Is IVF Treatment Painful?

In vitro fertilization(IVF) is a type of fertility treatment and part of assisted reproductive technology where fertilization occurs outside the body. It's suitable for people with a wide range of fertility issues, and for many people, it's one of the most commonly used and successful treatments.

IVF is the most effective form of assisted reproductive technology (ART), using either your eggs and your partner's sperm or donated eggs, sperm or embryos.

Is IVF Painful?

The answer to the general question is, is IVF treatment, IVF injections painful or fertility medication, or does it hurt? While undergoing the IVF procedure, experiencing slight pain or discomfort is completely normal. While considering the possibility of having a baby, the result is worth the pain or risks. But we need to mention that there is a list of possible risks associated with IVF:

Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome (OHSS)
Ectopic Pregnancy
Multiple Pregnancy
Miscarriage

Ovarian hyper-stimulation syndrome is one of the possible complications associated with infertility treatment, especially in In Vitro Fertilization (IVF). That's why recipients who undergo IVF or considering have IVF as a fertility treatment options need to be aware of potential risks.

Pain During Administering Hormone

The first thing that scares most women is the IVF injections of hormonal medication, which will help them grow eggs in their ovaries for another chance at pregnancy. Many women report that they felt anxiety before receiving the first injection, but they can have minimal pain and discomfort.

When Does The Egg Start To Develop Inside The Follicles?

As eggs in the ovaries develop in puberty, women often experience bloating and abdominal pain. Since each woman has a different number of eggs and experiences ovulation at an additional time, fertility specialist carefully tailors their treatment strategies on an individual basis.

Most women often don't experience any pain during the egg retrieval with a well-controlled stimulation, but only a little discomfort. That discomfort can extend, in some cases, into a week after the egg retrieval.

Egg Retrieval Procedure

The first step of the IVF cycle is during the operation. As patients are made aware during counselling that eggs are removed from them by piercing their ovaries through their vagina, many anticipate great pain. But, there is no pain as the procedure is performed under anaesthesia.

Embryo Transfer

The next step is the transfer of the embryos (or eggs) into your uterus. A transfer is usually painless, but the woman may feel discomfort only during insertion of a vaginal speculum as she may have felt while taking a pap smear.

After the embryos have been transferred back into the uterus, a woman would begin on progesterone. Progesterone comes in both suppositories and injections. The injections are oil-based, so the woman may experience pain if she opts for the injection method. But people who can't take progesterone can use vaginal tablets or gels without any effect on the outcome.

The IVF specialist will explain every step of the treatment and care, which makes it a comfortable procedure. So choose an experienced specialist and insist on using a good embryologist.

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Polina Pylypenko • July 15, 2021