Jazmine Corona
October 1, 2026
Written by Jazmine Corona, five-time egg donor and Donor Nexus case manager
Over the 10 to 12 days of injections in an egg donation cycle, your ovaries grow many follicles at once, and it's common to feel bloated, more tired than usual or a little emotional along the way.
Having been through multiple egg donation cycles myself and now guiding donors through theirs as a case manager, I've found that a handful of daily habits can make a real difference in how you feel.
The short answer
To care for your body when donating eggs, drink electrolyte-rich fluids, eat lean protein and fiber at every meal, trade workouts for light walking, sleep 7 or more hours and take every medication on time.
How do you care for your body when donating eggs?
You care for your body during an egg donation cycle by keeping your fluids balanced, protecting your enlarged ovaries from jarring movement and giving yourself plenty of rest. As your ovaries grow many follicles at once during stimulation, they get larger, which may leave you feeling puffy and uncomfortable. About one in three people have mild symptoms of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) during IVF stimulation, such as bloating, nausea and a little weight gain from fluid.1
The table below shows what most clinics suggest for each part of your routine and why it helps.
| Habit | What most clinics suggest | Why it helps |
|---|---|---|
| Fluids | Electrolyte drinks alongside water, in the amount your clinic sets | Helps keep you hydrated |
| Food | Lean protein and fiber at each meal, less sugar and processed food | Supports fluid balance and keeps digestion moving |
| Exercise | Light walking and gentle stretching once injections start | Enlarged ovaries are more prone to twisting |
| Sleep | 7 or more hours a night | Gives your body time to rest and recover |
| Medications | Same time every day, with a phone reminder | Keeps hormone levels steady and prevents early ovulation |
| Cycle rules | No sex, alcohol or drugs until your clinic clears you | Protects your safety and the cycle |
What should you eat while donating eggs?
What you eat while donating eggs should center on electrolytes, lean protein and fiber. Your clinic may hand you a diet plan when you start medications, and following it closely should be your first priority.
Electrolytes
The stimulation medications can cause water retention. Many clinics suggest swapping some plain water for drinks with electrolytes, like sports drinks, oral rehydration drinks or coconut water, because fluids with electrolytes help you stay hydrated. ASRM lists drinking electrolyte-rich fluids as part of managing OHSS.1 Ask your clinic how much to drink each day, since the target varies from clinic to clinic.
Protein
Plan to add more protein to your meals as soon as you start stimulation medications. Eggs, Greek yogurt, chicken, fish, tofu, beans and protein shakes all count, and a protein-rich snack before bed helps if you struggle to eat enough during the day.
Fiber
More protein and less plain water can slow your digestion, and constipation adds to bloating. Fibrous vegetables, berries, oats and chia seeds help things move along. If you are already bloated, eat smaller meals more often and go easy on gassy foods like carbonated drinks.
A Donor Nexus donor who has donated twice shared this advice for first-time donors in the video below:
One thing I have found that would be a great piece of advice for a first-time egg donor is to follow the diet plan that they give you. Drinking lots of Gatorade, lots of protein, and lots of salt.
Donor D, two-time Donor Nexus egg donor
Every clinic's plan is different, including how much salt to add, so follow the amounts yours gives you.
Eating after retrieval is its own topic. Our guide on what to eat after egg retrieval covers recovery foods, and bloating after egg retrieval explains why the puffiness can peak a few days later.
Can you exercise while donating eggs?
Clinics usually ask donors to scale back exercise once injections start, and many recommend light walking instead of workouts. As your follicles grow, your ovaries get heavier, and enlarged follicles during fertility treatment raise the risk of ovarian torsion, a painful twisting of the ovary that needs emergency care.2
Think of your follicles as delicate water balloons. Activities that involve jumping, twisting, impact or a chance of falling, like running, ball sports, surfing, rock climbing and high-intensity classes, are off the list until your doctor clears you. A simple rule many donors remember: skip anything that makes your ponytail bounce.
Gentle walking, light stretching and relaxed yoga without twists or inversions are often fine, but check with your doctor first. Our do's and don'ts for egg donors on medication goes deeper on exercise, sex, alcohol and caffeine.
How much sleep do you need during an egg donation cycle?
Aim for at least 7 hours of sleep a night during your cycle, and 8 if you can manage it. The CDC recommends 7 or more hours for adults ages 18 to 60,3 and a donation cycle is a time when your body benefits from extra rest.
Stimulation can leave you more tired than usual, and early monitoring appointments, which happen about every other morning, can cut into your sleep. Going to bed at the same time each night helps, and it also makes evening injections easier to remember.
Which cycle rules keep you safe?
Every donor follows the same core rules during a cycle, and each one has a clear purpose.
- Take medications on time. Many injections must be given at the same time every day. Most donors set phone alarms, and your case manager can help you build a schedule around school or work.
- Skip sex until your clinic clears you. The medications make you highly fertile, so an unplanned pregnancy is possible, and enlarged ovaries can make sex uncomfortable.
- Avoid alcohol and recreational drugs. Both can affect your health and your response to medication, and alcohol adds to dehydration.
- Protect your trigger shot timing. Retrieval is scheduled 32 to 36 hours after your trigger shot, so give it at the exact minute your clinic tells you.
If injections make you nervous, our guide to egg donation medications explains what each one does.
How do you manage stress while donating eggs?
Managing stress while donating eggs starts with knowing what comes next, so ask your case manager any question that is on your mind. Hormone changes can make some donors feel more irritable or emotional than usual, and a busy schedule of appointments adds to that.
Deep breathing, gentle yoga, time outside, and talking with a friend or another donor can all help. If stress starts to feel heavy, tell your case manager or reach out to a mental health professional.
When should you call your clinic?
Call your clinic right away if you notice signs of more serious OHSS. Severe OHSS is uncommon, with a risk of roughly 1% to 2% per retrieval cycle, and clinics watch for it closely during monitoring. The risk may be even lower for egg donors, in part because no pregnancy follows the cycle, and many clinics lower it further by using a GnRH agonist trigger shot.4 ASRM advises seeking care for:1
- Trouble breathing
- Nausea or vomiting that does not stop
- Difficulty keeping fluids down
- A swollen belly
- Urinating less than usual
- Weight gain of more than 3 pounds in 2 days
- Sudden belly pain
- Facial numbness, weakness, leg swelling or redness
Mild bloating and cramping are common, especially in the days after retrieval. Our article on egg donation side effects walks through what is typical. From what we've seen over 1,000+ retrievals, most donors are back to work or school the day after retrieval.
Frequently asked questions
What should I eat while donating eggs?
Most clinics suggest lean protein at each meal, fiber-rich vegetables, salty snacks in moderation and electrolyte drinks, with less sugar and processed food. Follow the specific diet plan your clinic gives you.
Should I drink water or electrolytes during egg donation?
Many clinics ask donors to swap some plain water for electrolyte drinks such as sports drinks or coconut water, because fluids with electrolytes help keep you hydrated. Ask your clinic how much to drink each day.
Can I work out while taking egg donation medications?
Clinics usually ask donors to scale back exercise once injections start, and many recommend light walking, because enlarged ovaries are more prone to twisting. Your doctor will tell you what is allowed and when you can return to your usual routine.
How much sleep do I need during an egg donation cycle?
The CDC recommends 7 or more hours of sleep a night for adults, and many donors aim for 8 during stimulation. A steady bedtime also makes it easier to take evening injections on time.
When should I call my clinic during a donation cycle?
Call right away if you have trouble breathing, vomiting you cannot stop, a swollen belly, less urine than usual, sudden belly pain or a weight gain of more than 3 pounds in 2 days, or if you are not able to keep fluids down. These can be signs of OHSS.
Sources
- American Society for Reproductive Medicine. Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) patient fact sheet. ReproductiveFacts.org, revised 2023. reproductivefacts.org
- Baron SL, Mathai JK. Ovarian Torsion. StatPearls. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; updated July 17, 2023. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About sleep. May 15, 2024. cdc.gov
- Practice Committee of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine and the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology. Repetitive oocyte donation: a committee opinion. Fertil Steril. 2020;113:1150-3. asrm.org
Medical disclaimer
This article is general information about egg donation and is not medical advice. Always follow the instructions from your fertility clinic, and talk with your doctor about diet, exercise or symptoms during your cycle.
Egg donation involves a screening process. Not all potential egg donors are selected. Not all selected egg donors receive the monetary amounts or compensation advertised. As with any medical procedure, there may be risks associated with human egg donation. Before an egg donor agrees to begin the egg donation process, and signs a legally binding contract, she is required to receive specific information on the known risks of egg donation. Consultation with your doctor prior to entering into a donor contract is advised.
Keep reading
Recovery after egg retrieval
How long recovery takes after egg retrieval, what helps you feel better and when to call your doctor.
Read the article
How long is the egg donation process?
A step-by-step timeline from application to retrieval for fresh and frozen egg donation cycles.
Read the article
Why egg donors choose Donor Nexus
Our donor-first philosophy, how compensation works and the team you work with from start to finish.
Read the article
Jazmine Corona
Jazmine is a five-time egg donor and a Donor Nexus case manager with three years coordinating donor and intended-parent cycles, so she has seen egg donation from both sides. She manages donor screening, legal c…
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