The Egg Retrieval: Self-care & Recovery

The IVF process feels like climbing a mountain with an infinite number of peaks. There are so many huge moments: trying to conceive before seeking fertility treatment, the decision to start IVF in the first place, that first injection, the egg retrieval, the embryo transfer… the list goes on.

Finally making it to an egg retrieval is a huge milestone in so many ways: you have poked and prodded yourself with needles, flexed your schedule to fit in several clinic visits each week, and endured increasing physical discomfort. You are so focused on getting to the big day; you wouldn’t be alone if you neglected to think beyond that to what comes next.

After four egg retrievals, I have honed retrieval recovery plan to help me feel my best both physically and emotionally. While none of this should be construed as medical advice (talk to your doctor before incorporating anything into your own plan!), I hope my experience can support you in your own self-care through this process.

We’re in this together.

Managing Expectations

Mental preparation for the results of an egg retrieval cycle is all about expectations.

The success of an egg retrieval is incredibly personalized — it hinges on age, infertility diagnoses, and medication protocol, just to name a few factors. Knowing what success looks like for your unique situation helps you mentally prepare for a range of outcomes.

Your antral follicle count (AFC) is measured at the start of the retrieval cycle to gauge the estimated number of eggs that are available for stimulation — and could potentially be retrieved — during that cycle. At your (many!) monitoring appointments, your doctor or ultrasound tech will continue to count and measure your follicles as they grow. This will demonstrate, among other things, if your follicles are developing as they should based on the expectations set at the beginning of the cycle. If they don’t share with you what they’re finding during the appointment, just ask.

Tracking this progress throughout your cycle will help you understand how you’re measuring up compared to the optimal outcome for you. With this knowledge, you can manage your expectations for the potential success of the cycle.

When it comes to the day of your retrieval, you want zero surprises. By the time of your final monitoring appointment before your retrieval, be sure to ask your doctor:

• How many eggs do you expect to retrieve? Are we tracking with my AFC at the beginning of the cycle? Why or why not?

• How will I hear updates from the clinic on the fertilization process? Who will be the one to contact me?

• What is our next step after the retrieval?

The Aftermath

For my first retrieval, I was so focused on making it to the procedure itself that I underestimated the gravity of the fertilization process that follows.

This is where it gets intense: As the days and weeks progress, you will find out from the clinic how many of your eggs are mature, then how many fertilized, then how many develop into embryos, then how many are genetically normal (if you’ve opted for genetic testing). They call it the IVF Hunger Games for a reason! For me, this was more difficult than any two week wait, especially during my failed retrieval cycle — though I haven’t completed an embryo transfer yet, so I’ll report back on how grueling that feels in comparison.

It is more important than ever to take care of yourself during this time. A few things that kept me sane were:

• Keeping myself busy: while you might feel pulled to go down egg retrieval success rate Reddit threads all day, the best gift you can give yourself is a little distraction. No amount of research you do will help those eggs fertilize any faster. I made plans with Matt and my friends, worked on my hobbies (knitting!), and worked from a new location instead of in our apartment for a change of scenery.

• Managing stress: whatever that looks like for you. For me, this looks like journaling about how I’m feeling, cooking new recipes, meditations before bed to quiet my mind, and importantly…

• Daily walks: this is a big one. After an egg retrieval, your doctor has almost certainly advised you to avoid strenuous exercise in order to prevent ovarian torsion. But what you can do is walk. And getting out of the house — and out of your head — is a must when the anxiety of waiting on results is too much to bear.

Let’s get into the nuts and bolts of egg retrieval recovery. Think of this as your egg retrieval survival kit: tips and tools to care for your body and mind as you heal and move forward to the next step.

At the Clinic

• When getting dressed for your retrieval appointment that morning:

  • Wear cozy socks! Those procedure rooms can get chilly. Consider making it fun and designating cute “lucky socks” for your IVF appointments.

  • Wear loose clothes that are easy to step into when you’re still a bit hazy from the anesthesia — for me even leggings were too complicated to maneuver. I opted for a sweatshirt and my Everlane Easy Pant.

• After you check in for your retrieval and change into the ever-fashionable hospital gown and hairnet, you may be waiting to go back to the procedure room for a while. Whether you have a partner with you or not, you might welcome a distraction while you wait: bring a book or headphones to tune into a meditation or calming music.

• Your clinic will not release you without a ride home from your partner, a family member, or friend. Ensure your designated loved one has a bit of flexibility in their schedule, as retrieval dates can often shift partway through the cycle based on progress.

• If your clinic is more than a quick drive away from your home, bring a snack and water for the car ride on the way home. You will be prohibited from eating or drinking before your appointment because of the anesthesia, so you’ll be hungry and thirsty when you’re done. And if you’re anything like me, a small snack will stave off any anesthesia- and drive-induced nausea.

Back at Home

Far and away my favorite stage of the retrieval procedure was the recovery the remainder of the day. At this point, you deserve to relax on the couch and be pampered!

Your doctor will fill you in on post-retrieval symptoms to expect, including whether you are at risk for ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) and what to look out for. Always follow their guidance first and foremost — and consider having these on hand as you prep yourself for the big day.

• Heating pad for cramps

• Pads (follow your doctor’s instructions on what bleeding is normal and what is cause for concern)

• Tylenol and ibuprofen (follow your doctor’s instructions)

• Miralax or senna pills for constipation (check with your doctor first)

• Electrolytes and LOTS of water

• A cozy drink to look forward to — tea was very comforting for me.

• Easy, high fiber snacks — but don’t forget to treat yourself a little too! My favorites were veggies with hummus, lentil pasta with high-protein cottage cheese marinara (prepped the day before), Annie’s cheddar squares, and a little sour candy.

• And importantly, shows and movies to binge! Make the most of this time to veg on the couch all day.

Share