What should I do Before Going for Egg Retrieval?

A couple’s mind will be flooded by numerous doubts and questions when they are trying to get pregnant, especially with the help of the IVF technique. The process of retrieving eggs through the proc... ess of IVF can be intimidating. You will be having many doubts crossing your mind.

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Pristyn Care Team

Last Updated : 3 days ago

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So, in this blog, we will discuss several tips and guidelines that you need to get a gist of before going for egg retrieval. The foremost requirement is knowing the process and the happening that will occur before you go for the egg retrieval process in IVF treatment.

The following are the points that will help you to get an idea of this process and prepare you mentally for this.

This procedure is all about scientific careful planning and knowing all about this will make you a prepared patient without many apprehensions.
You should eliminate any chances of inviting any sort of anxiety before reaching the IVF lab for eggs retrieval. So better avoid the chances of getting lost. For this, you can take a trip and visit the lab location beforehand only. Getting lost and confused will only get you heebie-jeebies before this important process and make you nervous.
You should know your body properly to get the idea of what will happen and how it will happen. This will make you more confident and aware of the process and will keep fear and nervousness at bay. So get a complete understanding of your body anatomy to have a tension-free experience. Ask your doctor all about the procedure and understand how it will be done from A to Z.
Probe your doctor about all the negative aftermath or any complication too. See if they are prepared to take preventions if things go south. What if you have to face some situation like ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS). Are your doctors prepared for plan B? Are they ready to combat the same? This question will help you and your doctor prepare yourself for facing any kind of occurrences with ready solutions and treatments.
The egg retrieval process is all about your ovaries. So, make yourself aware of where your ovaries are and what is going to happen to you during the process. It is really important to acknowledge yourself about your body and process to combat fear and all sorts of doubtful situations.
Understand that gaining up to 5 pounds of water weight is normal. You may feel quite heavy and full in 10 days of pregnancy itself and its normal. Understand that there will be a lot many changes in your body during the egg retrieval procedure and whole IVF treatment.
You should know that your estrogen levels are rising and hence you will feel breast tenderness, nausea, feeling of having less appetite and can also have egg white cervical mucus. If you are not about these changes that your body undergoes in all this procedure, you will always have the fear of facing something terribly wrong situation. Hence, make yourself pre aware completely.
Before and after your egg retrieval and during the whole IVF cycle, you are more likely to eat less. So, you can try a protein shake for a meal and keep yourself hydrated. Go for coconut water or well hydrating fluids to avoid fatigue and weakness in any case as that would only make you feel low and might impact the IVF process too.
Go for the most nutritious diet. Ask your doctor what should you eat in what quantity to stay fit as well as energetic. This is important before and after your egg retrieval process and IVF cycle.
Meditate and make yourself calm. Practicing deep breathing will help you keep yourself full of positivity and healthy from within. And that would lead to healthy eggs and a healthy baby later.
Make your partner aware of the whole process and make sure you do not have a sperm emergency. You can make your partner ejaculate 3-5 days prior to the egg retrieval. This will make him have fresh sperms with good DNA to fertilize your eggs.
You and your partner both should have a good night’s sleep and eat properly what the doctor says before a particular span of the process of egg retrieval. This will make you more confident and fresher when the process is carried out and your partner is less likely to feel uncomfortable and faint if he watches you bloody during the process.

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On the day of Egg Retrieval:

You will have your eggs removed before 36 hours after getting the. hCG helps the eggs inside the follicles to undergo the final maturation process before your retrieval.
Let your doctor know if you had any medication for allergy or anything on the day of egg retrieval.
You will be asked not to drink or eat after midnight before the day of egg retrieval. This is because the egg retrieval process takes place under anesthesia. Hence the chances of feeling slightly nauseated and vomiting will be more. You will be able to eat after a certain time as per your doctor’s instructions once your eggs are retrieved.
You should not wear any perfumes, makeup, scented lotions, or cologne before the egg retrieval process and embryo transfer. Wear loose-fitting comfy clothing before going to the lab.
During the egg retrieval procedure, you will receive a mild sedative in the form of general anesthesia through an IV in a vein in your arm. With this, you will keep breathing and won’t feel any pain or discomfort while your doctor carries out the process.
After sedation, your vagina will be washed with a sterile water solution. A needle will be placed under the ultrasound guidance into your ovary and fluid. This way eggs from your follicles are collected into a test tube and sent to the embryologist for further process.
The whole procedure will be done in almost 30 minutes and you will feel minimal discomfort.
You will have to limit your physical activity for three days after the transfer. The process can be intense and taxing for you and your body. Hence, be prepared to take rest for a day or two once you are done with the egg retrieval process.
Make sure someone is there to take you home and you do not drive yourself home as you will be under the effect of anesthesia.

These are some common questions and explanations regarding this process. You and the tour partner should know about it all to have a normal and pleasant experience of the egg retrieval procedure. To prepare your body for next steps try to avoid alcohol and caffeine until further allowed by your doctor, treat cramps and pain with heating pads, take proper rest, ask your doctor for pain medication if needed, avoid heavy lifting and vigorous exercising, do not go for any other kind of medication other than the one your doctor suggests, refrain from sexual intercourse till one week after the embryo transfer, do not use any kinds of vaginal creams after the procedure, buy some panty lining and expect usual spotting.

This will help you to sail smoothly through and after the egg retrieval procedure. Apart from this, stay positive and hopeful. Eat healthily. Question your doctor about every doubt and embrace the changes your body undergoes. Pregnancy is beautiful!

Consult Pristyn Care infertility experts online or visit them for more queries.

Author:

Pristyn Care Team

A team of medically-trained writers who are experienced in writing research-based healthcare documents, for publication, promotional, and educational purposes. The information presented by the writers in the blogs, articles, and other online pages are strategically curated for the understanding of the patients, physicians, and general public, and reviewed by healthcare professionals of the particular genre.