Most people are surprised by how quickly the process goes. A complete egg freezing cycle - from your first injection to egg retrieval - typically takes just 10 to 14 days.
Initial Appointment
The process begins with a baseline ultrasound and bloodwork, usually between days 2 and 5 of your menstrual cycle. This appointment confirms that your ovaries are at rest and that you're ready to start treatment. From there, you'll begin daily hormone injections (FSH and sometimes LH) to stimulate your ovaries to produce multiple follicles, rather than the single egg your body would naturally mature each month.
Most people administer these injections themselves at home. While that may sound intimidating at first, the needles are very small, and the routine quickly becomes manageable.
Monitoring Appointments
Around day 5 or 6, you'll return for your first monitoring appointment. During this visit, your care team will perform an ultrasound to measure follicle growth and draw blood to check your hormone levels, including estrogen. Based on how your body is responding, your medication doses may be adjusted. Monitoring appointments typically occur every one to two days for the remainder of the cycle and are usually scheduled early in the morning so you can continue with your normal daily activities.
Egg Retrieval
Once your follicles reach the appropriate size - typically between 18 and 24 mm - you'll take a trigger shot. The timing of this injection is precise, as it initiates the final maturation of the eggs. The egg retrieval is then scheduled exactly 36 hours later.
The retrieval itself is a short outpatient procedure performed under light sedation and usually takes about 15 to 20 minutes. Using ultrasound guidance, your physician inserts a thin needle through the vaginal wall to collect the fluid and eggs from each follicle. You won't feel the procedure. Afterward, you'll rest for about an hour before going home. Most people return to their usual routine within 24 to 48 hours, although mild bloating or cramping can last for a few days.
For many people, the hardest part isn't the injections, the monitoring appointments, or even the retrieval - it's deciding to begin. Once they're in the process, most women find that egg freezing is far more manageable than they expected.
Dr. Roohi Jeelani is a double board-certified reproductive endocrinologist and infertility specialist who combines clinical expertise with personal experience as a fertility patient living with PMOS. She is dedicated to providing personalized, evidence-based fertility care that supports both reproductive success and long-term health. As the Founder and CEO of Onto Health, she is focused on expanding access to high-quality care and empowering patients throughout their family-building journey.
Learn more about Onto Health on Freeze.
