The in-vitro fertilization (IVF) egg retrieval procedure is a crucial part of your surrogacy journey and growing your family.
This information will help you prepare for what’s next and alleviate any concerns about the procedure while answering any other questions you have.
Fill out our online contact form if you have any specific questions about what comes next in your surrogacy journey.
What Is the Egg Retrieval Procedure? [5 Steps]
The egg retrieval procedure is one of five steps in the egg retrieval process. Here’s what the steps are and how you can prepare:
Step 1: Preparation for Cycle
To prepare for the egg retrieval and IVF procedure in general, you’ll undergo blood tests to check for any abnormalities.
These tests help determine how many available eggs are in the body and are used in conjunction with ultrasounds to help determine how your ovaries will react to fertility medication.
Male patients will also undergo these blood tests as well as a semen evaluation before starting treatments for IVF.
Improving egg quality and ovarian function can be done but it requires planning. Maturation for eggs can take up to three months and that can also be a time to plan out the necessary steps. Sleep is important for so many of your bodily functions. Having the proper amount of sleep is an easy egg retrieval tip because the same part of your brain that regulates the hormones for your sleep also releases reproductive hormones. Not getting enough sleep could impact the release of those reproductive hormones that impact the reproductive process. In addition to avoiding sugars, Mediterranean diets have been cited by the National Center for Biotechnology Information as having a positive relationship with fertility. While preparing for the egg retrieval procedure, you can decrease your stress by engaging in things that make you happy like reading a favorite book or watching a comfort show. Practicing relaxation techniques like meditation or support groups are other avenues by which you can decrease stress too. When you are administering fertility injections, space and sanitation are important. You can have the tools you need and areas where you plan to administer the medications cleaned in advanced, from a sink to wash your hands to gauze and bandages in case of any slight bleeding.How to Prepare for Egg Retrieval
Step 2: Ovarian Stimulation and Monitoring
This part of the procedure for egg retrieval involves using fertility hormonal medication to help your ovaries produce more than the single egg your body typically develops each month. These can include:
- Gonal-f
- Follistim
- Menopur
- And more
The egg retrieval procedure for IVF uses hormones to help your body develop more ovaries because some eggs will not fertilize or develop correctly when combined with the sperm of the intended father or donor.
Responses to these medications are different for each intended parent, as they vary based on your:
- Age
- Ovarian reserve
- Dosage
An ultrasound after you’ve started these medications will be used to count the number of follicles present. Follicles are fluid-filled sac that usually contains one egg.
A day and a half, or 36 hours, before egg retrieval, a trigger shot is required. This hormonal injection helps trigger your ovaries to release an egg.
Step 3: Egg Retrieval Procedure
Egg retrieval is a surgery, but it’s a quick, minimally invasive procedure that doesn’t require cuts or stitches. It’s close to painless thanks to an intravenous medication that sedates you, saving you from pain or discomfort during the process.
The IVF egg retrieval procedure is short, around 15-30 minutes; your doctor will guide a catheter through the vaginal wall to extra eggs out one by one.
Step 4: Lab Analysis and Fertilization
Once the procedure for egg retrieval is complete, these eggs will be immediately cleaned in the laboratory and stored.
The eggs will be frozen, incubated with sperm overnight or directly injected into each egg to fertilize them depending on the type of embryo transfer you have chosen.
Step 5: Rest and Recovery
After the surgery, it’s recommended that you take a day to go home and recover from the process.
Typical side effects after the egg retrieval surgery are:
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Bloating
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Cramping
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Constipation
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Sore breasts
What is An Oocyte?
While doing your research around the egg retrieval procedure, you have likely seen the word “oocyte” pop up.
An oocyte is the cell that eventually becomes the embryo. After the oocyte is developed, it can be fertilized by a sperm cell to become a zygote. A zygote becomes an embryo through mitosis.
FAQs About the Egg Retrieval IVF Procedure
Is Egg Retrieval Painful?
No, egg retrieval is not painful. It’s a quick process made painless by the use of light anesthesia. This allows for a quick recovery process after the procedure without feeling groggy.
Are You Awake During Egg Retrieval?
Typically, you are not awake during egg retrieval. Egg retrieval usually involves sedation to ensure that you feel no pain or discomfort during the procedure.
How Are Embryos Chosen?
Embryos are chosen based on their grading when they reach developmental maturity. To decide what embryos will be transferred, they are graded based on:
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Number of cells
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Symmetry of cells
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Degree of fragmentation
Is Egg Retrieval Without Anesthesia An Option?
Anesthesia for your egg retrieval is not required. Whether you have a medical reason for not wanting it or want a more holistic approach, you can talk to your doctor about your options moving forward.
What are the Embryo Transfer Success Rates?
Embryo success rates are impacted by the quality of the embryo and the age of the women who’s eggs are being used. IVF with a surrogate sees a 20% higher success rate than those without one.
Is Egg Retrieval Dangerous?
Egg retrieval comes with risk, just like any other medical procedure, but it’s not considered dangerous. Side effects like cramping and bleeding are common.
Once the egg retrieval procedure is complete, you need to wait 10-14 days to test for a pregnancy.
Can I Freeze My Eggs for Later Use?
Yes, you can freeze your eggs for later use. When it comes to freezing your embryos for surrogacy, here’s what those steps will look like:
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Step 1: Medications for Ovarian Stimulation or Finding an Egg Donor.
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Step 2: Egg Retrieval.
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Step 3: Fertilization.
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Step 4: Freezing.
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Step 5: Storage.
To learn more about the freezing process, you can contact us to get more information about how you can prepare for the storage of extra embryos. We can connect you with reputable fertility clinics or help you find a surrogate once your embryos are ready.