Ovulation aspiration procedure

This is an automatically translated article.

While oocyte retrieval may sound intimidating, it's actually a fairly common procedure during in vitro fertilization with minimal side effects. Accordingly, in order for this process to take place with the highest degree of success, a woman needs to know and understand well how to have egg retrieval to prepare her health, spirit and ability to cooperate.

1. Days before oocyte retrieval

Normally, in each physiological menstrual cycle of a woman, the ovaries only produce one mature egg and release it into the fallopian tube, ready to meet sperm for fertilization and implantation. Accordingly, in order to perform oocyte retrieval with a high success rate, the woman is assigned to use fertility drugs by injection to create enough hormone levels in the blood, stimulating the ovaries to nourish many eggs. develop at the same time. The drug is similar in nature to the body's natural hormones and is self-administered at home in a set dose over about two weeks.
Although rare, hormone injections can also lead to ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome. This causes the ovaries to swell, which can lead to abdominal pain, bloating, nausea, headaches, mood swings, insomnia, breast tenderness, weight gain from fluid retention, and other uncomfortable symptoms. other. Therefore, the doctor will always monitor the body's response to the drug with ultrasound, both to recognize when the follicles reach the right time and also to prevent serious complications such as rupture of ovarian cysts, premature ejaculation. blood...
Finally, about 35 hours after injecting hCG, the hormone that stimulates the release of an egg from the follicle, you will hear instructions about when to prepare for oocyte retrieval. Accordingly, you will be asked not to eat or drink anything after midnight the night before the procedure. If you are taking any other medication, tell your doctor about this a few days before the procedure.

2. On the day of the oocyte retrieval procedure

The woman should arrange to come to the center, the hospital has an appointment at least an hour, with a loved one before the egg retrieval procedure is scheduled to begin. This will allow you more time to complete the necessary paperwork and consult your doctor or nurse about the procedure.
After that, you will be instructed to change into a hospital gown and enter the operating room, where the anesthesiologist will administer a light intravenous sedation. The woman will still be able to breathe on her own during the surgery, but her ability to remember or perceive anything around her may become more hazy.
Next, the entire vagina and the area around the external genitalia will be cleaned by rinsing with sterile water. Your doctor will start by inserting the ultrasound probe deep into the vagina, guiding the path for the needle to be inserted into the ovary. From there, all follicular fluid, which contains eggs, from the follicles in the ovary is collected and sent to a laboratory that performs in vitro fertilization. The whole egg retrieval process takes about 20 to 30 minutes and collects many eggs at once.
Because the procedure is performed thanks to the transvaginal ultrasound investigation, and at the same time, the needle is also very small in size, the manipulations with the risk of causing complications are always strictly controlled. Even if your ovaries are not accessible through a transvaginal ultrasound, an abdominal ultrasound can be used as an alternative to the needle guide.

3. At the end of the oocyte retrieval procedure

Once the procedure is complete, you will be moved to the recovery room to rest for about an hour. During this time, complications from egg retrieval including pain, pelvic and ovarian infections, damage to the intestines, bladder, uterus, ovaries or major blood vessels... are monitored. close. Some patients may also have reactions to the anesthetic, such as dizziness, lightheadedness, fatigue, nausea, and vomiting. If everything is under control, you can go home and preferably have a loved one take you home.
When you go home, you may experience the most common side effects of constipation, bloating, and a dull ache in your lower abdomen. However, these symptoms will quickly subside if you rest for a few hours afterward. However, if you experience persistent vomiting, severe abdominal pain or severe bloating... you should notify your doctor for intervention.
Most women are able to return to work the next day. If the pain is still there, you can take regular pain relievers available at home. In addition, you may also have vaginal bleeding, but it is usually just a small spot with a shorter period than a normal period. At the same time, you should avoid soaking in water for too long like swimming and avoiding vaginal intercourse for a few days to allow the vagina to heal.
About the amount of fluid in the collected follicle, the embryologist will count the number of eggs that meet the requirements of maturity and meet the sperm to fertilize and form an embryo. The embryos are then placed in an incubator overnight in a nutrient liquid (culture medium). Not all eggs can be successfully fertilized, and only healthy, rapidly dividing embryos are selectively pumped back into the uterus, beginning the journey of pregnancy.
In summary, oocyte retrieval is an important part of the in vitro fertilization process. In it, egg cells are removed from a woman's ovaries and combined with male sperm to form an embryo. The procedure is short, painless, and the woman resumes normal activity within a few hours. Therefore, choosing a reputable and quality fertility support center is essential to quickly achieve successful and safe motherhood.

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Reference source: mayoclinic.org; kcb.vn