Are you curious to know about the Egg Retrieval process? In the In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) process, quite a popular technique that is recommended to women who are unable to have babies in a normal way, this happens to be a vital step. In this method, mature eggs are extracted gently from the ovaries of a woman. This is generally conducted under the effects of general anesthesia or sedative, using a thin needle and ultrasound guidance. If you are not aware of how the process works, take a look at what women can expect before, during and after the process.
Before egg retrieval procedure is initiated, women should expect to go through the process of ovarian stimulation. This is done with the aid of hormone injections. After this, a trigger shot is given for maturing the eggs. With a final ultrasound exam and blood work, doctors monitor how a woman responds to the administered medications. The responses are noted promptly, and with care.
Women can expect to be under the effects of anesthesia during this process. An ultrasound guides a needle that aspirates follicular fluid comprising of eggs from ovaries. Then, these are sent to a lab for proper identification. The eggs are prepared for fertilization.
Doctors generally recommend women who have undergone the egg retrieval procedure to rest at home for the whole day after their egg retrieval procedure. While some women find that they are okay in terms of health and can get back to normal activities in the same day, others may feel some discomfort for a few days or for a whole week after undergoing the procedure.
Some women complain of mild to moderate discomfort, abdominal pain, cramping, bloating and fatigue, as in case of their periods. They can experience soreness or bruising at the sites that they have been injected in. Some women also commonly suffer from mood swings, which occur due to hormone fluctuations.
It is essential to note that such kinds of symptoms generally subside in 3 to 5 days. However, the pace of recovery of each woman is different. Some women who go through the egg retrieval procedure may experience discomfort for more time. Ideally, women undergoing this process should expect to feel normal again by the time they menstruate again. Generally, this starts 7-10 days after the retrieval process.
Once doctors retrieve the eggs, they take them to an embryology laboratory to fertilize them with sperm. Based on the age of a woman who undergoes the process, her response to the medication and the quality of the eggs and embryos that are produced, success rates tend to vary.
So here is a complete guide on the egg retrieval procedure that you needed. If you have been recommended to undergo it, make sure that you discuss all possible options with your doctor and get an in-depth idea about the procedure before you go through it.
