How long does it take to get a period after egg retrieval?

This article is professionally consulted by Master, Doctor Nguyen Thi Cam Van - IVF Lab Doctor - Reproductive Support Center - Vinmec Times City International Hospital.

Egg retrieval is an important component of in vitro fertilization. However, the phases do not always follow, and sometimes interruptions may be necessary for medical reasons. At this time, if there is no need to transfer the fertilized embryo into the uterine cavity, the ovarian cycle will repeat as usual. However, how long after egg retrieval to menstruate still makes many women wonder and wonder.

Usually, a girl enters puberty when marked by her first menstrual cycle. Over the next few years, when the body must fully develop, the sex hormone system gradually stabilizes, then the cycle can become regular. Accordingly, in a normal woman, the menstrual cycle usually lasts for 28 to 32 days, with the first day of bleeding being the first day.
During each menstrual cycle, any one ovary will nurture a mature, mature and certain size egg that will exit the ovary, called "ovulation" to enter the fallopian tube and ready to meet sperm for fertilization. When the egg is fertilized, it will form an embryo, continuously dividing into a zygote and implanting in the lining of the uterus, which is already very thick and spongy, with abundant blood vessels to nourish to develop into a fetus.
If the egg enters the uterus but does not meet the sperm or does not fertilize it, it will degenerate and come out. At this time, the uterine lining will also be sloughed off and expelled from the vagina, forming menstrual blood. A new menstrual cycle begins.

If, for some reason, a woman is able to produce an egg but cannot meet the sperm, that is, she cannot become pregnant naturally, assisted reproductive technology will help by fertilization. in vitro and implanted back into the uterus.
At this time, to improve the effectiveness of the technique, in the first half of the menstrual cycle, the woman will be injected with ovarian stimulating hormone. Normally the ovary produces only one egg that matures and is released; However, under the influence of hormones, many follicles will develop at the same time. The doctor will monitor the formation and growth of the follicles under ultrasound, decide on the date of the appointment for egg retrieval.
Egg aspiration is a procedure that uses a needle to enter the vagina, access the ovary, and drain all the fluid in each ovarian follicle in turn. Through that, the doctor will evaluate and select quality eggs and fertilize them with pre-collected sperm in vitro. After one to two days, the fertilized egg will implant in the uterus, implantation and pregnancy begin.

If, for any reason, a woman has only had an egg collection procedure to collect an egg but is not ready to become pregnant, her menstrual cycle will resume the days after ovulation as usual.
In a regular 28-day menstrual cycle, ovulation is usually the 14th day. Similarly, if it is a shorter or longer cycle, ovulation will also be the 14th day backwards from the last day. end of the cycle. In other words, if there is no fertilization and pregnancy, after 14 days of ovulation, the endometrial layer peels off and is expelled under the effect of uterine contractions, the woman will menstruate. .
Therefore, even though IVF is performed and the first half of this menstrual cycle has the effect of hormones to collect many eggs, if the embryo is not implanted back to become pregnant, the woman also Menstruation will return within 14 days after aspiration is usually earlier than in the previous cycle.
The difference could be that the amount of bleeding in this cycle is more than your average period. At the same time, some women may experience more fatigue, nausea, vomiting, dull pain in the lower abdomen, breast tenderness, and weight gain. However, these are very common and are thought to be a side effect of ovarian stimulators. In the next cycle, your body will be completely back to normal.
Also, right after the day of egg retrieval or a day or two later, which is still in the middle of the menstrual cycle, some women notice some vaginal bleeding. This is because ovulation occurs, not menstrual bleeding, is low in volume and will disappear quickly. By the 14th day after egg retrieval, you will see menstrual blood coming out of the vagina with familiar properties.

In short, if the embryo implantation process is interrupted, the woman will have her period again after about 14 days after egg retrieval. On the other hand, the appearance of menstrual blood is also a sign that needs to be closely monitored after embryo transfer, signaling embryo implantation failure. At this time, the woman needs to inform the doctor about this to promptly plan the preparation of ovarian stimulating hormone for the next cycle.