Egg Retrieval Process for In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) Serving Canada: Vancouver, Toronto, Montreal
Once the donor and recipient have been matched and the preliminary medical and psychological exams are out of the way, the retrieval process can begin. While the actual retrieval itself takes less than an hour, the preparation process often takes several months, as the donor must take medication to prepare her body for egg retrieval and sync her menstrual cycle to the recipient’s. This helps ensure seamless egg retrieval to prepare for the in vitro fertilization process. IVF New Jersey helps couples in Toronto, Vancouver, and throughout Canada.
Egg Retrieval Process
Before the eggs can be retrieved, the donor must take hormones to synchronize her menstrual cycle with the recipient and stimulate her ovaries to emit multiple eggs at one time. This preliminary part of the process, before the eggs are taken, is the longest part.
Menstrual Synchronization
First, the donor’s menstrual cycle must match that of the recipient. This is to ensure that the uterus of the recipient is ready to receive the fertilized eggs and to keep the donor from ovulating before the eggs can be collected. The donor is prescribed hormones, such as birth control pills and injections, to suppress her natural cycle. Many donors experience symptoms such as hot flashes, fatigue, and bloating during this time. Over the course of a few weeks, the donor’s menstrual cycle will sync with the recipient’s.
Stimulation of the Ovaries
Before the donor can stimulate her ovaries, the recipient must begin taking hormones to prepare her uterus to receive the eggs. For 7 to 10 days prior to implantation, the recipient takes hormone supplements to thicken the uterine lining. Once the lining has thickened to an optimal level, the donor begins taking hormones to stimulate the production of eggs in the ovaries. Injected daily for ten days, these high dose hormones force her ovaries to emit multiple eggs at once. The donor is monitored closely to ensure that her ovaries are not being over-stimulated.
Egg Retrieval
Once the ovaries of the donor have dropped several eggs, the retrieval surgery is scheduled. The recipient begins to take the hormone progesterone to further thicken the uterus. The egg retrieval procedure takes about 30 minutes. After the donor is given anesthesia, an ultrasound probe is placed into the cervix and a small needle gently suctions out the mature egg sacs. These eggs, usually between 4 and 50, are then placed in a culture dish, ready for fertilization.
While we are based in New Jersey, we serve patients all over the world. We will work with your local physician and lab to handle all of the preliminary and post-procedure check ups and blood samples. Canadian residents need only visit our office for egg retrieval and/or embryo transfer.
Egg Donation After Care
About 10 days after donating eggs, the donor will have a menstrual period. The donor should expect to be more fertile during this time while her body returns to regular hormone levels. Within a month of donating eggs your menstrual cycle and hormones will return to normal.
To Learn More about Egg Retrieval, Contact IVF New Jersey
Egg retrieval is a preliminary component of the in vitro fertilization procedure. Though this procedure takes place at our Somerset location, we offer egg retrieval for IVF to couples from Vancouver, Toronto, and the rest of Canada. If you would like to learn more about egg retrieval for IVF, contact IVF New Jersey today.