Egg Retrieval

Egg retrieval is a crucial step in several fertility treatments including IVF and fertility preservation.

While this process may sound intimidating, it is safe and relatively quick.

Learn how Dr. Nurit Winkler and Dr. Marc Kalan perform egg retrieval safely and comfortably at our Bakersfield and Encino, CA, fertility clinics.

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What Is Egg Retrieval?

During a woman's reproductive cycle, eggs develop in follicles in the ovaries. During ovulation, an egg is released, and the woman has the potential to become pregnant. However, patients struggling with infertility or patients wishing to preserve their fertility may choose to undergo egg retrieval.

During egg retrieval at Los Angeles Reproductive Center, your fertility doctor will use a long thin needle to go through the wall of the vagina and into the ovary, collecting mature eggs from the follicle. This process is a necessary step for reproductive treatments such as IVF, egg freezing, embryo freezing, egg donation, and surrogacy.

Egg Retrieval Is a Vital Part of Many Fertility Treatments

In Vitro Fertilization

If you are undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF), egg retrieval is one of the steps performed before an embryo is even created. Following retrieval, the mature eggs are fertilized using sperm from the father or a donor. After fertilization, the embryos develop in our lab, where our doctors and embryologists will monitor their development.

Once the embryos have developed, the next step in IVF is embryo transfer. During embryo transfer, one or more embryos are placed in the uterus, where they will hopefully implant and continue to develop throughout pregnancy.

Egg or Embryo Freezing

Our clinics in Bakersfield and Encino, CA, also offer egg and embryo freezing for fertility preservation. As with IVF, egg retrieval is one of the first procedures in the treatment timeline. Once the eggs are collected, they are frozen for future use.

If patients wish to create embryos, the eggs are fertilized, and the resulting embryos are frozen. This is often done during IVF when multiple embryos are created, but it is also used to protect against future reproductive issues.

Egg Retrieval Timeline

Egg retrieval is performed at our clinics in Bakersfield and Encino, CA, using IV sedation for optimal patient comfort.

Consultation

During your initial consultation at our clinic in Encino or Bakersfield, CA, you will meet with Dr. Winkler or Dr. Kalan to discuss your goals and determine if egg retrieval is needed. They will also discuss your health history and develop a custom treatment plan to give you the best possible chance at success.

Testing

Whether you are undergoing egg retrieval for egg donation, fertility preservation, or IVF, testing such as blood work and ultrasounds are performed.

Ovarian Stimulation

You will begin a cycle of medications in order to stimulate the ovaries to produce mature eggs. The follicle development will be monitored via ultrasound. When it's time, you will be given a trigger shot to stimulate ovulation.

Retrieval

You will be sedated using IV sedation before the process begins in order to keep you comfortable and minimize any anxiety or discomfort. Your doctor will then use a long, thin needle to collect the mature eggs from the ovary. This process is guided via ultrasound for the utmost precision and is usually completed within about 10 minutes.

Monitoring

You will be moved to a recovery room where you will be monitored as you wake from sedation. You may feel sleepy or groggy, as well as a bit sore. Many patients experience minor cramps after an egg retrieval procedure which they manage with over-the-counter pain medication. You will need to remain under observation for about an hour. You will need someone to drive you home as the effects of IV sedation are long-lasting.

Have questions about the egg retrieval process?

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"Sweet, responsive, knowledgeable, and caring." Helping California Patients Overcome Infertility

Both doctors we saw and all the staff were very professional, lovely to interact with and we felt like they cared for us during the whole process. We were luckily to find such a wonderful clinic and blessed with two beautiful children. Thank you so much

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I can't complain about Dr Kalan. He was very sweet, responsive, knowledgeable, and caring about his work and his patients. If there was a problem he wanted to be thorough and would talk to you about any additional testing he recommended to be done. He spoke in ways that helped me understand things. He even gave me a call after my baby was born to see how we were doing.

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