation. Some women get a handful; others get twenty or more. Your doctor will have given you estimates based on your monitoring, but the actual number isn't known until the procedure is complete.
Why It Feels Like a Big Deal
Medically, egg retrieval is routine. Fertility clinics perform them constantly, and serious complications are rare. But emotionally, it feels enormous.
This is the moment when possibility becomes real. Those follicles you've been watching on screen transform into actual eggs that might become embryos that might become babies. The abstract becomes concrete.
There's also a loss of control. You've done everything you can during stimulation. Now you hand your eggs over to a lab and wait to see what happens. For people who cope by taking action, this transition from doing to waiting is particularly hard.
Physical Preparation: The Week Before
Follow Your Clinic's Instructions Exactly
Your clinic will provide specific instructions about medications, timing, and pre-procedure protocols. These instructions vary between clinics and sometimes between patients. Follow them precisely.
Key things your clinic will typically cover:
Trigger shot timing. The trigger shot (HCG or Lupron) causes final egg maturation and is timed exactly 36 hours before retrieval. Getting this timing wrong can mean eggs aren't ready or have already ovulated. Set multiple alarms if needed.
When to stop certain medications. Some clinics have you stop certain supplements or medications before retrieval. Know exactly what to stop and when.
Fasting requirements. Because you'll receive anesthesia, you'll typically need to fast (no food or drink) starting at midnight the night before. Some clinics allow clear liquids until a certain time. Clarify the exact rules.
What to avoid. Most clinics recommend avoiding intercourse for several days before retrieval due to enlarged ovaries. You may also be told to avoid alcohol, certain supplements, or other substances.
Managing Physical Discomfort
By retrieval day, your ovaries are enlarged and you're likely uncomfortable. Stimulation side effects often peak in the final days before retrieval.
Common physical experiences:
Bloating. Your abdomen may look and feel swollen. Normal pants might not fit. This is normal and will improve after retrieval, though not immediately.
Pelvic pressure. Enlarged ovaries create a heavy, full sensation in your pelvis. Moving quickly, bending, or certain positions may be uncomfortable.
Fatigue. The hormones are exhausting. Honor your body's need for rest.
Breast tenderness. High estrogen causes breast sensitivity similar to PMS.
Mood swings. Hormone fluctuations affect mood. You might feel weepy, irritable, or emotionally volatile.
To manage discomfort:
Wear loose, comfortable clothing Move gently; avoid jarring activities Stay hydrated (before fasting begins) Use a heating pad on low if it helps Rest as much as possible Eat protein-rich foods and salty snacks to reduce bloating
Preparing Your Body for Anesthesia
Anesthesia is generally safe, but you can optimize your experience:
Stay hydrated until fasting begins. Good hydration makes IV placement easier and recovery smoother.
Get adequate sleep. Your body handles anesthesia better when well-rested.
Avoid alcohol. Even moderate drinking in the days before can affect anesthesia response.
Report any illness. If you develop a cold, fever, or other illness before retrieval, tell your clinic. Some situations require rescheduling.
Know your anesthesia history. Tell your team about any previous reactions to anesthesia, nausea after procedures, or family history of anesthesia problems.
Emotional Preparation: Managing Anxiety
Naming Your Fears
Anxiety often loses some power when you name it specifically. Generic dread feels overwhelming; specific fears can be addressed.
Common fears before egg retrieval:
Fear of the procedure itself. Will it hurt? What if something goes wrong? What if anesthesia doesn't work properly?
Fear of results. What if they get fewer eggs than expected? What if none are mature? What if this is all for nothing?
Fear of the unknown. Not knowing what the experience will actually feel like or how you'll respond.
Fear of loss of control. Being unconscious, trusting strangers with something precious, not being able to do anything to influence outcomes.
Fear of what comes next. The hunger games of watching embryos develop, the two-week wait, the possibility of failure.
Once you've named your specific fears, you can address them directly. Some can be answered with information. Others require emotional processing or acceptance of uncertainty.
What Actually Helps Anxiety
Information (to a point). Understanding what will happen reduces fear of the unknown. But there's a point where more research becomes obsessive reassurance-seeking that increases anxiety. Know when to stop Googling.
Breathing exercises. Simple deep breathing activates your parasympathetic nervous system and reduces acute anxiety. Practice before retrieval day so you have the skill when you need it.
Grounding techniques. When anxiety spirals, grounding brings you back to the present moment. Notice five things you can see, four you can hear, three you can touch. Feel your feet on the floor.
Distraction. Sometimes the kindest thing is to stop thinking about retrieval entirely. Watch absorbing shows, read engaging books, spend time on hobbies that capture your attention.
Connection. Talk to your partner, a trusted friend, or a therapist about your fears. Saying them out loud reduces their power and reminds you that you're not alone.
Self-compassion. Anxiety before a medical procedure involving your fertility is completely normal. You're not weak for feeling scared. Treat yourself with the kindness you'd show a friend in your situation.
When Anxiety Needs More Support
If anxiety before retrieval is severe enough to interfere with daily functioning, consider reaching out for professional support.
Signs you might need additional help:
Panic attacks or near-panic experiences Inability to sleep due to racing thoughts Intrusive thoughts you can't control Physical symptoms like nausea, shaking, or chest tightness Considering canceling the cycle due to fear rather than medical reasons
A fertility therapist can teach specific anxiety management techniques and provide support through the procedure. Some women benefit from anti-anxiety medication for retrieval day; discuss this option with your medical team if your anxiety is severe.
Practical Preparation: Logistics
The Day Before
Confirm timing. Double-check your arrival time and location. Some clinics have separate surgical centers from their main offices.
Arrange transportation. You cannot drive after anesthesia. Arrange for your partner, family member, or friend to drive you home and stay with you for several hours afterward. Some clinics require this person to be present during recovery.
Prepare your space. Set up a comfortable recovery spot at home. Have comfortable clothes ready, entertainment accessible, and anything you might need within reach.
Pack a bag. Include:
Comfortable, loose clothing for after (nothing with a waistband)
Warm socks or slippers
Your ID and insurance cards
Any paperwork your clinic requires
A phone charger
Something comforting (music, podcast, photos)
A pad for post-procedure bleeding (you'll likely be given one, but backup doesn't hurt)
Do the trigger shot. This timing is critical. Set multiple alarms. Some people have their partner administer it to reduce solo responsibility for the most important shot.
Prepare easy meals. Stock your fridge with simple, gentle foods for recovery. Soups, crackers, toast, fruit. You probably won't feel like cooking.
What to Wear
Choose clothing for comfort and practicality:
Loose pants or a dress/skirt (no jeans or tight waistbands) A comfortable top that's easy to change Slip-on shoes (no laces to deal with while groggy) Minimal jewelry No perfumes or scented lotions (fertility clinics often request fragrance-free environments)
You'll change into a gown for the procedure and back into your clothes afterward. The easier your clothing is to put on while still foggy from anesthesia, the better.
At the Clinic
What typically happens when you arrive:
Check-in and paperwork. You'll confirm identity, sign consent forms if not already completed, and review any final instructions.
Changing. You'll change into a gown and possibly socks or booties. Your belongings go into a locker or bag.
IV placement. A nurse will place an IV for fluids and anesthesia medications. If you have difficult veins or needle anxiety, mention this so they can take extra care.
Vital signs and final checks. Blood pressure, temperature, heart rate. Your doctor may do a final ultrasound check.
Meeting the team. You'll likely meet the anesthesiologist and confirm details about the procedure.
The procedure room. You'll be walked or wheeled to the procedure room, positioned on the table, and connected to monitoring equipment. The anesthesiologist will begin sedation through your IV.
Waking up. You'll wake in a recovery area, often with your partner or support person present. Nurses will monitor you, provide pain relief if needed, and offer crackers and juice.
Going home. Once you're stable, alert, and have urinated (they'll check), you'll be discharged with post-procedure instructions.
What to Expect During the Procedure
The Anesthesia Experience
Most egg retrievals use conscious sedation (twilight anesthesia) rather than general anesthesia. You'll receive medications through your IV that make you very relaxed and drowsy. Most women fall asleep entirely and remember nothing.
You're technically not fully unconscious; you're breathing on your own and could theoretically respond to voice. But you won't be aware of what's happening, won't feel pain, and won't remember the procedure afterward.
Some clinics use different anesthesia protocols. If you have preferences or concerns, discuss them beforehand.
During the Procedure
You won't be aware of this, but here's what happens:
Your doctor visualizes your ovaries with ultrasound The aspiration needle is guided through the vaginal wall to each follicle Follicular fluid is aspirated from each follicle The embryology lab receives the fluid and identifies any eggs The process repeats for all accessible follicles on both ovaries The entire procedure typically takes 15-30 minutes
Waking Up
Anesthesia affects people differently. You might wake up feeling:
Groggy and confused Emotional (crying for no clear reason is common) Nauseated (tell your nurses; they have medications) Crampy, like bad period pain Cold (being cold after anesthesia is very common) Thirsty
The grogginess typically clears within an hour or two, though some fatigue may linger all day. Memory of the hours immediately after the procedure may be hazy.
Recovery: What to Expect
The First Day
Immediately after retrieval, expect:
Cramping. Mild to moderate cramping similar to period pain is normal. Your clinic will advise on pain relief; typically Tylenol is okay while NSAIDs like ibuprofen may be restricted.
Spotting. Some vaginal bleeding is normal from the needle punctures. It shouldn't be heavy; if you're soaking pads rapidly, call your clinic.
Bloating. Your abdomen will still be distended. This doesn't resolve immediately; your ovaries are still enlarged.
Fatigue. Between the anesthesia and the weeks of stimulation, exhaustion is appropriate. Rest.
Constipation. Anesthesia and hormones both cause constipation. Stool softeners (ask your clinic which are okay) and staying hydrated help.
Plan to do nothing the rest of retrieval day. Stay home, rest, watch TV, sleep. Have your support person stay with you at least until you're fully alert.
The Following Days
Recovery varies. Some women feel nearly normal the next day; others need several days to feel themselves.
Days 1-3: Cramping usually decreases. Bloating may persist or even increase slightly before improving. Fatigue continues. Light activities are typically fine; avoid anything strenuous.
Days 3-7: Most women feel significantly better. Bloating resolves. Energy returns. Your period will come (if no transfer) or you'll prepare for transfer (if doing a fresh cycle).
Return to work: Many women take retrieval day plus one additional day off work. Some need more. Listen to your body rather than arbitrary timelines.
Warning Signs to Watch For
While complications are rare, know when to call your clinic:
Fever over 101°F Heavy bleeding (soaking more than one pad per hour) Severe abdominal pain not controlled by recommended pain relief Vomiting that won't stop Difficulty urinating or pain with urination Abdominal swelling that continues to increase after the first few days Signs of infection: foul-smelling discharge, worsening pain
OHSS: What to Know
Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome (OHSS) is the main complication risk of egg retrieval. It happens when ovaries over-respond to stimulation medications, causing fluid shifts and swelling.
Mild OHSS (bloating, discomfort, some weight gain) is common and resolves on its own. Moderate to severe OHSS (significant abdominal swelling, difficulty breathing, vomiting, decreased urination) requires medical attention.
Risk factors include PCOS, high antral follicle count, high estrogen levels during stimulation, and large numbers of eggs retrieved.
If you're at higher risk, your clinic may take precautions: using a Lupron trigger instead of HCG, freezing all embryos instead of fresh transfer, or monitoring you more closely post-retrieval.
Emotional Recovery
The Waiting Game Begins
After retrieval, you enter the embryo development wait. The lab will call with updates: how many eggs were mature, how many fertilized, how they're developing.
These calls are emotionally brutal. Each one brings relief or devastation. The number drops from eggs retrieved to mature eggs to fertilized to developing embryos. Each drop can feel like a loss.
Prepare yourself for this emotional rollercoaster. Have support lined up for the days when updates come. Give yourself permission to feel whatever you feel about the numbers.
Processing the Experience
Even when retrieval goes smoothly, it's a significant experience to process. You underwent a medical procedure, received anesthesia, and handed something precious to strangers in a lab. That's not nothing.
Some women feel fine and move on easily. Others need time to process what happened. Both responses are normal.
If you find yourself struggling emotionally after retrieval, whether with anxiety about results, sadness about fewer eggs than hoped, or just the accumulated weight of the IVF experience, reaching out to a fertility therapist can help.
If Numbers Disappoint
Sometimes retrieval yields fewer eggs than expected. Sometimes mature egg numbers disappoint. Sometimes fertilization rates are low. Sometimes embryos arrest before reaching transfer stage.
Each of these disappointments is a genuine loss deserving of grief. You might hear "it only takes one," which is technically true but emotionally dismissive. It's okay to grieve the numbers you hoped for while still maintaining hope for the embryos you have.
If your cycle results in no embryos to transfer, you're facing a failed cycle that requires its own processing and decision-making about next steps.
For Partners: How to Help
If your partner is the one undergoing egg retrieval, here's how to support them:
Before Retrieval
Be present for the trigger shot. This is a high-pressure moment. Offer to administer it, set backup alarms, or simply be present for moral support.
Handle logistics. Take things off their plate. Prepare meals, manage schedules, handle household tasks.
Validate their feelings. If they're anxious, scared, or emotional, don't minimize it. "It's going to be fine" isn't as helpful as "I understand why you're nervous. I'm here with you."
Day Of
Be there. Physically present at the clinic if allowed. Your presence matters.
Stay calm. Your anxiety is valid too, but on retrieval day, your partner needs you to be steady.
Ask questions. Listen to post-procedure instructions, write them down, and make sure you understand the recovery plan. Your partner may be too groggy to retain information.
Create a comfortable recovery space. Have the house ready, snacks available, entertainment queued up.
After Retrieval
Care for them physically. Bring food, refill water, manage medications, let them rest.
Care for them emotionally. Ask how they're feeling. Listen to their fears about results. Hold space for whatever comes up.
Be available for embryo update calls. These moments are intense. Be present for them when possible.
Manage your own emotions too. You're going through this cycle alongside your partner. Make sure you have support for your own feelings, whether from friends, family, or your own therapy.
People Also Ask
How painful is egg retrieval recovery?
Egg retrieval recovery pain varies from person to person. Most women experience mild to moderate cramping similar to menstrual cramps for one to three days following the procedure. The procedure itself isn't painful because you're sedated. Post-procedure discomfort is typically managed with Tylenol or other clinic-approved pain relief. Some women feel mostly fine the next day; others need several days to feel normal. Severe pain that isn't controlled by recommended medications warrants a call to your clinic, as it could indicate complications like ovarian torsion or internal bleeding.
How many eggs is a good number for retrieval?
What constitutes a "good" egg retrieval number depends on your age, diagnosis, and ovarian reserve. Generally, retrieving 10-15 eggs is considered a good response for many patients. Younger patients or those with high ovarian reserve might get 20 or more; patients with diminished reserve might get fewer than 10. More eggs don't always mean better outcomes; quality matters more than quantity. Your doctor can help you understand realistic expectations based on your specific situation. Remember that the number that matters most is viable embryos, and that number is impossible to predict from retrieval numbers alone.
What should I avoid before egg retrieval?
Before egg retrieval, avoid alcohol (at least several days before), sexual intercourse (your clinic will specify timing, usually several days), intense exercise or activities that could twist enlarged ovaries, and any medications or supplements your clinic hasn't approved. Starting at midnight before your procedure, avoid all food and drink (unless your clinic specifies otherwise for clear liquids). Avoid perfumes, lotions, and nail polish on retrieval day. Don't take ibuprofen or other NSAIDs unless directed. Follow your specific clinic's instructions, as protocols vary.
How long does egg retrieval take?
The egg retrieval procedure itself typically takes 15 to 30 minutes, depending on how many follicles need to be aspirated and accessibility of your ovaries. Total time at the clinic is longer: plan for 2-4 hours including check-in, prep, the procedure, and recovery monitoring. You'll spend time in pre-op getting your IV placed and meeting the team, then the procedure, then 30-60 minutes in recovery until you're stable enough to go home. Don't schedule anything else for retrieval day; your only job is the procedure and rest.
Can I go to work the day after egg retrieval?
Many women return to work the day after egg retrieval, especially for desk jobs. Physical labor or jobs requiring significant activity might need an additional day of rest. Listen to your body rather than arbitrary expectations. You may feel fine, or you may feel exhausted, crampy, and emotionally drained. If possible, take two days off (retrieval day plus one) to give yourself flexibility. If you can only take retrieval day, plan for a low-key workday after and have a backup plan if you're not feeling up to it.
You're Ready for This
Egg retrieval is a significant milestone in your fertility journey. Preparing physically and emotionally gives you the best chance of navigating it well, not just surviving but moving through with your mental health intact.
Remember: your only job on retrieval day is to show up. The medical team handles the rest. You've done the hard work of stimulation. Now you trust the process, let the anesthesia do its thing, and wake up having completed a major step.
Whatever numbers you get, however the embryos develop, whatever comes next, you can handle it. You've already proven that by getting this far.
At Dancing Bee Counseling, Abby Lemke provides specialized support for individuals and couples navigating IVF and fertility treatment. If anxiety about retrieval is overwhelming, if you need help processing results, or if you want support through the entire IVF experience, therapy offers a space to feel your feelings and develop coping strategies for this demanding process.
Contact Dancing Bee Counseling to schedule a session, or learn more about IVF emotional support and how therapy can help you through egg retrieval and beyond.
