Pain after egg retrieval — is it normal?

Cramping, bloating and mild soreness after egg retrieval are expected and usually settle within a day or two. The ovaries have been enlarged by stimulation and remain so for a while. Rest, fluids and paracetamol are generally enough. Avoid anti-inflammatories such as ibuprofen unless your clinic has said otherwise. Contact your clinic promptly — same day, not at the next appointment — for severe or worsening abdominal pain, marked bloating with clothes not fitting, nausea or vomiting, breathlessness, reduced urine output, or weight gain over about a kilogram in 24 hours. These can indicate ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome. Most cases are mild, but it can progress, and early assessment makes a real difference. Do not talk yourself out of calling because you do not want to seem anxious — clinics expect these calls and would far rather hear from you early. Also seek urgent care for fever, heavy vaginal bleeding, or sudden severe one-sided pain, which can indicate ovarian torsion given the enlarged ovaries.