After egg retrieval, your main job is rest, hydration, and watching for a few specific warning signs. Most people feel back to normal within a few days, but the first 24 hours require the most care. Your ovaries are still enlarged from stimulation, your body is recovering from sedation, and the small puncture sites inside the vaginal wall need time to heal.
The First 24 Hours
You’ll spend about an hour in a recovery room after the procedure before being cleared to leave. Someone else needs to drive you home because the sedation medications take time to fully wear off. Plan to do nothing for the rest of the day: no work, no errands, no cooking dinner. Couch rest with a heating pad and a good show is the right call.
Most people experience cramping similar to moderate period pain, along with bloating and fatigue. Some spotting is normal. Your clinic will likely recommend acetaminophen (Tylenol) for pain rather than ibuprofen or naproxen, since anti-inflammatory medications can sometimes interfere with implantation if you’re doing a fresh embryo transfer. Always confirm which pain relievers are approved with your specific clinic, because protocols vary depending on whether you’re transferring that cycle.
What to Eat and Drink
Hydration matters more than you might expect after retrieval. Your ovaries were hyperstimulated to produce multiple eggs, which can cause fluid to shift out of your bloodstream and into your abdomen. Drinking electrolyte-rich fluids like sports drinks, coconut water, or broth helps counteract that shift and reduces bloating.
A high-sodium, high-protein diet is commonly recommended in the days following retrieval, especially if you produced a large number of eggs and are at higher risk for ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS). Salty soups, eggs, cheese, nuts, and lean meats all fit the bill. One fertility clinic half-jokingly points out that a McDonald’s double cheeseburger delivers over 1,000 mg of sodium and 25 g of protein in one sitting. The clinical evidence behind this specific dietary approach is limited, but it’s widely recommended as a precaution because there’s little downside and it may help prevent fluid buildup.
Dealing With Constipation and Bloating
Constipation is one of the most common complaints after retrieval, and it has several causes working against you at once. Progesterone, whether your body produces it naturally or you start supplementing it after retrieval, slows down your digestive tract. The sedation medications can also contribute, as can dehydration and the general stress of the process.
Start a stool softener the day of retrieval rather than waiting until you’re already uncomfortable. Aim for 22 to 34 grams of fiber per day from foods like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Warm liquids, gentle walking, and staying well-hydrated all help keep things moving. If over-the-counter stool softeners aren’t enough after a couple of days, your clinic can suggest something stronger.
Activity Restrictions
Your ovaries may be several times their normal size after stimulation, and they stay enlarged for a week or longer. This creates a real risk of ovarian torsion, where an enlarged ovary twists on its own blood supply. Torsion is a medical emergency that can require surgery.
The risk of torsion persists until your ovaries return to their normal size, which your clinic can confirm with an ultrasound. Until then, avoid running, jumping, heavy lifting, high-impact exercise, and any jarring movements. Walking is fine and actually encouraged because it helps with bloating and constipation. Most clinics advise waiting at least two weeks before resuming vigorous exercise, but if your ovaries were highly stimulated, the restriction may last longer.
Avoid submerging yourself in water for several days after retrieval. That means no baths, swimming pools, or hot tubs. Showers are fine. This protects the small puncture sites in the vaginal wall from infection.
Sex and Intimacy
Most clinics recommend avoiding sexual intercourse for about two weeks after retrieval. The vaginal puncture sites need time to heal, and penetration increases the risk of infection. If you’re not doing a fresh transfer that cycle, there’s also a small chance of unintended pregnancy because your ovaries may still release additional eggs. Your clinic will give you specific guidance based on your situation.
Warning Signs That Need Attention
Some discomfort is expected, but certain symptoms signal something more serious. The two main concerns are OHSS and internal bleeding.
Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome
OHSS happens when your ovaries overreact to the stimulation hormones, causing fluid to leak into your abdomen. Mild OHSS is common and resolves on its own. Moderate to severe OHSS is less common but can be dangerous. Watch for rapid weight gain of more than about two pounds in 24 hours, significant abdominal swelling, difficulty breathing, decreased urination, or severe nausea and vomiting. Weigh yourself at the same time each morning so you can track changes. Symptoms typically peak five to seven days after retrieval if you did a fresh transfer, or sooner if triggered by the retrieval alone.
Internal Bleeding
Significant bleeding from the ovary after the needle punctures is rare but serious. In a pooled analysis of cases, more than 80% of patients who developed this complication showed symptoms within the first 24 hours, and over half showed signs within the first eight hours. The symptoms to watch for include worsening abdominal or pelvic pain that doesn’t respond to pain medication, shoulder pain (a sign that fluid is irritating the diaphragm), dizziness, rapid heartbeat, pale skin, or feeling faint. If you experience any combination of these, contact your clinic immediately or go to an emergency room.
A Typical Recovery Timeline
Day one is the hardest. You’ll feel groggy from sedation, crampy, and bloated. By day two or three, most people feel well enough to return to a desk job, though physical jobs may require more time off. Bloating often lingers for a week or more, especially if you produced a high number of eggs. Some people feel completely normal within four or five days, while others take closer to two weeks.
Your first period after retrieval (if you don’t do a fresh transfer, or if the transfer doesn’t result in pregnancy) may be heavier or more painful than usual. This is normal and reflects the extra thickness of your uterine lining from the stimulation cycle. By the following cycle, things typically return to baseline.
Throughout recovery, stay in close contact with your clinic. They’ll want to know about any symptoms that feel “off,” and most have after-hours phone lines for exactly this situation. Every retrieval is different, and your clinic knows your specific case, including how many eggs were retrieved, how your ovaries responded, and what medications you’re on.