Infertility has become a global problem. Because of this, in-vitro fertilization (IVF) has become more popular than ever before due to its high pregnancy rate. There are different types of fertility methods but IVF is known to be the most effective treatment option because of its high chances for success. The procedure is recommended to couples with unexplained infertility, women with blocked fallopian tubes and men with low sperm count.
If you are considering IVF, you must know that there are several stages in the IVF process and IVF eggs retrieval is one of them. In this step, the eggs are taken from the woman's ovaries. But before that, the ovaries are stimulated to produce more mature eggs. The ovary normally releases only one egg during menstrual cycle. In IVF treatment, the goal is to harvest more eggs to increase the chances of pregnancy.
What if I fail to produce multiple eggs?
When the ovarian stimulation has started, your doctor will monitor the egg development through blood tests, urine samples and ultrasounds. This will help doctors determine follicle sizes that will decide your ovulation date. In addition, the blood test will determine your hormonal levels. If you have poor ovarian response, your doctor will adjust your stimulation medications or protocols. If it doesn't work, there are other options to choose from, one which is using frozen embryos. Basically the embryos are from another woman who produced plenty of them. Another option is by IVF eggs donation. These eggs are donated by other women who were able to produce multiple eggs. Some fertility clinics grant substantial discounts to patients who donate eggs for IVF.
IVF Eggs Retrieval
Adequate number of eggs will be harvested from your ovaries by inserting a needle at the top of your vagina to the ovary and then aspirating the egg follicles out. The retrieval procedure normally lasts from 30 minutes to one hour and done via transvaginal ultrasound. The goal is to retrieve up to 20 viable eggs although this is highly dependent on the patient's age and response to fertility drugs. You will be sedated under local anesthesia to make it painless. It is relatively normal to see some light vaginal discharge and feel tenderness on the abdominal area following the IVF eggs retrieval. After resting for about two hours at the fertility clinic, you will be allowed to go home and take some antibiotics to prevent the occurrence of infections.
How to Prepare for IVF Eggs Retrieval
Advance preparation helps a lot to improve your chances of producing viable eggs. For instance, a diet low in fat a few days prior to egg retrieval improves your chances of producing healthy eggs. In addition, avoid scented products like soaps and shampoos because it is believed that embryos react negatively to these products. It is better to avoid them on embryo transfer day as well. Furthermore, take off nail polish as this can hinder blood pressure readings.
Keep these information in mind. If you have any concerns, it is best that you discuss them with your doctor to make your IVF eggs retrieval successful to be able to increase your chances for a triumphant IVF treatment.