The IVF Prep Checklist Nobody Tells You About
Not the medical stuff your clinic already covered. The real things that made my cycles more bearable.
Your clinic gave you the protocol. The medications. The calendar.
But nobody mentioned the heating pad you'll want at 2am. The loose pants that won't irritate your injection sites or your swollen abdomen. The small comforts that turn overwhelming into manageable.
I've been through multiple IVF cycles. These are the things I actually used.
What’s Inside
The Practical Stuff You Actually Need:
For Injections: The heating pad that saved me from progesterone knots. Ice packs that actually work. Organization for 6am medication confusion.
For Your Body: Comfortable clothing that won't irritate injection sites. What helped with bloating. Post-retrieval essentials.
Practical Logistics: Travel supplies for injections. What to prep before retrieval. The one thing I wish I'd bought sooner
The Real Talk
When I started my first cycle, I had the medical protocol memorized but no idea what I'd actually need day-to-day.
The heating pad I bought after my first retrieval, that went on to be a game changer for PIO shots. The loose dresses and leggings I finally ordered on Day 7 of stims would have been so helpful on Day 5.
This isn't about being perfectly prepared. You can't be.
But having these basics ready means one less thing to figure out when you're already exhausted, hormonal, and trying to remember if you took your Menopur or just thought about it.
Some of these things cost money. Some you may already have. All of them made my cycles more manageable.
This list comes from my personal experience with mutiple IVF cycles. Every body is different, every protocol is different.
Always follow your clinic’s medical advice. This checklist complements your treatment plan, it doesn’t replace it.
Take what resonates. Leave what doesn’t.