What Happens to Your Body During an IVF Cycle? A Day-by-Day Timeline

Every IVF cycle is different. Knowing what happens at each stage can help you feel better prepared and approach treatment with greater confidence.

An IVF cycle usually involves fertility assessment, ovarian stimulation, egg retrieval, fertilisation, embryo development, embryo transfer and, finally, a blood test to determine whether pregnancy has occurred.

Throughout the process, your medical team monitors your response closely and adjusts your treatment plan to suit your individual needs.

Whether you are preparing for your first IVF cycle or simply want a clearer understanding of the process, the timeline below explains what typically happens at each stage, how your body may respond and what you may experience along the way.

IVF Timeline at a Glance

Before treatment: First appointment with your doctor, fertility assessment and treatment planning

Days 1–3: Your cycle and treatment begin

Days 3–10: Ovarian stimulation and regular monitoring

Days 10–12: Final checks before egg retrieval

Days 12–14: Egg retrieval

The same day: Fertilisation in the laboratory

The following days: Embryo development and monitoring

Embryo transfer day: An embryo is placed in the uterus

Around 12 days later: Blood pregnancy test

These timings are approximate. Your exact schedule may vary depending on your treatment protocol and how your body responds.

Before Day 1: Preparing for IVF

Every IVF cycle begins with careful preparation.

Before treatment starts, your doctor reviews your medical history, fertility test results and treatment goals. This information is used to create a protocol tailored to your particular circumstances.

There is no single IVF protocol that is right for everyone. Your treatment is planned around factors such as your medical history, ovarian reserve, previous treatment and expected response to medication. Personalising the plan from the outset helps your medical team coordinate each stage of the cycle safely and effectively.

What You May Notice in Your Body

Any physical changes before ovarian stimulation depend on the protocol and medication you have been prescribed. Your doctor will explain what to expect and how and when to take each medicine.

Because everyone responds differently, contact your medical team if you experience a symptom that concerns you or feels more severe than expected.

Days 1–3: The IVF Cycle Begins

The first few days of your menstrual period usually mark the beginning of the treatment cycle.

At this stage, your medical team confirms that you are ready to begin according to your treatment plan. You will receive clear instructions about your medication, appointments and the steps that will follow over the coming days.

Protocols vary from one person to another, but these first days establish the starting point for the rest of your cycle.

What Is Happening in Your Body

At the beginning of the cycle, your ovaries are usually in a suitable resting state for stimulation to begin. An initial ultrasound scan and, where required, hormone blood tests allow your doctor to confirm that treatment can proceed as planned.

You may also experience the symptoms you normally have during your period, such as lower abdominal cramps, tiredness or changes in mood.

Days 3–10: Ovarian Stimulation

Ovarian stimulation is one of the central stages of IVF treatment.

During this phase, you take fertility medication that encourages your ovaries to develop several follicles. Follicles are small fluid-filled sacs within the ovaries, each of which may contain a developing egg.

In a natural menstrual cycle, one follicle usually becomes dominant and releases a single egg. During IVF, the aim is to support the growth of several follicles at the same time so that more than one egg may be collected.

Your response is monitored through ultrasound scans and blood tests. These checks help your doctor assess follicle growth, review hormone levels and decide whether your medication needs to be adjusted.

What Is Happening in Your Body

As the follicles grow, your ovaries gradually increase in size. Towards the end of the stimulation phase, you may notice:

• bloating or a feeling of heaviness in the lower abdomen

• mild discomfort around the ovaries

• breast tenderness

• tiredness

• headaches

• changes in mood

• mild redness, bruising or irritation at the injection sites

Not everyone experiences the same symptoms, and their intensity can vary considerably. If your doctor advises you to avoid strenuous exercise, follow that advice, as your ovaries are larger and more sensitive than usual during this stage.

Days 10–12: Final Checks Before Egg Retrieval

As stimulation progresses, your medical team closely monitors the development of your follicles.

Once they have reached the appropriate stage, preparations for egg retrieval begin. Timing is especially important and is based on your individual response to treatment rather than on a fixed calendar date.

What Is Happening in Your Body

By this point, your ovaries are usually at their largest size during the cycle. Bloating, lower abdominal pressure or mild pelvic discomfort may therefore become more noticeable.

You will receive precise instructions for the final maturation injection, often called the trigger injection. It is important to take it at exactly the time specified by your clinic because egg retrieval is scheduled in relation to this injection.

Days 12–14: Egg Retrieval

Egg retrieval is performed under ultrasound guidance while you are sedated.

During the procedure, the doctor uses a fine needle to collect fluid from the follicles. The eggs are then identified by the embryology team and transferred to the laboratory. After the procedure, you remain in the recovery area for a short time before going home with instructions from your doctor.

What You May Feel After Egg Retrieval

After the procedure, you may experience:

• mild cramping or lower abdominal discomfort

• bloating

• tiredness or drowsiness from the sedation

• a small amount of vaginal bleeding or brown discharge

These symptoms are usually temporary. Follow your clinic’s guidance on rest, hydration, food, pain relief and any activity restrictions.

The Same Day: Fertilisation in the Laboratory

After egg retrieval, the eggs are taken to the embryology laboratory, where fertilisation takes place.

At the same time, the sperm sample is prepared. Depending on the treatment plan, fertilisation may be attempted through conventional IVF or intracytoplasmic sperm injection, commonly known as ICSI. The embryologists then monitor the fertilised eggs over the following days.

What Is Happening in Your Body

Fertilisation and the earliest stages of embryo development take place in the laboratory, not inside your body.

Meanwhile, your ovaries may remain enlarged for several days after egg retrieval. You may therefore continue to experience bloating, pressure or mild discomfort in the lower abdomen.

The Following Days: Embryo Development

After fertilisation, the embryos are monitored by the embryology team as they continue to develop.

The embryologists assess their progress over the following days. Based on embryo development and your treatment plan, the medical team decides on the most appropriate timing for embryo transfer or, where relevant, embryo freezing.

What Is Happening in Your Body

While the embryos are developing in the laboratory, your body is recovering from egg retrieval and preparing for the next stage of treatment.

Depending on your protocol, you may be prescribed progesterone to support the endometrium, the inner lining of the uterus where an embryo may implant. Progesterone can cause symptoms such as bloating, breast tenderness, tiredness, nausea or headaches.

Embryo Transfer Day

Embryo transfer is one of the final clinical stages of an IVF cycle.

During the procedure, the embryo is passed through a thin catheter and placed inside the uterus. The process is usually brief and does not normally require sedation. After the transfer, your medical team will give you instructions about medication, everyday activities and the next steps before your pregnancy test.

What You May Feel

You may feel mild discomfort or pressure during the procedure, particularly if you have been asked to attend with a full bladder.

Afterwards, you may notice mild cramping or a small amount of vaginal discharge. These symptoms do not indicate whether the embryo transfer has or has not been successful.

The Waiting Period Before the Pregnancy Test

After embryo transfer comes the waiting period before the pregnancy test, commonly referred to as the two-week wait.

During this time, continue taking your medication exactly as prescribed and follow the instructions provided by your medical team until the scheduled blood test.

What You May Notice in Your Body

During the waiting period, you may experience:

• breast tenderness

• bloating

• mild cramping

• tiredness

• changes in mood

• a small amount of vaginal discharge

These symptoms are often caused by the medication and are not a reliable sign of either pregnancy or an unsuccessful cycle. Wait for the scheduled blood test, and do not change or stop any medication unless your doctor tells you to do so.

When to Contact Your Doctor

Most people complete IVF treatment without serious complications. However, contact your clinic promptly if you develop:

• severe or worsening abdominal pain

• significant or rapidly increasing abdominal swelling

• persistent nausea or vomiting

• difficulty breathing

• severe dizziness or fainting

• a noticeable reduction in urine output

• heavy vaginal bleeding

• fever

Some of these symptoms may be associated with ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome or another complication that requires medical assessment.

Pregnancy Test Day

The IVF cycle concludes with a blood pregnancy test. This test measures the pregnancy hormone hCG and allows your doctor to discuss the result and the next steps with you. Regardless of the outcome, your medical team will explain your options and guide you through what happens next.

Every IVF Cycle Is Different

Although IVF follows a recognisable sequence of stages, your experience may be different from someone else’s.

Your treatment plan is based on your individual needs, medical history, treatment goals and response to medication. Regular monitoring, careful planning and open communication with your medical team help ensure that each stage is managed appropriately.

Understanding what happens throughout an IVF cycle can make the process feel more familiar and help you approach each stage with greater confidence.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does an IVF cycle take?

An IVF cycle includes several consecutive stages, beginning with fertility assessment and treatment planning and ending with a pregnancy test after embryo transfer.

The exact duration varies depending on your treatment protocol, your response to medication and whether a fresh embryo transfer is planned.

What happens during ovarian stimulation?

During ovarian stimulation, you take medication designed to encourage several follicles to develop. Your ovaries are monitored through ultrasound scans and blood tests so that your doctor can assess your response and adjust treatment when necessary.

When is egg retrieval performed?

Egg retrieval is scheduled when your doctor determines that the follicles have reached the appropriate stage of development. The timing is based on your monitoring results and the planned trigger injection.

What happens after egg retrieval?

After egg retrieval, the eggs are taken to the embryology laboratory for fertilisation. The embryologists then monitor embryo development until transfer or freezing.

What happens during embryo transfer?

During embryo transfer, an embryo is placed inside the uterus through a thin catheter. It is one of the final clinical stages of the cycle before the pregnancy blood test.

What is the two-week wait?

The two-week wait is the period between embryo transfer and the scheduled pregnancy test. During this time, continue your medication and follow your medical team’s instructions.