Dr Dimitrios Mavrelos

Consultant in Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Reproductive Medicine

University College London Hospital

Stimulation cycle dates calculator

Generates an approximate schedule for an IVF stimulation cycle — from cycle programming through gonadotrophin stimulation, trigger and egg collection. Supports a GnRH antagonist protocol (optionally Norethisterone-programmed, as in the FET calculator) and a long GnRH agonist protocol. All intervals are adjustable; exact dates follow your clinic’s protocol.

Inputs

Norethisterone-programmed only. Leave blank to estimate (~3 days after stopping Norethisterone); enter the actual bleed to refine.
Gonadotrophins usually begin on cycle day 2–3.
Fixed-day start (typically cycle day 7–9) or when the lead follicle reaches ~14 mm.
The trigger is given when the follicles are mature — typically around cycle day 12. Egg collection follows ~36 h later (cycle day 14).

Schedule

Egg collection date
Start stimulation
Trigger date
DateCycle dayAction

Methods

Dates in the treatment cycle are counted by cycle day (cycle day 1 = the first day of the period). In the antagonist protocol the cycle may be programmed with Norethisterone (day 14–25 of Cycle 1, with a withdrawal bleed ~3 days after stopping marking Cycle 2 day 1) or started directly from the first day of the Cycle 2 period. A baseline scan and gonadotrophin stimulation begin on about cycle day 3, monitoring ultrasound scans follow on cycle days 6, 8, 10 and 12, a GnRH antagonist is added from about cycle day 7–9 (or when the lead follicle reaches ~14 mm), the trigger is given once follicles are mature (around cycle day 12–14), and egg collection follows ~36 hours later. In the long agonist protocol the cycle is usually programmed with Norethisterone (day 14–25 of Cycle 1); a GnRH agonist is started in the mid-luteal phase (~day 21), and once downregulation is confirmed (~11 days) the baseline scan and gonadotrophin stimulation begin alongside the agonist, with the same monitoring, trigger and egg-collection pattern. A fresh Day-5 blastocyst transfer, if performed, is about 5 days after egg collection. Cycle days and intervals are idealised and vary between clinics and patients.

Disclaimer

This schedule is based on an idealised cycle and should only be used as a guide. Actual dates depend on your ovarian response, monitoring scans and clinic protocol, and the trigger and egg-collection dates in particular are decided from follicle tracking. Always follow the dates and instructions given by your fertility clinic.