<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-12-17</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001074767</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>IVILLAGE INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>IVIL</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001129708</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HOROWITZ EDWARD D</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O IVILLAGE INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>500 SEVENTH AVENUE, 14TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10018</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Employee Stock Option (right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>2.74</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-12-17</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>37500</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>2.74</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><footnoteId id="F1"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2011-03-17</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>37500</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>37500</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">An aggregate of 37,500 options were granted to Mr. Horowitz on December 17, 2003, of which 1/16th of such grant vests on March 17, 2003 and every three months thereafter for 15 successive quarters.</footnote></footnotes><remarks>Exhibit List:  Exhibit 24 - Power of Attorney</remarks><ownerSignature><signatureName>Jeremy J. Wolk, Attorney-in-fact</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-12-19</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

