OOCYTE (EGG) RETRIEVAL

Oocyte retrieval is the removal of eggs from the ovary most often under anesthesia. If under anesthesia the procedure is performed on an empty stomach, this means nothing to eat or drink after midnight the night before the procedure. A transvaginal ultrasound probe is used to visualize the ovaries and the egg-containing follicles within the ovaries. A long needle, which can be seen on ultrasound, is used to puncture each follicle and the contents aspirated. The aspirated material includes follicular fluid, oocytes (eggs) and granulosa (egg-supporting) cells. On occasion the ovaries are not accessible by the transvaginal route. These procedures and risks will be discussed with you by your doctor if applicable. Anesthesia is generally used to reduce, if not eliminate, discomfort.

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It is important to recognize that not all follicles contain eggs. In general, 50-70% of follicles are likely to provide an egg. Follicles 15 mm and greater are the most likely to yield eggs. Not all eggs retrieved will be mature eggs which can be fertilized. Risks of egg retrieval include:

Infection:

Bacteria normally present in the vagina may be inadvertently transferred into the abdominal cavity by the needle. These bacteria may cause an infection of the uterus, fallopian tubes, ovaries or other intra-abdominal organs. The estimated incidence of infection after egg retrieval is less than 0.5%. Treatment of infections could require the use of oral or intravenous antibiotics. Severe infections occasionally require surgery to remove infected tissue. Infections can reduce your chances of getting pregnant in the future. Antibiotics are routinely administered before the egg retrieval procedure to reduce the risk of pelvic or abdominal infection. Despite the use of antibiotics, there is no way to completely eliminate this risk.

Bleeding:

The needle passes through the vaginal wall and into the ovary to obtain the eggs. Both of these structures contain blood vessels. In addition, there are other blood vessels nearby. A small amount of bleeding is common and expected during egg retrievals. The risk of major bleeding problems has been estimated to be less than 0.1%. Major bleeding may require surgery and possibly loss of the ovary. The need for blood transfusion is possible, however the risk of this is very low. Although extremely rare, unrecognized bleeding can lead to death.

Trauma:

Even with ultrasound guidance, it is possible to damage nearby organs during the egg retrieval. This includes damage to the bowel, appendix, bladder, ureters, and ovary. Damage to internal organs may result in the need for additional treatment such as surgery for repair or removal of the damaged organ. However, the risk of such trauma is extremely low.

Anesthesia:

The use of anesthesia during the egg retrieval can produce unintended complications such as an allergic reaction, low blood pressure, nausea or vomiting and in rare cases, death. Complications are more likely to occur in those who have pre-existing medical diseases such as obesity, asthma, high blood pressure and heart disease.

Failure:

It is possible that the aspiration will fail to obtain any eggs or the eggs may be abnormal or of poor quality and otherwise fail to produce a successful pregnancy.