IVF FAQs
HOW LONG DOES AN EGG RETRIEVAL TAKE?
Egg retrieval is a fairly quick procedure. The length of the procedure depends on the number of follicles present and the accessibility of each ovary. The typical egg retrieval will take 20-30 minutes.
IS THE EGG RETRIEVAL PAINFUL?
Egg retrievals are performed under anesthesia, so you are asleep. Our specialist uses medications to sedate you. You will be “asleep” and will not require a breathing tube. Under this sedation you will feel nothing, remember nothing, and have very few if any typical side effects to anesthesia.
WILL THE EGG RETRIEVAL DAMAGE MY OVARIES?
The information we have available tells us no, the ovaries are not damaged. There have been women who have undergone multiple stimulation cycles and egg retrievals and achieved pregnancies on more than one occasion. There are limited studies looking at the appearance of the ovaries, but current clinical data doesn't show this procedure to be harmful.
IS IT NORMAL TO RETRIEVE AN EGG FROM EVERY FOLLICLE?
Not necessarily. Although we will usually get an egg from most mature follicles, most women will have a mixed group of follicle sizes. Some of these follicles will have immature eggs or post mature eggs, some will not yield an identifiable egg and are classified as “empty” follicles.
IS BED REST RECOMMENDED AFTER EMBRYO TRANSFER?
We recommend 48 hours bed rest after the embryo transfer. It is not clear whether prolonged rest is helpful or not. We know an embryo can float around in the endometrial cavity for a period of time before implanting and during this time we recommend rest, relaxation and a stress-free environment.
IS THE EMBRYO TRANSFER PAINFUL?
No. The embryo transfer does not require anesthesia. It is performed using a speculum to see the cervix (like a pap smear) and a special co-axial catheter is used to go through the cervix and place the embryo(s) in the uterus.
WHAT HAPPENS TO THE EMBRYOS NOT USED IN THE TRANSFER?
Embryos are maintained in the lab and evaluated for continued growth. If they meet criteria, embryos will be cryopreserved for later use.
HOW SOON AFTER IVF CAN A PREGNANCY TEST BE PERFORMED?
Since hCG is used as the final injection to enhance egg maturity, a pregnancy test will be positive for several days following the retrieval. In order to ensure your body has metabolized the injection medication, we prefer to perform your pregnancy test 14 days after egg retrieval.
HOW MUCH TIME IS RECOMMENDED BETWEEN AN IVF CYCLE AND TRYING AGAIN?
We recommend at least one full menstrual cycle. It can take 4-6 weeks for inflammation to resolve, so we want to allow at least that much time between treatment cycles.
Egg retrieval is a fairly quick procedure. The length of the procedure depends on the number of follicles present and the accessibility of each ovary. The typical egg retrieval will take 20-30 minutes.
IS THE EGG RETRIEVAL PAINFUL?
Egg retrievals are performed under anesthesia, so you are asleep. Our specialist uses medications to sedate you. You will be “asleep” and will not require a breathing tube. Under this sedation you will feel nothing, remember nothing, and have very few if any typical side effects to anesthesia.
WILL THE EGG RETRIEVAL DAMAGE MY OVARIES?
The information we have available tells us no, the ovaries are not damaged. There have been women who have undergone multiple stimulation cycles and egg retrievals and achieved pregnancies on more than one occasion. There are limited studies looking at the appearance of the ovaries, but current clinical data doesn't show this procedure to be harmful.
IS IT NORMAL TO RETRIEVE AN EGG FROM EVERY FOLLICLE?
Not necessarily. Although we will usually get an egg from most mature follicles, most women will have a mixed group of follicle sizes. Some of these follicles will have immature eggs or post mature eggs, some will not yield an identifiable egg and are classified as “empty” follicles.
IS BED REST RECOMMENDED AFTER EMBRYO TRANSFER?
We recommend 48 hours bed rest after the embryo transfer. It is not clear whether prolonged rest is helpful or not. We know an embryo can float around in the endometrial cavity for a period of time before implanting and during this time we recommend rest, relaxation and a stress-free environment.
IS THE EMBRYO TRANSFER PAINFUL?
No. The embryo transfer does not require anesthesia. It is performed using a speculum to see the cervix (like a pap smear) and a special co-axial catheter is used to go through the cervix and place the embryo(s) in the uterus.
WHAT HAPPENS TO THE EMBRYOS NOT USED IN THE TRANSFER?
Embryos are maintained in the lab and evaluated for continued growth. If they meet criteria, embryos will be cryopreserved for later use.
HOW SOON AFTER IVF CAN A PREGNANCY TEST BE PERFORMED?
Since hCG is used as the final injection to enhance egg maturity, a pregnancy test will be positive for several days following the retrieval. In order to ensure your body has metabolized the injection medication, we prefer to perform your pregnancy test 14 days after egg retrieval.
HOW MUCH TIME IS RECOMMENDED BETWEEN AN IVF CYCLE AND TRYING AGAIN?
We recommend at least one full menstrual cycle. It can take 4-6 weeks for inflammation to resolve, so we want to allow at least that much time between treatment cycles.
When is IVF indicated?
For most patients, IVF is not required to achieve pregnancy. We at MMRMS begin with more simple treatments. However, there are a few cases where the more advanced technology such as IVF is necessary. Below are a few examples of when IVF is indicated:
- Blocked, Damaged, or Absent Fallopian Tubes.
- Severe Endometriosis.
- Poor Sperm Count, Shape, Motility, etc.
- “Unexplained” Infertility.
- Combinations of the above.