IVF Embryo Transfer

It had been five days since my egg collection, and now it was time for the next step: the IVF embryo transfer. In my last post, IVF Egg Collection, I mentioned feeling fine after the procedure — just some slight cramping. But later that evening, and this may be a bit of an overshare, going to the bathroom was painful. I had to hold my stomach and adjust it slightly every time. The medications and procedure must have caused swelling, pressing on my bladder. That discomfort lasted several days, but at least it passed — and I was grateful to have had a good egg collection result.

Once your eggs are collected, the specialist team evaluates which ones are mature enough for fertilisation. Sometimes none are, which would be devastating after everything you’ve gone through. I was fortunate: fifteen eggs were retrieved, and eleven were mature. Each day after, I waited to hear how many reached Day 5, the Blastocyst stage. Embryos that reach this point are more likely to implant successfully, but the waiting is stressful. I tried to stay positive, though anxiety was always close by. I often wondered how people managed to repeat this process multiple times. In the hardest moments, I reminded myself that patience and kindness toward myself were part of the process too.

By Saturday morning, transfer day had arrived. As an early riser, I was at Coles picking up groceries when the IVF lab called to confirm: eight embryos had made it. One would be transferred today, and the other seven would be frozen. Hearing that news, I felt a mix of excitement, gratitude, and nerves. At every stage, I’d been waiting for the hammer to fall, bracing for bad news. So far, things had gone smoothly — and strangely, that worried me too.

After shopping, I went home, showered, and got ready for the transfer. My mum came with me, and I was grateful for her support. At the clinic, a nurse welcomed me, and I signed some paperwork before receiving a government rebate form (around $2,000). Then I met my specialist. During the procedure, an external ultrasound showed the transfer on a screen. I asked if my mum could film it, and the team happily agreed.

As I lay on the bed, a small window opened to my left, and the embryo was passed through from the lab to my doctor. On the screen, I saw it — round and perfect. My doctor commented that I’d had a great cycle and that the embryos looked very healthy. I still couldn’t quite believe I was here; it felt surreal.

The entire process took about fifteen minutes. It didn’t hurt or feel uncomfortable. I was so caught up in the moment, I don’t think I would have noticed either way. My mum filmed the screen and I saw a couple of tears as she did. On the drive home, she replayed the video so we could listen again.

That evening, I reminded myself to pause, breathe, and take in the significance of this moment.

💬 Next, I’ll be sharing more about Embryo Transfer: The Longest Two Weeks.

Video below – My First Embryo Transfer ❤️