Egg Donor Recovery: What to Expect After Egg Donation

What to expect after the egg retrieval process and how to make a smooth recovery.

The decision to become an egg donor is life changing. You are helping intended parents turn their family-building dreams into a reality. In recognition of your generosity and sacrifice, you will receive compensation that can help you achieve your goals or empower your future. Once the egg retrieval process is over, it’s important to know how you can care for yourself during egg donor recovery. Knowing what to expect and how to care for yourself will give you the confidence you need for a successful egg donation recovery.

What to Expect Before, During, and After Egg Retrieval and the Egg Donor Recovery Process

The decision to become an egg donor is deeply personal for everyone involved. The egg donation process begins after you’ve been approved as a donor, matched with the intended parents, and successfully completed all the egg donor screenings. The process begins with the pre-transfer, where the donor will start birth control medication to regulate their cycle and begin medications to optimize the production of eggs.

Once the eggs have matured, the egg retrieval process begins at the fertility clinic. This is a simple procedure that usually takes 20-30 minutes and is done under light anesthesia. The egg donor will also need someone to drive them home after the procedure.

For most people, the egg donor recovery process is usually a simple one. Egg donors can expect some mild discomfort after the procedure, with symptoms similar to what you’d experience during your normal cycle. This can include cramping, headaches, or moodiness. Other donors have reported other minor discomfort, mild bloating, and light spotting. Over-the-counter pain medication can usually help manage these symptoms, but it’s important to consult with your doctor before taking any medication.

Ultimately, most egg donors report that they were able to return to their normal activities within a few days.

Egg Donor Recovery Tips

There are steps you can take to manage discomfort after the procedure and ensure your egg donor recovery goes as smoothly as possible. Because egg retrieval is done under anesthesia, you will need someone to drive you home. You may feel groggy or fatigued after the procedure, so it’s important to rest for the remainder of the day. That means no strenuous activity like intense exercise or driving.

Additionally, constipation is a common side effect of certain medications used in the egg retrieval process. Eating fresh fruits and vegetables that are high in fiber can help prevent constipation.

Dehydration or anxiety over the procedure can also cause or worsen constipation. In addition to eating high-fiber foods, it’s important to drink plenty of water or other fluids with electrolytes. Staying hydrated can help minimize constipation and bloating you may feel after egg retrieval.

Although most egg donors report minimal pain or discomfort after egg retrieval, some may experience more significant symptoms. If your doctor recommends over-the-counter pain medication and that doesn’t do the trick, contact your doctor or agency to discuss your symptoms. Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) can occur after egg retrieval and, although it is usually mild, OHSS can become more severe on rare occasions.

The egg donor recovery process is usually a smooth one and can be managed with rest and over-the-counter pain medication. Staying hydrated and eating fiber-rich foods can also aid in your recovery.

Will Egg Retrieval Impact My Day-to-Day Life?

Most egg donors feel like their normal selves in only a day or two after their egg retrieval. This means that you can expect to return to work or school within a few days. Once you’re feeling better, you can expect to return to almost all of your normal activities.

However, your doctor may recommend that you avoid intercourse and high-impact exercise for an additional week or two as your ovaries recover. Because every egg donor’s body and situation are unique, it’s important to follow any additional recommendations from your doctor.

Exceptional Care and Support at Eggceptional Fertility

As an egg donation and surrogacy agency, Eggceptional Fertility recognizes the generous contribution egg donors make to help other families achieve their goal of building a family. We are committed to providing exceptional care and support to our donors throughout their egg donor recovery process.

To learn more about the egg donation process or how you can become an egg donor, schedule a free consultation with Eggceptional Fertility today.