Egg Retrieval
Once your follicles, within which the eggs develop, reach the optimal size you will be advised the date and time for the ‘trigger’ injection.
This injection will have to be administered 34-36 hours prior to your egg retrieval, depending on the advice you receive from the fertility team.
The ‘trigger injection’ ensures that the eggs are mature and assists with releasing the egg in the middle of the follicle ready for collection.
How to prepare for your egg retrieval:
- Do not eat or drink anything after midnight on the day of your egg retrieval.
- Do not wear any fragrances or perfume other than your deodorant on the day of your egg retrieval.
- Arrive at least one hour before your actual egg retrieval procedure.
- Wear clothes that are comfortable and that are easy to remove.
What will happen before your egg retrieval?
- You will be taken to the admission area.
- A nurse will issue you paperwork to complete upon arrival at the clinic. If you have received the consent forms electronically before the day of egg retrieval, please ensure that you read, sign and bring them with you.
- You will receive a gown to wear during the procedure.
- Your baseline vital signs (body temperature, blood pressure, pulse rate, respiration rate and oxygen saturation) will be checked. Your weight and height will also be measured.
- Prior to your procedure you will meet with other members of the team that will be present during the procedure.
What happens during your egg retrieval?
- In the procedure room/theatre, your anaesthetist will put up an IV line that goes into a vein in your arm or hand, to administer the medications for sedation so that you are comfortable and pain free during the procedure.
- The egg retrieval takes approximately 15-30 minutes, depending on the number of follicles and access to the ovaries, and is performed under transvaginal ultrasound guidance.
- Once you are asleep, your legs will be placed in stirrups and the physician will insert the ultrasound probe vaginally. (This is similar to the probe used during the ultrasound scans to assess your follicles).
- Attached to this probe is a guide within which a very thin, sterile, long needle is passed through. With the assistance of the ultrasound, your physician will guide this needle through the vaginal wall and into your ovary to aspirate your follicles.
- The fluid that is being aspirated from each follicle will be collected in tubes that will then be assessed by the embryologist under a microscope to visualise and pick the eggs surrounded by the granulosa cells.
- This retrieval process continues until all suitable follicles have been aspirated in each ovary.
What to expect after your egg retrieval?
- Once the procedure has been completed, you will be woken up by the anaesthetist and wheeled back to the recovery area.
- When you are fully awake and orientated, you will have something to eat and drink.
- You will be in the recovery area or in your room for about one to two hours where the nurse will assess your vital signs, check for any bleeding and/or pain before you are discharged home.
- Medication will be issued to you for pain relief, and the nurse will explain when and how to take these.
- Depending on your treatment plan and protocol you will be given hormone medications to take in order to maintain the endometrium (lining of the womb) in preparation of the embryo transfer.
- In most cases an update will be given to you before going home on how many eggs were retrieved. You will also be informed about the steps that will follow depending on your treatment, as agreed with your expert fertility team.
- You will not be able to drive home – so please have someone that is able to bring you to the centre for your procedure as well as drive you back home after the procedure.
Side effects that you can experience from your egg retrieval:
- Pelvic cramping (similar to menstrual cramping).
- Pelvic and/or lower back pain.
- Light bleeding/spotting.
- Mild soreness in the vaginal area.
- Bloating and/or pressure on the bladder.
Once you are home:
- Take it easy on the day of your egg retrieval.
- You will be booked off from your normal activities and work on this day. You should be able to resume your normal activities and work the following day.
- Refrain from vigorous activity for approximately 2 weeks.
- Avoid sexual intercourse until the pregnancy test is done if you are having a fresh embryo transfer, or otherwise for 7 days.
- Keep hydrated by increasing your water intake.
- Take pain relief as and when required.
Symptoms and signs of OHSS (ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome) to prompt you making contact with your fertility team:
- Abdominal bloating and increased waist circumference.
- Weight gain.
- Worsening pain in the lower abdomen and/or on the side of the pelvis.
- Shortness of breath.
- Nausea.
- Vomiting.
- Diarrhea.
- Passing a small amount of urine and not very frequently.
Ready to start your journey?
Our commitment is to make fertility care accessible, successful and stress free for patients.
If you are ready to start your journey, book a consultation with one of our experienced fertility consultants.
