IVF Egg Retrieval Recovery Guide: What to Expect and How to Feel Better Fast

You did it. The injections are done. The trigger shot is done. The surgery is over.

Now, you are back home, likely curled up on the couch, wondering: "Is it normal to feel this bloated?" or "Why do my ovaries feel like grapefruits?"

The egg retrieval is a minor surgical procedure, but it is still surgery. Moreover, your ovaries have just run a marathon. Recovery looks different for everyone, but knowing what is "normal" versus what needs attention can save you a lot of anxiety.

This guide covers the real recovery timeline, how to manage the dreaded "IVF bloat" and constipation, and warning signs you shouldn't ignore.

1. What Just Happened to Your Body?

During retrieval, a needle was passed through the vaginal wall into each ovary multiple times to drain the follicles.

• Your ovaries are enlarged: They can be the size of oranges or softballs (normally the size of almonds).
• Fluid accumulation: The empty follicles fill with fluid, and some fluid may leak into your abdomen/pelvis.
• Hormonal crash: After the high of stims, your hormone levels will shift dramatically in the coming days, which can affect your mood and digestion.

2. Immediate Recovery: The First 24 Hours

What to Expect

• Grogginess: The anesthesia (usually propofol or "twilight" sedation) wears off quickly, but you shouldn't drive or make big decisions for 24 hours.
• Cramping: Similar to moderate menstrual cramps.
• Spotting: Light bleeding is normal due to the needle puncture sites.

Your "Day 0" Toolkit

1. Heating Pad: Your best friend. Apply low heat to your abdomen to relax muscles and soothe cramps.
2. Pain Relief: Tylenol (Acetaminophen) is usually permitted. Avoid NSAIDs (Ibuprofen, Advil, Motrin) unless your doctor explicitly approves them, as they can interfere with blood clotting or ovulation (though ovulation isn't the concern now, bleeding risk is).
3. Rest: Don't try to work from home. Just sleep and Netflix.

3. Managing the Top 3 Side Effects

Enemy #1: The Bloat

You might look 4 months pregnant. This is due to enlarged ovaries and fluid in the abdomen.

• The Fix:
  • Electrolytes ONLY: Drink Gatorade, Powerade, Pedialyte, or coconut water. Plain water can sometimes just move right through you without absorbing, or make bloating worse. Sodium helps hold the fluid in your vessels where it belongs, rather than leaking into your tissue.
  • Salty Snacks: Pretzels, salted nuts, or broth. This is the one time "salt is good" (in moderation).
  • Avoid High-Sugar: Sugar causes inflammation and water retention.

Enemy #2: The Constipation

This is often worse than the retrieval itself. Anesthesia slows your gut + high progesterone slows your gut + enlarged ovaries pressing on your gut = misery.

• The Fix:
  • Start Early: Don't wait until you are backed up. Many clinics recommend a stool softener (like Colace) starting the day before retrieval.
  • Prune Juice: Warm prune juice works wonders (it's aggressive but effective).
  • Miralax: A gentle osmotic laxative often recommended by clinics.
  • Hydration: Fiber without water creates a "cement" block. Drink those electrolytes!

Enemy #3: Emotional Crash

About 3-5 days after retrieval, your hormones plummet (unless you are doing a fresh transfer and taking progesterone).

• The Fix:
  • Know it's coming. If you find yourself crying over a commercial, just say: "This is the hormone crash."
  • Be gentle with yourself. It’s a chemical reaction, not a personality flaw.

4. Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome (OHSS)

OHSS is a serious complication where the ovaries over-respond. Fluid leaks out of blood vessels into the abdomen and chest.

Mild OHSS (bloating, mild discomfort) is common. Severe OHSS is rare (<1-2%) but dangerous.

Watch for these Red Flags (Call your doctor immediately):

1. Rapid Weight Gain: More than 2-3 lbs (1 kg) in 24 hours. (Weigh yourself daily for 5 days post-retrieval).
2. Severe Pain: Pain not relieved by Tylenol.
3. Shortness of Breath: Difficulty taking a deep breath (fluid pressing on diaphragm).
4. Nausea/Vomiting: Inability to keep liquids down.
5. Decreased Urination: Very dark urine or not peeing despite drinking.

5. What About Exercise and Sex?

Exercise

Strict "No".
Why? Ovarian Torsion.
Your ovaries are heavy. If you run, jump, or twist (yoga), a heavy ovary can twist on its own blood supply. This is a surgical emergency and you could lose the ovary.

• Allowed: Gentle walking (very gentle).
• Forbidden: Running, HIIT, spinning, heavy lifting, vigorous yoga.
• Timeline: Usually 2 weeks or until your period starts.

Sex

Usually "Pelvic Rest" for 2 weeks.
To prevent infection (needle sites need to heal) and prevent torsion or rupturing a cyst.

6. Planning Your Recovery Timeline

• Day 1 (Retrieval): Off work. Bed rest. Heating pad.
• Day 2: Work from home if possible. Still bloated/sore.
• Day 3: Often the "peak" of bloating. Take it easy.
• Day 4-5: Should start feeling better. If you suddenly feel worse now, call your doctor (delayed OHSS).
• Day 7-10: Period typically starts (for trigger shots like Lupron) or up to 14 days (for hCG trigger). Once your period starts, the bloating usually vanishes like magic.

Conclusion: Listen to Your Body

Your body just did something incredible—it produced a year's worth of eggs in two weeks. It deserves respect and rest.

Don't compare your recovery to someone on Instagram who was at the gym the next day (they are risking torsion, you are being smart).

Prioritize Protein, Electrolytes, and Rest. And remember: this physical discomfort is temporary, but the hope it brings is permanent.