Is egg aspiration painful?

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Egg retrieval is an important step in determining the success of in vitro fertilization. In which, mature eggs will be used to suck out the needle to fertilize with sperm in an artificial environment. This can make many women shy and wary because of the pain. However, the process is very easy if the woman understands the following information.

1. How to prepare for egg retrieval?

On the day of the appointment for egg retrieval, both husband and wife must come to the clinic in the morning. The wife will have had a stimulated egg aspiration done for nearly two weeks before, and the husband will be asked to take a semen sample to prepare sperm for fertilizing an egg after collection. In the case of using donor sperm, it must be delivered at least 2 days in advance.
Time is a very important factor in this whole process to be able to plan each step accordingly and compatible with each other. Accordingly, you must remember not to eat or drink anything since midnight. In addition, you are also not allowed to use any feminine hygiene solutions, lotions, and hair products, makeup, and perfumes on the day of the appointment for the egg retrieval process. The reason is that because the chemical taste can be toxic to the embryos, they are not allowed in the operating room.

2. Egg retrieval process

After completing the necessary registration, you will be taken to the operating room and instructed to change into a gown, urinate and defecate to empty your bladder and rectum. Next, you are taken to bed and an anesthesiologist will visit you, ask about your medical history, and any medications you have taken.
If nothing is out of the ordinary, you will be sedated by an intravenous injection of medication. This is only a mild sedative, helping you to have a light sleep for about 20 to 30 minutes. During this time, you are still completely breathing on your own, listening and aware of everything around you. However, medication will help you to reduce anxiety, reduce irritation, pain to help the procedure go more smoothly.
Next, a speculum will be inserted so the doctor can clean the entire vagina with warm sterile saline. The doctor then inserts an ultrasound probe into the vagina to identify the ovaries and mature follicles. A needle is attached to the transducer to aspirate eggs and follicular fluid from each follicle in turn. This process usually takes 5 to 10 minutes. Once all the follicles have been aspirated, the vaginal area is cleaned again, the speculum is removed and the procedure is complete.

3. How to take care after egg retrieval?

From the procedure room, you will be taken to a recovery area. You will be fully awake within 5 to 10 minutes right after.
Some patients may experience nausea, lightheadedness and this is common with anesthesia. However, if you are vomiting a lot, you should let your doctor know so that you can get an antiemetic.
If all goes well, you can have a light meal and take painkillers if there is any pain. Finally, you can go home when you are fully awake and have no complications related to the procedure.
Most women after having an egg collection procedure can resume normal activities the next day. However, you need to avoid vigorous activity, playing sports, vaginal intercourse or immersing in water to help the vagina heal quickly.

4. Is egg aspiration painful?

This is the most common question that worries women most when they hear advice about IVF.
Before egg retrieval, you will need to have many blood tests by drawing blood from a vein in your arm. This is similar to the usual blood tests used in other medical conditions. However, needles can sometimes cause some pain and discomfort in some sensitive women and, fortunately, quickly subside.
When it's time to officially have the egg aspiration procedure, you will be seen by an anesthesiologist at the same time to provide you with pain relief. The drug is given directly into the bloodstream by a very small amount intravenously. This will help you reduce pain a lot while you are still awake, still breathing on your own and aware of everything going on around you.
When the egg retrieval process is over, that is, after about 15 minutes, the medicine will have enough time to work and the woman will be monitored until everything is safe, then she can go home. You can then return to your normal activities. Pain after egg retrieval can be minimal and is easily controlled with pain relievers available in all families. At the same time, you are also advised to avoid activities that can cause trauma to the vagina, including sex or bathing, so that the vaginal wall is less painful, inflamed and heals faster.
In short, the process of egg retrieval is not too painful, especially compared to the carrying burden of the next birth in the coming months and days. Even the woman can get maximum pain relief with intravenous drugs during the procedure. This is because a woman's comfort is paramount, determining a solid and successful IVF journey.

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