There are many steps involved in the IVF process. Among many such steps, one of the key steps is the egg retrieval process. In this process, the reproductive expert stimulates your uterus and retrieves eggs. Needless to say, in this process, the experts have to conduct a minor surgical procedure. The very aspect of surgery can make the egg retrieval procedure of the IVF process a bit scary for many people. The good news here is that the process is rather quick and painless. Now, regarding this process, some of you may wonder- how are eggs taken for IVF treatment.
In this blog, we discuss some of the key aspects regarding how the egg is taken for IVF in the egg retrieval process. So, without any further ado, let's get started.
Before talking about the steps involved in the egg retrieval process, we first need to understand when the egg retrieval process is done. The simplest answer to the question of "When is the egg retrieval process done?" is during the start of the in vitro fertilization IVF process. To be more specific, egg retrieval is conducted during the first few steps of the IVF process. The steps involved in IVF leading to egg retrieval are as follows:
That said, the IVF process does not end with egg retrieval. The steps after the egg retrieval process during the IVF are as follows:
Leading up to the egg retrieval procedure, the experts carefully suppress your menstrual cycle through carefully administered daily injections or with birth control or estrogen patches.
Now that you know when the egg retrieval process is conducted, let's talk about the how is egg taken for IVF. The entire process comprises several steps. The steps and what goes within these steps are as follows:
You may be instructed to fast (not eat or drink) for a certain number of hours before the procedure, typically starting from midnight the night before. After the fasting, you proceed to the clinic or the hospital a few hours before the scheduled time for pre-procedure preparations.
The next step in this process is to administer sedation. The sedation is typically light sedation or conscious sedation, which makes you relaxed and drowsy but still responsive. Alternatively, you may be instructed to fast (not eat or drink) for a certain number of hours before the procedure, typically starting at midnight the night before.
After the anesthesia administration, you would be asked to lie on an exam table in a position similar to that used during a pelvic exam with your feet in the stirrups. Then the experts clean your vaginal area with an antiseptic solution to reduce the risk of infection.
A transvaginal ultrasound probe is inserted into the vagina to visualize the ovaries and follicles. Then a thin, hollow needle attached to the ultrasound probe is then inserted through the vaginal wall into the ovarian follicles. The fluid from each follicle is aspirated into a test tube using gentle suction. This fluid contains the eggs. The procedure is repeated for each ovary.
After the aspiration is conducted, the aspirated fluid is immediately examined under the microscope in the laboratory to identify and count the eggs.
After the retrieval, you will be taken to a recovery room to rest and be monitored as the effects of the anesthesia wear off. This usually takes about 30 minutes to an hour. You will receive post-procedure care instructions, including guidance on managing any discomfort, signs of potential complications to watch for, and when to resume normal activities.
A part of the egg retrieval process is the post-retrieval care. This is because, after the egg retrieval process, you may face mild cramping and light spotting. For this, you can use over-the-counter pain relievers like acetaminophen. Furthermore, some of you may experience bloating due to hormonal stimulation and the process itself. Therefore, experts advise you to take it easy for the rest of the day following the procedure.
You may have follow-up appointments to ensure there are no complications, such as ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS). If proceeding with IVF, the next step will be the transfer of embryos, typically a few days after retrieval.
These are the general steps involved in the egg retrieval process. Do note that the specific process can vary depending on your circumstances.
After knowing the egg process you may wonder how long it takes. The specifics vary case by case, but in general, the entire process takes roughly around 20 minutes, give or take a few minutes, disregarding the recovery process. If we do include the recovery process the process can take over a day or even a few days.
The specific number of egg retrieval processes can vary widely among individuals and depends on several factors, including the woman's age, ovarian reserve, and response to the ovarian stimulation protocol. However, on average, roughly around 18 to 15 eggs are taken out during the typical IVF process.
Egg retrieval is generally a safe procedure, but like any medical intervention, it comes with potential risks and complications. Here are some of the possible complications associated with egg retrieval:
Do note that besides mind cramping, mild pain, and spotting, the rest of the complications are rather uncommon or straight-up rare.
The egg retrieval process can be a scary process. It is, after all, a minor surgery. This process involves preparation, anesthesia administration, preparation, aspiration, and egg retrieval. In addition to these steps, the egg retrieval process also includes the recovery process as well.
In this blog, we discussed how the egg is taken for IVF for the egg retrieval process. We hope you found this helpful. If you want further insights into the world of IVF, do check out some of our other blogs. And if you want the best egg retrieval and IVF-related service in Nepal, look no further than Hardik IVF and Fertility Center, IVF center in Nepal. Thank you for reading till the end.
Once the eggs are retrieved and cleaned, they are either frozen through cryopreservation, incubated with sperm, or directly injected into the eggs.
It is not really painful to extract eggs for IVF since you would be under the effect of anesthesia.
Once you are sedated, the experts use ultrasound to look for your ovaries before using a needle to extract the eggs.
Egg retrieval does not hurt, and although it is considered a minor surgery, there are no cuts or stitches.
The specifics vary depending on your individual circumstances; however, on average, 10 to 15 eggs are retrieved.
Yes, you can, but it must be done after a good rest, typically for a minimum of a week.
Technically, it can lead to ovarian torsion, but it is a rather rare condition. You are safe for the most part.
The dietary restrictions before egg retrieval are as follows: