Egg Collection

IVF Step 5: Ovum Retrieval

This procedure is also called “egg collection.”

Normally after ten to fourteen days of stimulation the follicles should be large enough and mature enough for ovum retrieval.  We can normally give two to three days notice for the procedure.

You will be given instructions by one of the nurses when you attend for the last ultrasound scan prior to your trigger.  We will also give you details in writing so you can be sure of everything you have to do.

Instructions include:

• Abstaining from intercourse 2-7 days before ovum retrieval
• Last dose of stimulation drug normally 2 days before ovum retrieval
• Last dose of down regulation drug or Cetrotide 2 days before ovum retrieval
• Trigger injection, to mature the follicles, 36 hours before ovum retrieval
• Commence Utrogestan tablets, to prepare the endometrium, 2 days before ovum retrieval
• Ibuprofen tablet, for pain relief, 1 hour before ovum retrieval
• Nil by mouth, after a drink at 7 am on the day of ovum retrieval
• Bring slippers and a dressing gown if you have them
• Bring a snack to eat after the procedure

Day of ovum retrieval – sperm provider –

On the day of the ovum retrieval, the sperm will be required for the IVF/ICSI treatment. If appropriate to your treatment, the male partner will be asked to produce a fresh semen sample in our dedicated sample production rooms when an appropriately labelled sample pot will be provided. Our advice is, to produce the best quality sperm, the male partner should abstain from intercourse or masturbation for 2-7 days before the ovum retrieval procedure.

If you are using donor sperm or frozen sperm, this will be thawed once the eggs have been collected.

Day of ovum retrieval – egg provider –

The ovum retrieval is carried out in the treatment room at Hull & East Riding Fertility under ultrasound guidance.  The team will check your identification details and confirm any allergies before starting the procedure.

The ovum retrieval (OR) procedures are performed by a qualified medical practitioner.

A nurse will sit with you to administer a sedative and painkilling drugs, directly into the blood steam through a cannula. It takes about one minute for the drugs to take effect and they can be topped up by the nurse if needed. Entenox is also available for additional pain relief if required. Oxygen can be administered through nasal catheters throughout the procedure and a blood pressure machine will continuously monitor your oxygen levels, blood pressure and pulse. The procedure will not start until you are ready and feeling very relaxed.

A needle is attached alongside the vaginal ultrasound probe and the vaginal skin at the top of the vagina is punctured. The tip of the needle can be clearly seen on the ultrasound monitor screen at all times.  You can see this on the screen if you wish.  The tip of the needle is carefully guided into each follicle in turn.  The fluid is then aspirated and handed over to the Embryology team.  They will examine it for the presence of an egg.  Although every effort will be made to find an egg in each follicle, this will not always be possible.  The procedure will be repeated on the other side for the other ovary.  The time taken to carry out the ovum retrieval averages approximately 20 minutes and mainly depends upon the number of follicles present.

After the procedure, you can rest in the recovery room until you feel well enough to go home.  This can be any time from half an hour to an hour. Tea/coffee and biscuits are provided for you.

You should not return to work on the same day as the procedure.

You will not be able to drive, as the medication you have taken can make you very drowsy.

Avoid cooking until the morning after the procedure to help avoid accidents.

In very few cases, ovum retrieval will be carried out by laparoscopy in the operating theatre and with the help of a general anaesthetic.

What happens to the eggs and sperm in the laboratory?

Your eggs will be taken to the laboratory as they are collected and the sperm will also be processed in the laboratory. They will be looked after by our  dedicated team of embryologists. The eggs and sperm will be kept separately in an incubator. This keeps the temperature and chemical conditions around the eggs and sperm similar to conditions found naturally in the body.

If you are undergoing Reciprocal IVF, the eggs will be allocated to your partner, using our specialised radiofrequency witness system, just after the egg collection. A few hours after the egg collection procedure has taken place, the embryologist will perform IVF (mix your eggs with the sperm) or ICSI (injecting the sperm into the eggs).

The egg is said to be “fertilised” when a single sperm has found its way through the tough outer coating of the egg. When the sperm reaches the core of the egg, it tells the egg to divide into two cells. These cells then divide again and keep dividing each day until a tiny ball of cells is formed. This ball of cells is the earliest stage in the growth of a baby. It is called an “embryo.”

We will telephone you to let you know if your eggs have fertilised or not. You can expect this call 2-3 days after your egg collection procedure has taken place.

Page Last Modified: 27th June 2025