Treatment FAQ

how are eggs harvested from ovaries for ivf treatment

by Patricia Moen Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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Transvaginal ultrasound aspiration is the usual retrieval method. An ultrasound probe is inserted into your vagina to identify follicles. Then a thin needle is inserted into an ultrasound guide to go through the vagina and into the follicles to retrieve the eggs.Sep 10, 2021

Full Answer

How are eggs removed from ovaries for IVF?

During this procedure, an ultrasound probe is inserted into your vagina to identify follicles, and a needle is guided through the vagina and into the follicles. The eggs are removed from the follicles through the needle, which is connected to a suction device.

How is an egg fertilized in IVF?

An egg is fertilized by injecting a single sperm into the egg or mixing the egg with sperm in a petri dish (B). The fertilized egg (embryo) is transferred into the uterus (C). In vitro fertilization (IVF) is a complex series of procedures used to help with fertility or prevent genetic problems and assist with the conception of a child.

Why do we harvest so many eggs for IVF?

Harvesting many eggs maximizes the chances one of the eggs can be fertilized, implanted back into the uterus, and become a healthy baby. Because the natural female reproductive cycle is incredibly complex, ovarian stimulation is also a complicated process. An IVF cycle can be stressful, especially when you’re going through it for the first time.

How are eggs retrieved from the ovaries?

Typically, transvaginal ultrasound aspiration is used to retrieve eggs. During this procedure, an ultrasound probe is inserted into your vagina to identify follicles, and a needle is guided through the vagina and into the follicles. The eggs are removed from the follicles through the needle, which is connected to a suction device.

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Is harvesting eggs for IVF painful?

Because of the type of anesthesia that is used, patients do not feel any pain during the egg retrieval procedure. However, patients may experience abdominal cramping for a day or two after the procedure.

How are ovarian eggs harvested?

Egg retrieval A common approach is transvaginal ultrasound aspiration, during which an ultrasound probe is inserted into your vagina to identify the follicles. A needle is then guided through the vagina and into a follicle. A suction device connected to the needle is used to remove the egg from the follicle.

How long does egg retrieval take from start to finish?

It takes place approximately 10-12 days after the start of hormone-based stimulation medications taken to make the ovaries develop numerous eggs. The procedure generally lasts only 10-15 minutes from the administration of anesthesia to completion of the egg retrieval procedure.

Are you awake during egg retrieval?

Egg retrievals are performed in our office. The day of retrieval, an IV will be put in and antibiotics will be given. You will also be given a sedative to help you relax, but you will be awake during the procedure.

Is embryo transfer painful in IVF?

The IVF process is usually not painful, although a person may experience mild discomfort at some stages. As IVF involves the injection of fertility medication, there may be mild bruising and pain at the injection site. A person may also experience abdominal cramping that may be painful.

Are you more fertile after egg retrieval?

Are you fertile after egg retrieval? Yes. Egg retrieval doesn't affect your future fertility. So, many women donate eggs before having children of their own, later on.

How much pain is normal after egg collection?

We recommend that you limit your activity on the day of the transfer and the following day. After two days you can resume normal activity. You may feel some after-effects of the procedure including a small amount of bloody discharge, mild cramping or bloating, and constipation. If pain continues, contact your doctor.

What should you not do before egg retrieval?

Like most surgeries, you'll need to refrain from eating or drinking the night before, and you'll want to come in comfortable clothing without makeup, perfume, or contact lenses; we'll provide you with a locker for your clothing and belongings.

What can I expect on egg retrieval day?

Egg retrieval day occurs approximately 36 hours after the trigger shot is administered. Using a laparoscope, a very thin needle will be inserted into each follicle to retrieve your eggs. You will be put under light sedation and monitored closely by an anesthesiologist.

Is egg donation painful?

While there are some risks and discomfort that can occur during the egg donation procedure, the process is generally painless and safe.

What is egg retrieval surgery like?

Egg-retrieval technique During this procedure, an ultrasound probe is inserted into your vagina to identify follicles, and a needle is guided through the vagina and into the follicles. The eggs are removed from the follicles through the needle, which is connected to a suction device.

How do they sedate you for egg retrieval?

The egg retrieval process uses a propofol-based anesthesia—not a general anesthesia, but rather an intravenous sedation medication—to ensure you feel no pain or discomfort during the egg retrieval process. We're proud to partner with Alfond Ambulatory Anesthesia, a group of board-certified anesthesiologists led by Dr.

How do you collect female eggs?

0:122:01Egg Collection: An Insight into the Procedure - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipEach egg along with follicular fluid is gently sucked through the needle and into a collecting tubeMoreEach egg along with follicular fluid is gently sucked through the needle and into a collecting tube the embryologist then examines the eggs under a microscope. When.

How many eggs do they harvest for IVF?

Ovarian stimulation is used to mature multiple eggs for egg retrieval. Even if ovulation is normal, fertility drugs are used to produce more than a single egg because pregnancy rates are higher with more eggs. An average of 10 – 20 eggs are usually retrieved for IVF.

When do they harvest eggs for IVF?

We may need to perform a vaginal ultrasound, in addition to blood tests to check on your hormone levels. About a day and a half after your final injection of stimulant hormones, it will be time to harvest your eggs.

Can you harvest fertilized eggs?

Egg harvesting is a significant part of the In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) process. In the context of in vitro fertilization, egg harvesting usually refers to the process of egg retrieval. Scientifically, this process is known as transvaginal oocyte retrieval, which means through the vagina egg retrieval.

How are eggs removed during in vitro fertilization?

During in vitro fertilization, eggs are removed from mature follicles within an ovary (A). An egg is fertilized by injecting a single sperm into the egg or mixing the egg with sperm in a petri dish (B). The fertilized egg (embryo) is transferred into the uterus (C).

Why do I have to have multiple eggs during IVF?

If you're using your own eggs during IVF, at the start of a cycle you'll begin treatment with synthetic hormones to stimulate your ovaries to produce multiple eggs — rather than the single egg that normally develops each month. Multiple eggs are needed because some eggs won't fertilize or develop normally after fertilization.

What causes fewer eggs to be fertilized?

Fallopian tube damage or blockage makes it difficult for an egg to be fertilized or for an embryo to travel to the uterus. Ovulation disorders. If ovulation is infrequent or absent, fewer eggs are available for fertilization. Endometriosis.

How many cells are in an embryo after fertilization?

Three days after fertilization, a normally developing embryo will contain about six to 10 cells. By the fifth or sixth day, the fertilized egg is known as a blastocyst — a rapidly dividing ball of cells. The inner group of cells will become the embryo. The outer group will become the cells that nourish and protect it.

What is the purpose of IVF?

In vitro fertilization (IVF) is a complex series of procedures used to help with fertility or prevent genetic problems and assist with the conception of a child. During IVF, mature eggs are collected (retrieved) from ovaries and fertilized by sperm in a lab. Then the fertilized egg (embryo) or eggs (embryos) are transferred to a uterus.

What hormones are tested during the first few days of menstruation?

To determine the quantity and quality of your eggs, your doctor might test the concentration of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), estradiol (estrogen) and anti-mullerian hormone in your blood during the first few days of your menstrual cycle.

Can IVF be done anonymously?

Or IVF may involve eggs, sperm or embryos from a known or anonymous donor. In some cases, a gestational carrier — a woman who has an embryo implanted in her uterus — might be used. Your chances of having a healthy baby using IVF depend on many factors, such as your age and the cause of infertility.

How do you get eggs out of your vagina?

Egg retrieval procedure. A needle is passed through the top of the vagina under ultrasound guidance to get to the ovary and follicles. The fluid in the follicles is aspirated through the needle and the eggs detach from the follicle wall and are sucked out of the ovary (see video above).

What is transvaginal egg retrieval?

Transvaginal egg retrieval for IVF. In order to get sufficient eggs for the in vitro fertilization process, the woman is stimulated with injected medications using one of several IVF medication stimulation protocols to develop multiple follicles and eggs. The injections are usually done by the woman, or by her partner.

How long does it take for a woman to recover from an egg retrieval?

After egg retrieval – egg retrieval recovery. When all of the follicles have been aspirated, the woman wakes up quickly and is monitored closely for about an hour – after which she is discharged home. Recovery is usually straightforward with mild to moderate cramping for a few hours or so afterwards.

Where do eggs develop?

Eggs develop in fluid filled structures in the ovaries called follicles. Each follicle can be seen and measured by ultrasound and contains one microscopic egg. The egg is loosely attached to the follicle wall. Picture of follicles for IVF ultrasound. Ultrasound photo shows multiple follicles (black structures) in a stimulated ovary.

How long does it take for an embryo to be cultured?

The embryos are cultured in the IVF lab for 2-5 more days before one or more is put into the uterus by the embryo transfer procedure . Fourteen days after egg retrieval we look for evidence of the good news we have all been hoping for. We test her blood for HCG – the pregnancy hormone.

How long does it take for sperm to be put together?

Sperm and eggs are put together in the lab (in-vitro) about 4 hours after egg retrieval, or the sperm are injected individually into eggs. This injection process is called ICSI. The following morning we check the eggs for evidence of fertilization. The embryos are cultured in the IVF lab for 2-5 more days before one or more is put into ...

Can you sleep during egg retrieval?

Anesthesia for egg retrieval. Powerful anesthesia medications are given through an IV so that the woman is “out” during the egg retrieval procedure. She will not feel pain – or remember anything. Some clinics use other types of anesthesia, but in the US the women are generally “put to sleep” – but are still breathing on their own.

Why is it important to harvest eggs from the ovaries?

Harvesting many eggs maximizes the chances one of the eggs can be fertilized, implanted back into the uterus, and become a healthy baby. Because the natural female reproductive cycle is incredibly complex, ovarian stimulation is also a complicated process.

How to do IVF?

If you are considering IVF, before ovarian stimulation: 1 Choose a medical team you trust to be reliable—good communication will be vital 2 Keep on top of your medications 3 Don’t wait to seek advice if you’re not sure about anything 4 Make sure you can make arrangements that will allow you to travel for tests and discuss results with your medical team 5 Understand the process is stressful and be gentle with yourself.

How long does it take for an ovarian stimulation to work?

The stimulation phase involves the injection of medications for 8-14 days, to induce the ovaries to produce many eggs. The stimulation phase takes longer if your follicles are slower to mature.

What is the ovulation cycle?

A Regular Ovulation Cycle. Within a woman’s ovaries are hundreds of thousands of ovarian follicles, each of which contains an oocyte (an immature egg cell). A follicle is a small, fluid-filled cyst. During each menstrual cycle, several follicles begin to develop, each capable of releasing a mature egg during ovulation.

What to expect from ovarian stimulation?

What to Expect. The ovarian stimulation process requires good timing and great care. A problem can require the process to be restarted—a frustrating and discouraging experience. At the same time, this phase of treatment can be a time of great hope and expectation. Managing medications. IVF medications are often complicated.

Why is it important to travel for ovarian stimulation?

Stress and mood changes. Perhaps not surprisingly, given of the demands of the process, stress and mood swings are common during ovarian stimulation.

What to know before starting ovarian stimulation?

Before You Start. Before you start ovarian stimulation, you will have undergone extensive fertility testing. Testing will include blood tests to show the baseline levels of hormones in your body, allowing your physician to recommend a treatment regimen that’s suited to you.

What is the procedure to remove an egg from a woman's ovaries?

Fast Facts About The IVF Egg Retrieval Procedure. An egg retrieval is a surgical procedure done to remove the egg (s) from a woman’s ovaries undergoing Egg Freezing or In Vitro Fertilization (IVF). Surgery is a big and scary word, but the procedure is done in a minimally invasive way, meaning it usually has no scars, stitches, ...

Where are eggs transported after retrieval?

The embryology team will then locate, count, and place your eggs in nourishing media that mimics the environment of your fallopian tubes.

What is the best way to check for miscarriages?

It’s the best way to check everything is in order prior to egg retrieval or embryo transfer. There are also various procedures, such as PRP-Therapy and ERA, along with yoga, massage, and acupuncture, that CNY Fertility providers recommend as part of a protocol to boost female fertility.

How long does it take for an egg to develop?

Egg development takes 90 days, use it wisely. IVF only targets the final developmental phase of egg production taking place in the last 10-14 days. To improve egg retrieval outcomes, women need to be sure they’re doing everything possible to improve the quality of their eggs for the full 90 days prior to retrieval.

How long to wait to get eggs from PCOs?

It’s critical that patients with PCOS begin preparing for egg retrieval from 90 days up to 6-months in advance, to reduce BMI and inflammation, and maximize health so that retrieval can be successful and safe. A high fat, moderate protein, low carb diet is critical for getting pregnant with PCOS.

How long does it take for an egg to be retrieved after a trigger shot?

The egg retrieval itself is always 35 hours after the administration of the first trigger shot (Lupron or HCG) which stimulates the final maturation of the eggs and triggers ovulation; of course, with egg freezing or in vitro fertilization, it is important to remove the eggs before they are truly ovulated.

What are the do nots for egg retrieval?

Some important do nots include: to not eat or drink anything after midnight on the day of your procedure. to not wear perfumes or fragrances other than deodorant the day of the egg retrieval procedure. After you check-in, you’ll likely change into a robe or hospital gown and be taken to one of the surgical suites.

How long does it take for an egg to ovulate after hCG injection?

After that, OPU can be scheduled for just a few hours before ovulation, i.e. within 30-34 hours before the administration of hCG injections. This way, we get the eggs to remain inside the follicles for the harvesting procedure.

How big is a mature ovarian egg?

Follicles are considered to be mature, which is to say, they contain a mature egg on the inside, when their diameter measures above 16-18 millimeters.

What is OPU in IVF?

Ovum pick-up (OPU), which medical term is follicular or follicle puncture, is a key step in the process of in vitro fertilization ( IVF ). It is a surgical procedure required for harvesting the oocytes from the ovarian follicles. It is a simple, short intervention which is done under anesthesia (sedation). Below you have an index ...

How does a woman undergo folicle aspiration?

When a woman undergoes IVF, she is prescribed a hormone therapy to induce ovulation and trigger the maturation and production of multiple oocytes. However, in order for the eggs to be properly fertilized in ...

How long does it take for a follicle to heal?

Normally, pain only lasts for one or two days, but it diminishes eventually until it disappears completely within a few days.

Is ovum retrieval a surgical procedure?

Ovum retrieval is a simple surgical procedure done under mild anesthesia or intravenous sedation. Thus, the number of risks involved is low. There is only a small chance for anesthesia to cause some side effects such as bloating, sickness, low blood pressure or vomiting.

Does ovarian pick up hurt?

By Andrea Rodrigo BSc, MSc (embryologist). Ovum pick-up is done under anesthesia, and therefore it does not hurt at all. However, it is possible for patients to feel a mild discomfort before the procedure due to an increased ovarian size caused by ovarian stimulation.

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Overview

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In vitro fertilization (IVF) is a complex series of procedures used to help with fertility or prevent genetic problems and assist with the conception of a child. During IVF, mature eggs are collected (retrieved) from ovaries and fertilized by sperm in a lab. Then the fertilized egg (embryo) or eggs (embryos) are transferred to a uterus. On…
See more on mayoclinic.org

Why It's Done

  • In vitro fertilization (IVF) is a treatment for infertility or genetic problems. If IVF is performed to treat infertility, you and your partner might be able to try less-invasive treatment options before attempting IVF, including fertility drugs to increase production of eggs or intrauterine insemination — a procedure in which sperm are placed directly in the uterus near the time of ovulation. Somet…
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Risks

  • Risks of IVFinclude: 1. Multiple births. IVFincreases the risk of multiple births if more than one embryo is transferred to your uterus. A pregnancy with multiple fetuses carries a higher risk of early labor and low birth weight than pregnancy with a single fetus does. 2. Premature delivery and low birth weight. Research suggests that IVFslightly increases the risk that the baby will be …
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How You Prepare

  • The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology provide information online about U.S. clinics' individual pregnancy and live birth rates. A clinic's success rate depends on many factors. These include patients' ages and medical issues, as well as the clinic's treatment population and treatment approaches. Ask for detailed informati…
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What You Can Expect

  • IVF involves several steps — ovarian stimulation, egg retrieval, sperm retrieval, fertilization and embryo transfer. One cycle of IVFcan take about two to three weeks. More than one cycle may be needed.
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Results

  • About 12 days to two weeks after egg retrieval, your doctor will test a sample of your blood to detect whether you're pregnant. 1. If you're pregnant,your doctor will refer you to an obstetrician or other pregnancy specialist for prenatal care. 2. If you're not pregnant, you'll stop taking progesterone and likely get your period within a week. If you don't get your period or you have un…
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Clinical Trials

  • Explore Mayo Clinic studiesof tests and procedures to help prevent, detect, treat or manage conditions.
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