Egg retrieval — sometimes called oocyte retrieval or egg collection — is a medical procedure that involves collecting mature eggs directly from the ovaries. It’s a key step in many fertility treatments, including IVF, egg freezing, and egg donation — you can’t carry out any of these, as the egg provider, without undergoing egg retrieval. While the process itself is relatively quick and usually carried out under light sedation, it plays a vital role in helping people create options for now or later — whether that means fertilising eggs to try for a pregnancy, freezing them for the future, or donating to someone else.
This part of the fertility path happens after the ovarian stimulation stage of IVF, egg freezing and other procedures. Once your follicles are ready, a specialist team will retrieve the eggs using a fine needle guided by ultrasound. The entire procedure usually takes less than 30 minutes.
Egg retrieval can feel like a big moment — and it is — but it’s one your clinic team will have done thousands, if not tens of thousands, of times before.
Egg retrieval is just one step within the broader processes of IVF (in vitro fertilisation) and egg freezing. It’s the point where eggs are collected from the ovaries so they can be fertilised in a lab. IVF, on the other hand, refers to the entire treatment journey — from ovarian stimulation and egg retrieval, to fertilisation, embryo development, and embryo transfer.
The key difference? Egg retrieval is a standalone procedure; IVF or egg freezing are the full treatment pathways that include what happens before and after.
Egg retrieval can feel like a nerve-wracking moment — after weeks of hormonal stimulation, monitoring, and the investment of time, energy, and money, it’s finally here. By this stage, you may already know how many follicles you have, but not how many contain viable eggs, which can feel stressful. For some, it’s a moment of hope and anticipation; for others, it might carry a sense of disappointment if follicle numbers are lower than expected.
Let’s break down the process step by step, so you know exactly what to expect.
The preparation phase is all about getting your body ready to produce as many mature eggs as possible. It usually begins with daily hormone injections (like FSH or hMG) for around 8 to 14 days. These medications encourage your ovaries to develop multiple follicles, rather than the single one your body would typically release each cycle. [1,2]
Throughout this phase, you’ll have regular ultrasound scans and blood tests to check how your follicles are growing and how your body is responding. Your clinic will adjust your medication if needed to optimise your results.
When your follicles are ready — usually around 18 to 20 millimetres in size — you’ll be given a final injection called the trigger shot. This shot is crucial because it tells your eggs to mature, preparing them for collection. Timing is critical here — egg retrieval takes place 36 hours after the trigger, so following your clinic’s instructions to the letter is essential.
Retrieval day itself can feel like a big moment. You’ll arrive at the clinic and be taken to a procedure room, where a small team will be there to support you: your fertility specialist, an anaesthetist, and an embryologist ready to receive the collected eggs.
You’ll change into a gown, have your vitals checked, and then be given sedation or light anaesthesia. Most people are given conscious sedation, so you’re awake but very relaxed and probably won’t remember much. In some cases, you might have general anaesthetic, where you’ll be fully asleep.
The retrieval itself usually takes about 15 to 30 minutes. Your specialist will use a thin, hollow needle guided by ultrasound to collect the fluid from each follicle. The eggs are floating in that fluid and are immediately passed to the lab, where they’ll be checked and prepared for the next step — whether that’s freezing, fertilisation, or donation.
Egg retrieval is usually carried out in a private clinic’s procedure or operating room — not a hospital. It’s typically a calm, well-organised space with a small team around you: your fertility specialist, an anaesthetist or sedation nurse, and an embryologist ready to receive your eggs.
You’ll change into a gown, have your vital signs checked, and be given sedation to help you relax or drift off completely, depending on your clinic’s approach.
Most people are given conscious sedation, meaning you’re technically awake but drowsy and unlikely to remember much. Others may have general anaesthetic, where you’ll be fully asleep for the short procedure. Your clinic will explain which one they use, how it works, and what recovery looks like.
You’ll be monitored throughout, and the goal is always to keep you safe, pain-free, and comfortable.
The procedure itself usually takes around 15 to 30 minutes. You’ll likely be at the clinic for a few hours in total to allow for prep, monitoring, and recovery.
Once you’re sedated, a fertility specialist uses a thin needle attached to an ultrasound probe to gently collect the fluid from each follicle in your ovaries. The eggs are floating in that fluid and are immediately passed to the lab, where the embryologist identifies and prepares them for the next step — whether that’s freezing, fertilisation, or donation. [3]
The procedure is guided by transvaginal ultrasound, so there are no external incisions.
Thanks to sedation, you shouldn’t feel anything during the procedure itself. Afterwards, it’s common to experience mild cramping, bloating, or a feeling of heaviness in the lower abdomen — similar to strong period pain for some, while others feel fine within a few hours.
Everyone responds differently, so try not to judge your experience against anyone else’s.
Once the procedure is done, you’ll spend some time in a recovery area while the sedation wears off. It’s normal to feel a little groggy or notice some abdominal cramps at this point — like a strong period pain. You might also notice some light spotting. Most people are discharged within a couple of hours and will need someone to take them home.
The emotional impact of retrieval can be just as significant as the physical side. After weeks of preparation, finally having the eggs collected can feel like a huge release, but it can also bring up worries — like how many eggs were retrieved and whether they’re mature. It’s completely normal to feel a mix of relief, anxiety, or even sadness if the numbers weren’t as high as you’d hoped.
Take it easy for a day or two — your body’s been through a lot. Doctors advise that you should drink plenty of water, rest, and use a hot water bottle to ease cramping.
Remember, the number of eggs retrieved doesn’t define your chances — quality matters too, and your clinic will keep you updated on what happens next. Whether you’re feeling hopeful, worried, or just exhausted, give yourself permission to feel it all. You’ve made it through a major step in your fertility path, and that’s worth acknowledging.
As your body adjusts, you may experience:
Some people feel back to normal the next day, while others may take a few days to fully recover.
You can usually return to work and light activity the next day, depending on how you're feeling. If your job is physically demanding or involves long periods of standing, you might want to take an extra day or two off.
Avoid strenuous exercise, sex, and anything high-impact for around 5–7 days — or until your clinic says it’s safe. Your ovaries may still be enlarged and sensitive, so gentle movement is key.
What your body needs now is care, comfort, and kindness. Here are some gentle ways to support yourself post-retrieval:
Your clinic will give you a tailored checklist, but here are a few commonly advised dos and don’ts:
Keep an eye out for anything that feels out of the ordinary. You should contact your clinic straight away if you experience:
These can be signs of OHSS, so it’s always better to check in than wait and wonder. [4]
Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome (OHSS) is a rare reaction to the fertility medication used to stimulate egg production. It can cause fluid build-up in the abdomen, enlarged ovaries, and sometimes more serious symptoms.
Mild OHSS can include bloating, nausea, or discomfort — but moderate to severe cases may need monitoring or treatment. While most people don’t experience it, your clinic should talk you through the risks based on your personal response to stimulation. [5]
The number of eggs retrieved varies from person to person. There are some variables to consider, such as age, ovarian reserve, lifestyle, circumstance, and individual response to ovarian stimulation. While it’s natural to want a clear benchmark, there’s actually no “right” number to aim for. What matters most is getting the best possible outcome for your body and your fertility plan.
“Most patients under 38 years of age will have on around 7-14 eggs collected, although this isn’t always possible for patients with low ovarian reserves (low numbers of eggs).”
— HFEA (Human Fertilisation & Embryology Authority) [6]
Very generally speaking, it’s likely that more eggs will be retrieved at a younger maternal age. Under the age of 35, an average of 16.2 eggs can be retrieved, and at 42 or over, an average of 7.3 eggs can be retrieved. [7]
(Data from 2019 Report)
There’s no single magic number when it comes to how many eggs you need for IVF — but fertility specialists generally aim to retrieve enough to give you the best possible chance of creating healthy embryos. On average, collecting around 10 to 15 eggs is considered ideal, with one large-scale study in 2011 suggesting 15 was the optimal number, but successful IVF can absolutely happen with fewer. [8]
Of the total number collected, only a portion may be mature — meaning they’re fully developed and ready to be frozen or fertilised. The rest may be immature and not usable, but that doesn’t mean the cycle hasn’t been successful. Even a few mature eggs can lead to healthy embryos and future pregnancies.
Your clinic will likely tell you how many eggs were retrieved, how many were mature, and what happens next. This is where the lab takes over and quality begins to matter more than quantity.
There’s essentially a funnel, starting from the number of follicles in both ovaries at the time of retrieval, to egg retrieved from those follicles, to how many of those eggs were mature, to which of those eggs were successfully fertilised with sperm, to embryos that develop to day three, to embryos that develop to blastocysts, embryos that are deemed chromosomally ‘normal’ after PGT testing, then embryos implanted into the uterus, and finally, a live birth. [7]
Some people have success with less than 10 eggs, while others may go through multiple rounds to find the best embryos. It’s less about hitting a target, and more about what’s right for you — your body, your goals, and your wider fertility path. It’s something of a numbers game, but one that also depends on things like egg quality, sperm health, and how your body responds to treatment. Your clinic will walk you through what’s realistic based on your response to stimulation and overall fertility picture.
Once your eggs have been collected, they’re handed straight over to the embryology team. Each egg is examined under a microscope to check whether it’s mature and suitable for the next step, depending on your treatment plan.
If you're having IVF or ICSI, mature eggs are combined with sperm in the lab to try and create embryos. These embryos are then closely monitored as they develop, usually for 3 to 5 days, before one is either transferred back into the uterus or frozen for later use.
If you’re freezing your eggs for future fertility, only the mature ones are vitrified (a fast-freezing technique that protects their structure) and safely stored in a liquid nitrogen tank until you’re ready to use them. [6]
Some people also choose to have genetic testing done on resulting embryos — either now or in a future cycle — to check for chromosomal differences before transfer. Your clinic will explain whether this is recommended in your case.
So, while your part of the process pauses after retrieval, things are just getting started in the lab.
Egg retrieval is a significant moment in your fertility path — not just medically, but emotionally too. And while every experience is different, knowing what to expect means you can go into it feeling informed, supported, and empowered.
If you're looking for a clinic that aligns with your needs, goals, and values, browse and compare fertility clinics on Fertility Mapper — with real reviews from people who’ve been exactly where you are.
Yes — most clinics actually insist on bringing a partner, friend, or loved one. While they may not be allowed in the procedure room itself, they can usually wait nearby and be there when you wake up. You’ll need someone to take you home and stay with you for a few hours post-procedure, as you’ll still be a bit groggy from the sedation.
No — egg retrieval isn’t considered major surgery in medical terms. It’s a minimally invasive procedure that takes place in a clinical setting, usually without the need for any cuts or stitches. You’ll likely be under sedation or light anaesthesia, but there’s no lengthy hospital stay, and most people are up and about later the same day.
Most people are in and out of the clinic within a few hours. The egg retrieval itself is quick — typically under 30 minutes — but you’ll be asked to stay for monitoring while the sedation wears off. Expect to rest in a recovery area for an hour or two before heading home.
You won’t need an overnight stay, but you will need someone to collect you and stay with you for the rest of the day, as you may still feel a bit drowsy or off-balance.
Most people take it easy for a day or two after egg retrieval. While some feel ready to return to work or normal activities the next day, others prefer a bit more downtime — and that’s completely valid.
It can be — for some people, the first period after egg retrieval feels a bit heavier or more crampy than usual. This is often due to the hormonal stimulation and the fact that your ovaries have been working harder than they normally would in a natural cycle.
That said, not everyone notices a big change. For others, their period comes and goes much like it always does. If the pain feels unusually intense or isn’t easing with typical relief methods, it’s worth checking in with your clinic — especially if you're also feeling unwell or noticing other unusual symptoms.
Yes, some people do experience a noticeable dip in mood or energy in the days following egg retrieval — and hormones are often the reason why. After weeks of stimulation, your body has been riding a hormonal high, and once the medication stops and your levels start to shift, it’s natural to feel a little off-kilter.
You might feel more emotional, tired, or flat than you expected. That doesn’t mean anything’s wrong — it’s just your system recalibrating. If the feelings linger or feel heavy, don’t hesitate to reach out for support. Your clinic, a counsellor, or even hearing from others who’ve been through it can make a big difference.
Sometimes, yes. You might notice a small, temporary weight gain — usually due to bloating and fluid retention rather than fat. It’s a common side effect and often settles within a week or two as your body recovers.
No, egg retrieval doesn’t cause endometriosis, but if you already have it — even if it’s undiagnosed — the procedure and hormone stimulation can sometimes stir up symptoms. That might mean increased pain, bloating, or discomfort afterwards. If you have a history of endometriosis or suspect you might, let your clinic know in advance so they can tailor your care and keep a closer eye on how you’re feeling throughout the process.
If you’re doing IVF, pregnancy can be attempted as soon as an embryo is ready to transfer — usually within a few days or in a later cycle, depending on your treatment plan. If you’re freezing eggs to use later, pregnancy would only be possible after those eggs are thawed, fertilised, and transferred.
For those not doing embryo transfer right away, most clinics recommend waiting until your body has recovered fully — typically after your next period — before trying to conceive naturally or moving forward with the next step.
