- ATHENS OFFICE MED4WOMAN ATHENS
- VOLOS OFFICE MED4WOMAN VOLOS
Obstetrician-Gynecologist
PhD, University of Athens Medical School
Obstetrician-gynecologist Panagiotis Polyzos practices at the Institute of Life, the IVF Unit of IASO Maternity Hospital.
Oocyte retrieval is a part of the in vitro fertilization (IVF) process, and essentially, it is exactly what the term describes: the procedure of collecting eggs from a woman’s ovaries. It is a common procedure and technique performed in women who are beginning their efforts to achieve pregnancy.
Egg retrieval is scheduled with your gynecologist and performed in an operating room setting. Guided by transvaginal ultrasound, the doctor passes a fine needle through the vaginal wall. The follicles are punctured and their contents collected so that the embryologist can receive them. At this stage, the embryologist collects the eggs and places them in dishes.
The procedure itself usually lasts 15 to 30 minutes, and the total stay at the unit is one to two hours. Preparation is simple: fasting from the night before and someone to take you home, since you are not allowed to drive after sedation.
Oocyte retrieval is part of the in vitro fertilization process and is performed so that the gynecologist can collect eggs from the ovaries. On the day of the procedure, the woman must fast from the previous night and avoid food, water, coffee, and other specific items, as advised by her gynecologist .
Egg retrieval is a minor procedure usually done under intravenous sedation, meaning light anesthesia given by an anesthesiologist. You breathe on your own, no intubation is needed and you wake up a few minutes after it ends, so the procedure is painless. In selected cases with very few follicles, such as a natural cycle, it can also be done under local anesthesia. For most women, however, sedation is the most comfortable option, and your doctor will recommend what suits your case.
Egg retrieval does not take place on a fixed day of the cycle. Its timing is set by monitoring the follicles with ultrasound during ovarian stimulation, which usually lasts 8 to 14 days. When the follicles reach the right size, the trigger injection is given and egg retrieval is scheduled about 34 to 36 hours later, shortly before natural ovulation would occur.
The number of eggs retrieved varies in each case and cannot be predetermined. For this reason, it is best to consult with your gynecologist, who will examine you and provide detailed information tailored to your situation. Dr. Polyzos has extensive experience in the field of in vitro fertilization and oocyte retrieval. For more information, please contact us.
Oocyte retrieval is generally considered a very safe procedure and painless, as it is performed under sedation. However, there are a few very rare complications or side effects, such as ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome as well as the potential risks associated with any type of anesthesia.
Overall, such adverse events are not commonly observed and remain quite rare. Nevertheless, your doctor will always inform you thoroughly about any possible risks or side effects that may be associated with each step of the in vitro fertilization.
This varies from case to case. Most of the time, menstruation occurs within the normal timeframe following oocyte retrieval. However, in any situation, it is advisable to communicate with your specialist doctor, who will provide you with the appropriate guidance. Even in the case of a delay, your doctor will be fully aware of your medical circumstances and will be able to advise you properly.
As for before egg retrieval, we explained above in detail which foods and drinks to avoid. After egg retrieval, by contrast, your diet should definitely include protein, for example fish, chicken, meat, eggs and so on. Drink enough fluids during the day, mainly water, and follow your team's instructions. If many eggs were retrieved, you may be asked to record the fluids you drink, your urine output and your weight, so that possible ovarian hyperstimulation can be spotted early.
In any case, your doctor will communicate with you to provide detailed guidance on the appropriate diet to follow, especially if you have specific dietary needs such as allergies or if you are vegan, etc.
Sexual intercourse does not generally cause any issues up until one day before the procedure; however, it is advisable to reduce sexual activity in the final days beforehand. On the first day after the procedure, it is best to keep activities as calm and relaxed as possible, including work-related tasks. It is recommended to avoid sexual intercourse and intense physical exertion. In every case, your doctor will provide proper guidance regarding sexual activity before and after the procedure. For more information, contact the experienced gynecologist specializing in in vitro fertilization, Dr. Panagiotis Polyzos.
Oocyte retrieval is relatively affordable. However, the doctor must first evaluate your individual case to provide you with accurate information on the cost of the procedure and the relevant pricing details. For more information, please contact us so we can address any questions you may have.
What is certain is that we are all working together in this effort, sharing a common goal: to ensure a successful outcome at every stage of the process.
Egg retrieval is not a stand-alone procedure. It is the point where ovarian stimulation ends, a phase that usually lasts 9 to 12 days. During this time you give yourself daily subcutaneous injections of gonadotropins, so that more follicles develop at the same time than the single one that matures in a natural cycle.
Progress is checked with transvaginal ultrasound and, where needed, by measuring estradiol in the blood. When enough follicles reach a diameter of about 17 to 20 millimeters, the doctor schedules the trigger injection. This is hCG or a GnRH agonist, depending on the protocol and the risk of hyperstimulation.
The trigger injection completes the maturation of the eggs. Egg retrieval is scheduled about 34 to 36 hours later, shortly before natural ovulation would occur. If the injection is given too late, the follicles may have already ruptured. If it is given too early, the eggs may not be mature. That is why:
Preparation is simple, but the details make the day calmer. Besides fasting, check the following:
If on the morning of egg retrieval you have a fever, a bad cough or another acute health problem, call before you set off. The anesthesiologist needs to know.
As soon as aspiration is finished, the work passes to the embryology laboratory. The next few days determine how many embryos you will end up with. The process has specific stages:
At the end, it is decided whether to do a transfer in a fresh cycle or freeze all the embryos for a later embryo transfer. Freezing all embryos is preferred when there is a risk of hyperstimulation, when the endometrium is not suitable or when genetic testing will be done.
Many couples are disappointed when 12 eggs result in 3 or 4 blastocysts. This drop is the natural course and not a sign that something went wrong. Each stage acts as a filter that keeps the embryos with the best potential.
Recovery is quick for most women. The experience is not the same for everyone, however, especially when many eggs have been retrieved.
You wake up in the recovery area, where you stay under observation. You may feel dizzy, have a dry mouth or mild period-like pain. Before you leave you will drink fluids, and the staff will make sure you are urinating normally.
Most women return to work the next day or the day after. Bloating may last a few days, because the ovaries remain enlarged. Avoid running, jumping and lifting weights until your doctor says so, because enlarged ovaries carry a small risk of torsion.
If the bloating gets worse instead of easing, if you gain more than one kilo a day or if you are urinating less, contact your team the same day.
The procedure is the same as egg retrieval in IVF. The difference is that the mature eggs are vitrified immediately, without fertilization. For egg freezing more than one cycle is often needed, especially after 35, to collect enough eggs.
In mini IVF cycle, only a few follicles develop, so egg retrieval takes less time and the discomfort afterward is usually milder. Timing, however, is even more critical, because one missed follicle means losing a large part of the cycle.
With polycystic ovaries many follicles often develop. This gives more eggs, but increases the risk of hyperstimulation. That is why an antagonist protocol, a GnRH agonist trigger and freezing all embryos are often used.
Donors follow the same stimulation and egg retrieval protocol. However, they first go through full medical, genetic and psychological screening, as the law requires, and are monitored with the same care after egg retrieval.
Rarely, aspirating follicles that looked normal on ultrasound yields no eggs at all. This is called empty follicle syndrome. In most cases it is due to a problem with the trigger injection, such as the wrong time, the wrong dose or poor absorption, and not to any permanent damage.
The team can measure hCG levels in the blood to see whether the injection worked. In a following cycle, the type or timing of the trigger is usually changed. Likewise, a small number of eggs in a woman with low reserve does not mean the attempt is pointless. Discuss the cycle's data with your doctor before making decisions about the next one.
It is done under intravenous sedation, so you feel no pain. Afterward, mild cramps and bloating for one to two days are common.
About 15 to 20 minutes. You leave the unit one to two hours later.
It depends on age and ovarian reserve. Usually 8 to 15, while with Mini IVF fewer.
Rest on the same day, no driving, plenty of fluids. Contact your doctor if you have severe pain, fever, marked bloating or difficulty breathing.
No. Only mature eggs are fertilized, which on average are eight out of ten.
If there is no embryo transfer or no pregnancy is achieved, your period usually comes 10 to 14 days after egg retrieval. It may be a little heavier than usual.
Mild pain and cramps, bloating, light vaginal bleeding and tiredness for one to two days. Severe pain, shortness of breath or marked swelling of the abdomen require contacting your doctor right away.
Usually 34 to 36 hours later. The exact time is set by your team and must be followed strictly, because a large deviation can lead to immature eggs or ovulation before egg retrieval.
Most women return to office work the next day or the day after. If your job involves physical strain or heavy lifting, ask your doctor for guidance on 3 to 5 days of lighter activity.
If fresh sperm is used, your partner provides the sample on the same day, usually in the morning. If there is a frozen sample or donor sperm, his presence is not necessary, but you definitely need someone to accompany you home.
Usually the next day, when the embryologist checks fertilization. Updates on how the embryos are developing follow until the day of transfer or freezing.
