IVF Side Effects: What Really Happens and What to Expect

When you start IVF, in vitro fertilization is a medical process where eggs are retrieved and fertilized outside the body before being implanted into the uterus. Also known as fertility treatment, it’s one of the most common ways people build families when natural conception isn’t working. But it’s not a simple procedure—it involves hormones, needles, multiple appointments, and real physical changes that come with side effects.

Most people know IVF can be emotionally draining, but the IVF hormones, medications like gonadotropins and GnRH agonists that stimulate egg production are what cause the most noticeable physical reactions. Bloating, mood swings, headaches, and breast tenderness are common. Some feel like they’re on an emotional rollercoaster—because they are. The body is being pushed beyond its normal rhythm, and that’s not always comfortable. A small number of people develop OHSS, ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, a condition where ovaries swell and fluid leaks into the abdomen. It’s rare, but serious. If you’re feeling extreme pain, nausea, or rapid weight gain after an egg retrieval, you need to call your clinic right away.

Then there’s the recovery. Egg retrieval sounds minor, but it’s a surgical procedure done under sedation. You might feel crampy for a few days. The embryo transfer is less invasive, but the waiting game afterward is brutal. You’re told to rest, but your mind races. Will it work? Are those cramps normal? Are you having side effects or signs of pregnancy? It’s hard to tell. And if it doesn’t work? The physical toll doesn’t vanish—it lingers. Many women report ongoing fatigue, hormonal imbalance, and even changes in their cycle months later.

What you won’t always hear is how much this affects your daily life. You might miss work. You might cancel plans. You might feel isolated. The side effects aren’t just physical—they’re social, emotional, and sometimes financial. Insurance rarely covers it fully, and each cycle can cost thousands. That pressure adds another layer.

But here’s the thing: most people get through it. Side effects are manageable with the right support, monitoring, and communication. Your doctor should be explaining what’s normal and what’s not. If they aren’t, find someone who will. You deserve to know what you’re signing up for—not just the success rates, but the real, messy, human experience behind them.

Below, you’ll find real stories and facts about what happens during and after IVF—from the hormones that shake your body to the recovery that takes longer than anyone tells you. No sugarcoating. Just what you need to know.