Is IVF Painful? Not As Much As You'd Expect

Whether IVF is painful is one of the main considerations of whether people go down the IVF route. Here’s some good news: 

Most people find IVF uncomfortable, but manageable, not pain-free, but also not as bad as they feared.

Here’s how it’s often described:

1. More annoying than painful: Some say the injections were “annoying, not painful,” and compare egg retrieval to bad period cramps that pass in a day.

   
   

2. Fear of needles much worse: Others mention that their fear of needles was worse than the injections themselves , after the first one, they realized it was totally doable.

   
   

3. The emotions are what get you: Many say it’s not the physical discomfort that gets to them, but the emotional ups and downs.

   
   

Let’s break it down step by step:

1. Hormone Injections

   
   

You'll give yourself (or your partner will give you) daily hormone injections in your belly or thigh for about 8-12 days at home. These help your ovaries grow multiple eggs at once. Most people say the injections sting or pinch, but they’re done in seconds. It feels a bit like a flu shot or a mosquito bite, unpleasant, but not agonizing. It helps if someone else administers them instead of you.

2. Monitoring

   
   

You’ll go to the clinic every couple of days to check how your follicles (which contain eggs) are growing. That involves a vaginal ultrasound each time, the kind done with a wand. This doesn’t really hurt. It can be a little uncomfortable, especially if your ovaries are feeling full. Feels similar to a pap smear or a transvaginal scan, more pressure than pain.

3. Egg Retrieval

   
   

This is a short procedure done under sedation at a fertility clinic. A doctor uses a small needle guided by ultrasound to collect your eggs. You’ll be asleep or very relaxed, no pain during. Afterward, some people feel mild to moderate cramping or bloating, like a heavy period or ovulation pain. Most people rest for the day and feel better within 24-48 hours.

4. Embryo Transfer

   
   

This is when the embryo is placed into your uterus using a thin catheter. The pain level is very minimal, feels like a pap smear for most. You might feel slight pressure or a weird sensation, but no sharp pain.

The Emotional Side Can Hurt More

For many people, the emotional intensity of IVF is harder than the physical discomfort. Hormones can affect your mood. The pressure to get a good result is real. The waiting between retrieval and results, between transfer and test can be exhausting.

Download the Lume app

If you’re starting your fertility journey, the Lume app (available on iOS and Android) can be a supportive guide along the way. You’ll find surveys to help you evaluate your fertility readiness, plus Fertility 101 audio lessons to build your confidence step by step. And when things feel overwhelming, daily affirmations are there to remind you that you're not alone in this.