Understanding IVF Better—A Quick Guide to Egg Retrieval Process!

• Introduction
• How to Prep for an Egg Retrieval?
• The Day of Egg Retrieval
• Egg Retrieval Procedure
• Post-Egg Retrieval Procedures
• Bottom Line

The egg retrieval process is a pivotal step in your IVF journey. There have been a lot of things leading up to this stage and you might be feeling quite a mix of emotions, anxiety, excitement, or even fear. People who are undergoing their first IVF cycle or yet to start their IVF journey may have several questions about the preparation, procedure, and as well as recovery. 

Understanding what exactly happens through different IVF stages and the entire egg retrieval process could help to set your mind at ease.

With a better idea about your ovarian reserve & health, there are many options for making an informed decision regarding your reproductive future. While the egg retrieval process may seem intimidating, it is actually a fairly common procedure with minimal side effects. Most women retrieve their eggs for one of the three following reasons:

1. Women undergoing IVF (In Vitro Fertilization)—A fertility treatment that involves retrieving eggs/oocytes from the ovaries, later inseminating them with the partner’s sperm, and inserting the fertilized egg (Embryo) into the woman’s uterus.
2. Women freeze eggs for later use—Women or couples who might not be ready to have a baby yet, often freeze their eggs or even embryos. Egg and embryo freezing are great approaches to take your fertility future into your own hands.  
3. While women donate eggs to another woman or a couple. 

No matter what is the reason for egg retrieval, the process is the same and follows the same basic timeline. A woman prepares by taking fertility-boosting medications for about 2 weeks and then heads to the fertility hospital for a surgical procedure to get the eggs retrieved. Here is some useful information that you need to know about the egg retrieval process. 

How to Prep for an Egg Retrieval? 

Prior to your egg retrieval appointment, your ovaries will be carefully monitored to evaluate the development of your follicles as well as eggs. When your follicles are almost mature, you will be given instructions to have HCG-Human Chorionic Gonadotropin) Trigger injection. This hormone would help the final maturation of the oocytes and also stimulate follicles to release the eggs. 

It is very important to time the trigger shot within the indicated window, as the egg retrieval process will be scheduled for the peak fertile time after the ovulation and generally that would be 35-36 hours after the trigger shot. 

In about 1/3^rd of women using stimulation, medications can experience some hormonal fluctuations which can lead to side effects such as mood swings, headaches, hot or cold flashes, or insomnia, bloating or mild fluid retention, etc. watch out for these symptoms during and after the use of hormonal injections.

The Day of Egg Retrieval 

It is important to review the egg retrieval process with your doctor/embryologist and ask questions ahead of time. Each fertility clinic has varied protocols and expectations while most are similar. 

Here are some tips to follow in order to prepare the day before & the day of your egg retrieval:

• Not eat or drink before 8-10 hours of our appointment-as egg retrieval process takes place under anesthesia. You can eat once you have recovered, but you may be slightly nauseated.
• Wear comfortable clothing 
• Don’t wear jewelry, nail polish, scents, or contact lenses.
• Arrange for a safe ride home
• Plan to check-in at least 1 hour early- This will allow you to fill out the necessary paperwork and give enough time to prepare for the procedure without rushing.

Egg Retrieval Procedure

In order to retrieve the eggs, where your body has been working so hard to grow and you will go through a trans-vaginal oocyte collection procedure. For this, you will receive mild sedation medication through an IV line, so that you will not feel a thing. 

The egg retrieval is minimally-invasive, it is a quick, one-day procedure where your doctor will gently pass a needle attached to a catheter through the vaginal wall and inserted it into ovaries to collect the follicle fluid that contains the eggs. One by one, the eggs will be retrieved using light suction.

 The eggs will be collected in test tubes where your name is labeled along with a unique identification number, then handed off to the embryologist, and later he/she identifies and collects the mature eggs in IVF preparation for fertilization or oocyte cryopreservation (egg freezing). 

Post-Egg Retrieval Procedures

Following the procedure, you will need to rest for a day or two, as most women experience abdominal bloating and mild cramping for a few days following the egg collection. 

At this stage, two things can happen:

IVF—those who are ready to start their family and have fertility issues can have their eggs fertilized and then the resulting embryos can be transferred into the uterus or even frozen and stored for future use. 

Oocyte Cryopreservation/Egg Freezing—freezing eggs without fertilization is a great option for those who are not planning to build their family for a while or are in the process of searching for a sperm donor. Frozen eggs can be preserved for years, allowing you the opportunity to have children in the future. When you are ready, the frozen eggs will be thawed and inseminated with your partner’s/donor’s sperm. The incredible thing about these two options is that frozen eggs & Embryos do not age. The chance of achieving pregnancy using frozen eggs/embryos would be the same in 5 years as the day that they were made. 

For women who anticipate that their family planning will be delayed or those who are later in their reproductive age, these treatment options offer a great opportunity to build a family using their own eggs that might not exist if you wait for the time to be right.

Bottom Line 

We know the stimulation, egg retrieval, and the whole IVF process could seem overwhelming and just remember you have MotherToBe’s fertility doctors, physicians, and a support team to help you along the way.

Whether you are about to undergo ovarian testing or you are looking to go through testing in the future, you could take steps to help improve your chances of having a baby when you are ready. Keep track of your ovarian health and the significance of ovarian reserve checked. MotherToBe fertility clinic in Hyderabad is always keen to empower you with necessary fertility information and how to holistically prepare for IVF and other fertility treatments.

If you are struggling to get pregnant and need some help, then don’t hesitate to reach out to the expertise team of fertility specialists at MotherToBe and we are happy to offer you specialist help & comprehensive care with your fertility journey.  

Have questions & concerns about IVF and want to learn more about egg retrieval and schedule an appointment with our IVF doctors. Book an Appointment