Egg Freezing 101: How Hard Are the Drugs and Procedure?
We recently discussed whether or not egg freezing could be the right decision for you (you can read that article here). Now let’s dive into how it works, what the process involves and how intense it really is…
Freezing your eggs (also called oocyte cryopreservation) is a medical process that preserves your eggs for future use. It’s typically recommended for women who want to delay having children, or before medical treatments (like chemotherapy) that might impact fertility. And more and more, I’m seeing younger women in their 20s and 30s going through this process, because maybe they’ve not found the right partner just yet (which I am here for!).
The actual egg freezing process has three main phases — preparation, ovarian stimulation with hormone drugs, and egg retrieval. Let’s dive in:
1. Before the Cycle Starts — Planning & Baseline Tests
Before any medication begins, you’ll have:
A consultation with your fertility specialist
Blood tests to check hormone levels (AMH, FSH, LH, estradiol, etc.)
A transvaginal ultrasound to measure antral follicle count (your number of small resting follicles)
Doctors use this to customise your medication doses and estimate how many eggs you might produce.
2. Hormonal Stimulation — The Most Intense Part
This is where most of the intensity comes in. It consists of daily hormonal injections (around 10–14 days) done at home, to make your ovaries produce lots of eggs (rather than the usual 1 that is released each ovulatory cycle). These may include:
Gonadotropins (FSH and sometimes LH) to stimulate follicle growth
GnRH antagonists to prevent spontaneous ovulation
A trigger shot ~36 hours before retrieval to mature the eggs
You’ll usually need 3–5 monitoring visits during this phase for ultrasounds and blood tests (you can read a lot more about this process here).
How Intense Are the Drugs?
Most people find the injections manageable — the needles are small and the actual injection pain is usually mild. But the effects of the hormones on your body can be noticeable and sometimes strong:
Common discomforts during stimulation
Bloating and pelvic fullness (as ovaries enlarge)
Mood swings or emotional ups and downs
Headaches, breast tenderness
Mild nausea or fatigue
Fluid retention / mild weight gain
…which will all typically stop when the stimulation ends.
Legwork (like workouts or intense running) may feel harder near the end because your ovaries feel heavy or uncomfortable (source).
3. Egg Retrieval — Short (but Important) Procedure
Once your follicles are ready, you’ll have a trigger shot and go in ~36 hours later for a short retrieval procedure:
Takes about 15–20 minutes often under sedation.
A thin needle guided by ultrasound collects the eggs from your ovaries.
You’ll need someone to drive you home afterward.
Afterward, many women feel:
Mild cramping or period‑like pain
Some bloating
Spotting or minor discomfort that lasts a day or two (source)
Most people can walk and resume normal life within a couple of days, though you might choose to take it easy.
Side Effects & Risks — What to Watch For
Very Common
Bloating and mild discomfort
Mood swings, headaches, breast tenderness
Mild fluid retention or weight gain
Injection site redness or itchiness Extend Fertility
Uncommon But Important
Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome (OHSS)
This is the biggest drug‑related risk, and I have seen this a number of times in my own patients over the years. It happens when the ovaries over‑respond to stimulation. Symptoms can include:
Severe bloating and abdominal pain
Nausea and vomiting
Rapid weight gain (~several kilograms)
In rare cases, fluid buildup, blood clots, respiratory symptoms, or hospitalisation. Cofertility+1
Doctors monitor hormone levels & follicle growth to reduce OHSS risk, and treat mild cases conservatively or adjust medications. Cofertility
Procedure‑related:
Although rare, other complications from the retrieval itself of course can occur (infection, bleeding, damage to nearby organs). But thankfully these are very uncommon.
Emotional & Hormonal Effects
Hormonal swings can affect mood and energy. Some people feel fine, others notice mood changes, fatigue, or emotional sensitivity. These feelings usually pass once the medications stop (source). During my own stim cycles, I found it was very dependant on different medications, and also differed cycle to cycle while doing IVF.
Mental and emotional support — from friends, family, or a counsellor — can be very helpful during the process. Trust me on this one!
Getting Back to Normal
Stim injections: ~10–14 days
Egg retrieval day: short, under sedation
Recovery: most symptoms ease in 1–3 days
Period may return ~1–2 weeks later as hormones settle.
Many people return to routine activities quickly; others take a few recovery days. It really varies person to person, so allow it to unfold for you as it does.
In Summary: Is It “Intense”?
Simply, intensity varies.
✔️ Most people tolerate the injections and monitoring well.
✔️ Hormone effects are noticeable for some — especially bloating, mood swings, and mild discomfort.
✔️ The egg retrieval is short and done under sedation.
❗ Serious complications are rare but important to discuss.
✔️ Emotional impacts and lifestyle adjustments during stimulation are common but usually manageable with support.
Considering egg freezing? Let’s talk through your options and support your hormones every step of the way.