Egg retrieval in IVF treatment

Egg retrieval is a vital step in the process of IVF treatment, and before further explaining the process of egg retrieval, it makes sense to gain an understanding of the overall IVF process.

Overview of the IVF treatment process

• Step 1 - Fertility medication: Hormone medication increases egg production.
• Step 2 - Egg retrieval: Once the eggs have matured, ovulation is triggered, and the retrieval is scheduled 36 hours after the trigger shot.
• Step 3 - Fertilization: Sperm is placed alongside the egg, hopefully leading to fertilization and embryo development.
• Step 4 - Embryo transfer: A single embryo is transferred to the uterus. Excess embryos are typically frozen.

IVF treatment is a commonly used method to help improve the chances of fertilization. In IVF, the egg is fertilized outside the body in a laboratory. Once the egg retrieval has been performed, the embryo transfer is a simple procedure. If the embryo is to a female partner instead of back to the woman providing the eggs, the treatment is referred to as reciprocal IVF.

The process of egg retrieval for IVF

Before the egg retrieval takes place, you are required to take fertility medication to increase your egg production followed by a trigger shot to help start your ovulation. This will mature and prepare the eggs for retrieval. Once you are ready for the trigger shot, your fertility clinic will schedule an appointment for retrieval. Typically, around 36 hours after taking the trigger shot. From there, only the retrieval procedure remains. Here is a step-by-step explanation of the egg retrieval process:

Step 1 – Preparing for the retrieval

When you are ready for retrieval, show up at the hospital or your fertility clinic. Before the procedure, you will receive intravenous (IV) sedation to help ease the pain experienced during egg retrieval. Because of the sedation, most women experience the procedure as pain-free.

Step 2 – Performing the procedure

When the sedation starts to work, the fertility doctor will begin the procedure. The first step is to use ultrasound to guide a thin needle through the vaginal wall and into the ovaries. The needle is attached to a suction device that gently pulls the eggs and fluid from each follicle into a tube. The retrieved eggs are then inspected to establish the number of eggs ready for fertilization. Often, the procedure does not take more than 20-30 minutes.

Step 3 – Recovery

Because of the sedation, you will need some time to recover. Clear the schedule for the rest of the day, to ensure you have enough time to recover. After the procedure, you can walk and bike home, but if you plan to drive, you will need someone who can help take you home.

How to prepare

The most important thing you can do to prepare for egg retrieval is to follow the recommendations from your doctor, thus ensuring that the fertility medication and trigger shot are used according to the plan.

Some may feel nervous before the procedure, as it is an important part of the IVF process. As a result, many begin to consider “What if it goes wrong?” or “What if no healthy eggs are retrieved?”. Questions like these can cause a lot of frustration and negative emotions. If you find yourself asking these questions, try to distract your mind with activities like yoga, exercise, or taking a long walk. These things may help clear your mind and prepare you for egg retrieval.

Relevant articles about IVF

• What is the minimum sperm count for IVF treatment?
• The disadvantages of using IVF to have a baby
• IVF and Reciprocal IVF for lesbian couples

Egg retrieval success rates

Hopefully, the egg retrieval procedure is successful and ends in one or more high-quality eggs. However, even though multiple high-quality eggs are retrieved, it is not guaranteed to result in a pregnancy. The difficult part of the procedure is to create an embryo and transfer it to the uterus for further development into an actual pregnancy. According to the NHS, the birth rate per frozen embryo transferred for IVF treatment in 2021 were:

• 31% for women under 35
• 27% for women aged 35 to 37
• 22% for women aged 38 to 39
• 17% for women aged 40 to 42
• 14% for women aged 43 to 44
• 17% for women aged over 44

Side effects from egg retrieval

Egg retrieval is a medical procedure with medication and sedation required, meaning there is a chance of side effects. Here is an overview of the most common side effects of egg retrieval:

• Side effects related to fertility medication: The most common side effects are similar to PMS symptoms and include headaches, mood swings, bloating, nausea, cramping, hot flashes, breast tenderness and/or temporary stinging where the injection occurred. Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome (OHSS) is also a side effect. However, it occurs in less than 1% of stimulated cycles, and even more rare is the risk of ovarian torsion, bleeding, and infections.
• Side effects related to the egg retrieval procedure: Because the doctor has used a thin needle to penetrate the uterine wall, you may experience some discomfort in your pelvis area after the procedure.

How to proceed

Depending on your fertility journey and where you are, there are different ways to proceed. If you are in the middle of a treatment cycle and the next step is egg retrieval, we recommend following the guidelines in detail regarding your medication and trigger shot. If your treatment is yet to begin or you are still trying to figure out whether to enter treatment, we recommend finding a fertility clinic to help guide you on your journey towards parenthood. Contact Cryos for help finding a clinic performing IVF with donor sperm from Cryos.

FAQ about egg retrieval

How long is the egg retrieval procedure?

Often, the egg retrieval procedure does not take more than 20-30 minutes.

How many eggs is normal for IVF retrieval?

The number of eggs retrieved differs a lot from one woman to another, depending on different factors like age, fertility, and lifestyle.