How is Egg Retrieval?
If a woman doesn’t take GnRH agonists, then as she nears the middle of her cycle she usually begins to monitor herself with a home test kit several times a day to check for her LH surge. The IVF team retrieves her eggs based on the prediction of when she will ovulate naturally after the LH surge, or after administering hCG, which is usually more accurate. In most cases, after taking gonadotropins, the woman receives an hCG injection and the IVF team retrieves her eggs thirty-four to thirty-six hours later. The team normally retrieves the woman’s eggs with an ultrasoundguided needle placed through the vagina. She may receive either general anesthesia or only intravenous sedation and possibly takes mild analgesics. For ultrasound-guided retrieval, the IVF team covers an ultrasound probe, specifically designed for pelvic imaging, with a sterile covering glove and inserts the probe into the woman’s vagina. With the aid of a needle guide attached to the probe, the doctor harvests her eggs b
