Egg retrieval day is one of the shortest steps in an FIV or egg freezing cycle, and one of the most anticipated. The procedure itself takes about 20 minutes. A board-certified Reproductive Endocrinologist (REI) performs the retrieval under general anesthesia at a partner lab (a surgical facility operated by a separate laboratory team), and most patients go home within a few hours of arriving.
If you have a retrieval date on the calendar, feeling nervous is completely normal. Most people feel some mix of anticipation and anxiety in the days beforehand, and that is a sign you care about the outcome, not a sign anything is wrong. Knowing what the day looks like from start to finish, from how to prepare through what recovery feels like, can make the experience feel a lot less uncertain.
How Should You Prepare for Egg Retrieval Day?
Your care team will give you specific pre-procedure instructions, but most egg retrieval prep follows the same pattern.
The night before
Stop eating and drinking at the time your provider specifies. This fasting window is standard before any procedure that uses general anesthesia. Remove nail polish or acrylics from at least one finger, since the anesthesia team uses a pulse oximeter that clips onto your fingertip to monitor oxygen levels during the procedure.
The morning of
Skip perfume, lotion, deodorant, and hairspray. These products can interfere with the sterile environment in the procedure room. Wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing that is easy to change in and out of. Leave jewelry and valuables at home.
Your ride home
Because general anesthesia affects coordination for the rest of the day, you’ll need someone to drive you to and from your appointment. Lining up that person a few days ahead removes one thing from your plate on a morning that already carries enough.
What to bring
- A valid photo ID
- Warm socks or a light blanket for the recovery area
If you have children, arrange for childcare on retrieval day so you can rest when you get home. If your partner is providing a sperm sample, confirm what time they need to arrive at the lab.
Your provider may ask you to take certain medications the morning of your retrieval and hold others. Follow those instructions exactly as given. The trigger shot that signals your follicles to prepare for retrieval was administered roughly 36 hours before your scheduled procedure time, so that part is already behind you.
What Happens During the Egg Retrieval Procedure?
The egg retrieval procedure is a transvaginal ultrasound-guided aspiration. A board-certified REI performs the procedure at the partner lab, which is a dedicated surgical facility separate from the clinic where your monitoring appointments take place.
Here is what the day looks like from arrival to discharge:
|
Step |
What Happens |
Approximate Time |
|
Check-in |
Arrive at the partner lab, complete paperwork, and change into a gown |
15–30 minutes |
|
Pre-procedure prep |
IV is placed, you meet the anesthesiologist and REI |
15–20 minutes |
|
Egg retrieval |
REI uses a transvaginal ultrasound to guide a thin needle through the vaginal wall into each ovarian follicle and aspirates the fluid containing the eggs |
~20 minutes |
|
Recovery |
You wake up in a recovery area and are monitored until you are alert and stable |
30–60 minutes |
|
Discharge |
You are released to go home with your driver |
— |
Total time at the partner lab is typically 1.5 to 2.5 hours.
During the procedure, an embryologist works alongside the REI. As fluid is aspirated from each follicle, it is passed to the embryologist, who examines it under a microscope and identifies the eggs in real time. The procedure takes about 20 minutes. You’ll be asleep the entire time, and the next thing you’re aware of is waking up in the recovery area.
If you are going through IVF with a sperm-producing partner, that individual may provide a sperm sample at the partner lab on the same day. Your care team will confirm the logistics for this ahead of time.
Is Egg Retrieval Painful?
You will not feel pain during the retrieval because you are under anesthesia for the entire procedure. After the procedure, mild to moderate cramping is common and feels similar to menstrual cramps. Some patients experience bloating, pelvic pressure, or light spotting.
Over-the-counter pain relief such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) is typically recommended. Your care team will let you know which medications to avoid, as some anti-inflammatory drugs (like ibuprofen) may not be advised during an IVF cycle.
ALSO READ: Myth vs. Fact: The Truth About Egg Freezing
How Many Eggs Are Typically Retrieved?
Most patients have between 8 and 15 eggs retrieved per cycle, though the number varies based on age, ovarian reserve, and how the ovaries respond to stimulation medications. Not every egg collected will be mature. The embryology team evaluates maturity after retrieval and will share the final count of mature eggs, usually the same day or the morning after.
A higher egg count does not guarantee a better outcome. Egg quality matters as much as quantity, and quality is influenced primarily by age.
Your provider will put the number in context for your treatment plan during your follow-up communication. If your count comes in lower than you hoped, that one number does not define your chances, and your provider will walk you through what it actually means for you.
Is Egg Retrieval Day Considered Day 0 or Day 1?
Retrieval day is Day 0 of the embryo development timeline. Day 1 is the following day, when the embryology team confirms fertilization for IVF patients. Embryos are then monitored through Day 5 or Day 6, when they reach the blastocyst stage. Egg freezing patients do not follow this embryo timeline because their eggs are vitrified (flash-frozen) on the day of retrieval.
What Does Recovery Look Like After Egg Retrieval?
Most patients describe the rest of the retrieval day as a “couch day.” After discharge from the partner lab, plan to rest at home for the remainder of the day. Most patients take a retrieval day off from work and return to their normal schedule the following day.
Common symptoms in the first 24–48 hours:
- Bloating and abdominal fullness
- Mild to moderate cramping
- Light vaginal spotting
- Grogginess or fatigue from anesthesia
- Constipation (anesthesia can slow digestion temporarily)
What to avoid for at least 24 hours after retrieval:
- Heavy lifting and strenuous exercise
- Driving (until the effects of anesthesia have fully worn off)
- Baths, hot tubs, and swimming (showers are fine)
- Sexual intercourse
Hydration helps with recovery. Water, electrolyte drinks, and coconut water are good choices. Light, salty foods like crackers, broth, and pretzels can help manage bloating. High-fiber foods support digestion as your body clears the anesthesia.
What Should You Do if Something Feels Wrong After Retrieval?
Some discomfort is expected after egg retrieval. Contact your care team right away if you experience any of the following: fever over 101°F, heavy vaginal bleeding (soaking through a pad in one hour), severe abdominal pain that gets worse instead of better, difficulty urinating or shortness of breath.
These symptoms could indicate infection or ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS), a condition where the ovaries over-respond to stimulation medications. Mild OHSS causes bloating and discomfort that typically resolves within a week. Severe OHSS is rare and requires medical attention. Reaching out when something feels off is never an overreaction, and your care team would always rather hear from you.
ALSO READ: Is Egg Freezing Right for Me? 4 Reasons to Freeze Your Eggs
What Happens After Egg Retrieval Day?
The next steps depend on whether you are going through IVF or egg freezing.
For IVF patients, mature eggs are fertilized with sperm on the day of retrieval. The embryology team will contact you on Day 1 with a fertilization report. Embryos develop in the lab through the blastocyst stage. Patients who choose preimplantation genetic screening (PGS) will receive biopsy results before scheduling an embryo transfer.
For egg freezing patients, mature eggs are vitrified and stored at the partner lab. Frozen eggs remain viable for years, with no established expiration on storage. Published research includes successful outcomes from eggs stored for over ten years. Your provider will confirm the final mature egg count and discuss whether an additional cycle may be beneficial based on your goals.
Your care team will confirm next steps and the timeline for results in the days following retrieval.
Egg Retrieval Day at Open Fertility
Open Fertility patients have their egg retrieval performed at a partner lab operated by Spring Fertility by a board-certified REI. Day-to-day care before and after the procedure is managed by your dedicated Provider (Nurse Practitioner), who builds your treatment plan and monitors your stimulation cycle. By retrieval day, your provider already knows your case, your numbers, and your goals. That continuity matters. You can learn more about how this care model works.
Open Fertility patients reach their Patient Navigator by phone or through the Salve App for scheduling questions and post-retrieval support. An after-hours phone line is available 24/7 for medical concerns that arise outside of regular hours. After your retrieval, your provider calls to check on your recovery and discuss the results.
If you are considering IVF or egg freezing and want to learn what your retrieval experience would look like, you can schedule a consultation to get started. Visit the FAQ page for more answers about the treatment process.
Preguntas frecuentes.
Where does Open Fertility perform egg retrievals?
Egg retrievals for Open Fertility patients take place at a partner lab operated by Spring Fertility, where a board-certified REI performs the procedure. Your monitoring and day-to-day care happen with your Open Fertility Provider, and the retrieval itself is handled at the partner lab. Your care team gives you the specific location, directions, and arrival time ahead of your retrieval date.
Who is in the room during my egg retrieval?
The REI performs the retrieval, an anesthesiologist manages your anesthesia and monitors you throughout, and an embryologist works alongside the team to identify and secure the eggs as they are collected. Nursing staff support the procedure and your recovery afterward.
Can I reschedule my egg retrieval if my body needs more time?
Retrieval timing is set by how your follicles respond to stimulation, not by a fixed calendar date, so the exact day can shift during your cycle. Your Provider monitors your follicle growth and hormone levels through your monitoring appointments and schedules the retrieval when your follicles are ready. If your body needs another day or two of stimulation, your care team adjusts the plan accordingly.
How do I reach someone at Open Fertility if I have questions before or after retrieval?
Your Patient Navigator is reachable by phone and through the Salve App for scheduling questions and support before and after your procedure. An after-hours phone line is available 24/7 for medical concerns that arise outside of regular hours, so you are not left waiting until the next business day if a concern comes up the evening of your retrieval.