Your Journey
From Day 5 of stimulation to the day of your trigger shot, your progress is closely monitored to track follicle growth and fine-tune your protocol. Here's what each visit checks and how decisions are made.
Your Day 5 scan confirms that follicles are responding to medicines/injections and growing — targeting small follicles of 6–10 mm at this stage. If needed sometimes Your estradiol level is checked to confirm the hormonal response matches the ultrasound picture. Based on these results, your dose may be adjusted (up if response is slower than expected, down if it is very fast) and your antagonist injection may be started to prevent premature ovulation.
By Day 8–9, leading follicles should be 12–16 mm. Your doctor can now estimate when retrieval is likely — typically 2–4 days away. Estradiol continues to rise in line with follicle growth. The antagonist injection (if started on Day 5–6) is confirmed to be suppressing LH effectively. If any follicle is significantly ahead of the rest (a dominant follicle), your team discusses whether to adjust the timeline.
When your leading follicles reach 18–20 mm and the majority of follicles are 15 mm or above, your doctor will advise the trigger injection — typically that evening, with retrieval scheduled exactly 36 hours later. Your estradiol level at this point is the final hormonal check. This is the most time-sensitive moment of stimulation: the trigger must be given at the prescribed time, and retrieval must happen on schedule.
Q: Does it matter that some follicles are larger than others?
A: Yes — a spread of follicle sizes is normal. A few large (>20 mm) follicles alongside 10–12 follicles at 15–18 mm is typical. The goal at retrieval is to aspirate all follicles, with the smaller ones sometimes producing mature eggs as well.
Q: What if my follicles are growing slowly?
A: Slow growth may lead to a longer stimulation (12–14 days instead of 10–12). This is not necessarily a problem — quality matters more than speed. Your dose may be increased.
Q: Can the trigger time be changed?
A: Once given, the trigger cannot be changed. Timing is critical. If you have any doubts about your trigger injection, call your clinic immediately.
Yes — a spread of follicle sizes is normal. A few large (>20 mm) follicles alongside 10–12 follicles at 15–18 mm is typical. The goal at retrieval is to aspirate all follicles, with the smaller ones sometimes producing mature eggs as well.
Slow growth may lead to a longer stimulation (12–14 days instead of 10–12). This is not necessarily a problem — quality matters more than speed. Your dose may be increased.
Once given, the trigger cannot be changed. Timing is critical. If you have any doubts about your trigger injection, call your clinic immediately.
