Is egg retrieval painful?

You shouldn't feel pain during the procedure itself because of the sedation or anaesthetic. Afterwards, cramping similar to period pain and some bloating are common, usually easing within a day or two.

How many eggs will be collected?

This depends on how your ovaries responded to stimulation, which your clinic will have been tracking through scans. There's no way to predict the exact number in advance, and it can differ from what the scans suggested.

Can I go straight back to work afterwards?

Most clinics recommend resting for at least the remainder of the day and often the following day too, given the sedation and physical after-effects. Some people feel ready sooner, others need longer, so plan for flexibility if you can.

What if no eggs are collected?

Occasionally, despite follicles appearing on scans, no eggs are retrieved. This is upsetting and uncommon, and your clinic will want to review what happened and discuss options for future cycles.

Egg retrieval: what to expect on the day

Written by Zayn Miah & R KhanomLast updated 17 September 2026Not clinically reviewed

Short answer: Egg retrieval is a short procedure, usually 15 to 20 minutes, done under sedation or a light general anaesthetic, where a fine needle is passed through the vaginal wall under ultrasound guidance to collect eggs from the follicles. Most people go home the same day, feeling groggy and a little crampy, and hear how many eggs were collected before they leave.

The days leading up to it

Once your follicles reach the right size on scans, the clinic confirms your retrieval date and gives you the exact time for the trigger injection, usually around 36 hours beforehand. You'll normally be asked to fast from midnight if you're having sedation or anaesthetic.

Arriving at the clinic

You'll usually need someone to accompany you and take you home afterwards, since you won't be able to drive after sedation. A cannula is placed for the sedation or anaesthetic, and staff will confirm your details and consent forms before starting.

During the procedure

With you sedated or anaesthetised, the doctor uses an ultrasound probe to guide a fine needle through the top of the vagina into each ovary, gently drawing fluid from each follicle. The embryologist checks the fluid immediately under a microscope to identify the eggs.

How long it takes

The procedure itself usually takes 15 to 20 minutes, though you'll spend longer at the clinic overall for preparation and recovery, often two to four hours in total.

Recovering afterwards

You'll rest in a recovery area until the sedation wears off enough to go home. Mild cramping, spotting, and a bloated feeling are common in the following day or two. Most clinics recommend taking it easy for at least the rest of that day.

Seek medical attention if you experience heavy bleeding, severe pain, fever, or increasing abdominal swelling in the days after retrieval. These aren't typical and should be checked rather than waited out.

Hearing the results

Before you leave, or shortly after, the clinic will tell you how many eggs were collected. This number can be higher or lower than expected based on the scans, since not every visible follicle contains a usable egg.

What happens next

Eggs are assessed for maturity and prepared for fertilisation the same day.
Sperm, fresh or previously frozen, is prepared alongside the eggs.
You may be started on progesterone support from the day of or the day after retrieval.
The embryology team will usually call with an update on fertilisation the following day.

What can vary

Whether you have sedation or a general anaesthetic depends on clinic practice and your preference.
The number of eggs collected depends on your response to stimulation, not on the skill of the procedure.
Some clinics allow a support person to wait on site, others don't, so check in advance.

Questions people ask next

Is egg retrieval painful?: You shouldn't feel pain during the procedure itself because of the sedation or anaesthetic. Afterwards, cramping similar to period pain and some bloating are common, usually easing within a day or two.
How many eggs will be collected?: This depends on how your ovaries responded to stimulation, which your clinic will have been tracking through scans. There's no way to predict the exact number in advance, and it can differ from what the scans suggested.
Can I go straight back to work afterwards?: Most clinics recommend resting for at least the remainder of the day and often the following day too, given the sedation and physical after-effects. Some people feel ready sooner, others need longer, so plan for flexibility if you can.
What if no eggs are collected?: Occasionally, despite follicles appearing on scans, no eggs are retrieved. This is upsetting and uncommon, and your clinic will want to review what happened and discuss options for future cycles.

Words on this page

Sources

IVF: what is IVF and how does it work?, HFEA (UK fertility regulator). Link checked 17 September 2026.
IVF overview, NHS. Link checked 17 September 2026.

Written by patients, not clinicians. This page has not yet been reviewed by a named fertility professional, so it explains published guidance and points you to the original source instead of giving medical advice. It is not medical advice. Decisions about your treatment belong with your own clinic. Read our editorial policy and corrections policy.