IVF and Egg Retrieval

Many couples who deal with infertility describe it as being an incredibly lonely experience. At our fertility center, The Center for Fertility and Gynecology, we don’t want our patients to feel that infertility is a problem to be navigated alone. Our experience and success in fertility treatment is topped only by our level of personal care and compassion. Through every stage of treatment, we take into account the unique needs of our patients so that we can maximize comfort and increase the chances of successful treatment. IVF, in particular, is a multi-step procedure that we educate and support our patients throughout so that they feel safe, relaxed, and prepared for treatment. For those of our Tarzana patients undergoing IVF, egg retrieval is just one important step of the procedure.

What Is Egg Retrieval?

IVF treatment is a multi-step procedure that has extremely high success rates of pregnancy. This treatment aids in all stages of conception in order to increase a couple’s chances of pregnancy. Each aspect of IVF is performed and supervised at our fertility center. Treatment begins with the administration of hormones in order to stimulate the ovaries. Once we see that mature eggs have developed, a shot of Human Chorionic Gonadotropin(HCG) will be given to signal the body to release these eggs. At this point, the third step of treatment, egg retrieval, is scheduled. Egg retrieval allows our doctors to remove the mature eggs from the woman’s body so that they can be injected with sperm for fertilization.

What Is the Procedure?

The timing of egg retrieval is extremely important. The procedure will be scheduled to take place 36 hours after the HCG injection has been given. The procedure is typically performed using sedatives and local anesthesia in order to ensure patient comfort throughout treatment. Egg retrieval is an ultrasound guided procedure. Under guidance of the vaginal ultrasound, a retrieval needle will be passed through the wall of the vagina and into the ovary. This needle will aspirate visible follicles and the fluid surrounding these follicles (which will contain the egg surrounded by cells). Once extracted from the body, we will examine this fluid to identify the eggs that have been retrieved.

Following Egg Retrieval

While egg retrieval is taking place, a sperm specimen will also be obtained from the partner and prepared for injection. The retrieved eggs will be injected with sperm in the hopes of fertilization. After 18 hours, the eggs will be checked for fertilization. Those that have fertilized will be incubated for further development. Within one to five days, an embryo transfer will be scheduled. A determined number of embryos will be transferred into the female’s fallopian tubes. Any embryos that remain can be frozen for future use.

Schedule an Appointment

At The Center for Fertility and Gynecology, we offer patients not just our expertise in reproduction and infertility, but also our care, understanding, and a passion for helping patients expand their families. With all of these qualities, we are able to offer patients highly effective fertility treatment. If you would like to learn more about IVF or other options available to help you obtain the dream of parenthood, schedule a consultation with our fertility doctors at your earliest convenience. We look forward to hearing from you!