Egg Retrieval Procedure

In In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) treatment, the woman undergoes medical treatment to stimulate the development of her eggs. Once the eggs reach a certain level of maturity, a different hormonal injection is given to trigger the final maturation of the eggs.

About 34 hours after this injection, the eggs need to be retrieved. The egg retrieval is performed under operating room conditions. The woman receives light anesthesia. The procedure is not uncomfortable. Eggs are collected one by one using a needle that applies negative pressure under ultrasound guidance.

After retrieval, the eggs are examined in the laboratory. The number of eggs varies from person to person, but can range between 1 and 35. The procedure is completed in about 30 minutes. Necessary checks are performed on the patient, who is then discharged the same day.

Precautions Before Egg Retrieval

The patient must be fasting and have an empty stomach before the egg retrieval. This means no eating or drinking at least 8 hours before the procedure. Light meals should be consumed the day before.

• You should arrive at the center at least one hour before the scheduled procedure time.
• You may take a shower before the procedure, but no cosmetic products should be used.
• If the egg retrieval is done via transvaginal ultrasound, the bladder should be empty before the procedure starts.
• There is no strict rule for sexual abstinence before egg retrieval. However, if egg retrieval and sperm collection are done on the same day, a 3-day abstinence period is recommended for the couple.
• The clinic may require recent Hepatitis and HIV test results before the procedure.

What Happens After the Eggs Are Retrieved?

After the eggs are collected, they are examined in the laboratory. Quality eggs are selected and fertilized with quality sperm. Depending on lab conditions and sperm quality, either conventional IVF or microinjection (ICSI) is used to create embryos.

This fertilization results in embryos, which are the foundation for the developing baby in the womb. Fertilization is observed under a microscope and usually takes about 12 to 15 hours. After the embryos develop, the best quality embryos are analyzed and then transferred into the woman’s uterus. The timing of the transfer depends on the quality of the embryos.

Therefore, the timing may vary. Embryos are gently transferred into the uterus through the cervix using a thin, catheter-like plastic tube. The number of embryos transferred is limited to 1 for patients under 35 in the first two treatments, and a maximum of 2 for all other patients.