Egg collection
What happens to you - The procedure & methods
Egg collection involves a trans-vaginal ultrasound guided needle aspiration of the ovaries. Put simply, a needle is passed through the top wall of the vagina directly into the ovary.The fluid in the cystic structures which contain the eggs (called follicles) is aspirated (sucked out). The fluid that is collected is then given to a scientist who examines it to see if there are any eggs using a microscope. Not every follicle contains an egg, so the number of eggs that are retrieved is always less than the number of follicles visible.
The procedure is usually performed using local anaesthesia with the aid of intravenous sedatives and pain relief. Most people tolerate the egg collection very well and do not need a general anaesthesia. If you wish, you can ask in advance to have a general anaesthetic, especially if you have a low pain threshold. A general anaesthetic may be suggested for you by one of the staff under certain circumstances.
What you have to do
It is best not to eat or drink on the morning of your egg collection. Arrive at the Fertility Centre one hour before the allocated time. The nursing or administrative staff of the hospital will complete the necessary details and give you instructions. Wear loose fitting clothes. Although they will be supplied by the hospital, you should bring along some additional sanitary pads.
Benefits & Advantages
Egg collection is a necessary part of IVF.
No eggs - no pregnancy!
Side effects & Complications
The risks of egg collection procedures are very low. Significant complication rates are less than 1%. Complications that do occur tend to be short lived and not cause long term harm. Bleeding and pelvic infection can occur after any surgical procedure. As egg collection procedures are carried out under ultrasound guidance, sometimes it is difficult to see the ovaries especially if you are overweight. It is possible for the needle to pass out of the ovary into the bowel.
Embryo transfer
What happens to you - The procedure & methods
Usually an embryo transfer is a simple procedure. It is similar to having a PAP smear. The procedure involves placing a speculum in the vagina to gain access and a view of the cervix. A fine outer guiding catheter is then placed through the cervix into the uterus and a finer catheter loaded with your embryos is passed through into the uterine cavity. The embryos are then simply injected into the uterine cavity.
What you have to do
Embryo transfers are usually performed at lunch time. You should arrive at the clinic slightly earlier than the allotted time. You will be shown the embryo before its transfer. You will have to simply slip you lower clothes off and hop onto a bed. Generally the whole process takes less than 20 minutes.
Benefits & Advantages
If you don’t have your embryos transferred back to you, you will not get pregnant.
Side effects & Complications
Occasionally embryo transfer can cause cramping as the catheter goes into the cervix. Rarely, it can be quite painful, particularly when there has been a lot of surgery on the cervix in the past. Theoretically infection could be introduced. The procedure is a sterile one and infection is very rare.