Egg retrieval

In vitro fertilization requires extracting several eggs from the ovaries just before ovulation, so the eggs can be fertilized in the lab. Not all eggs will fertilize successfully, so it is best to start with several and have multiple embryos to choose from when it's time to transfer them into the uterus.

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The egg retrieval is done with vaginal ultrasound and a needle. The ultrasound is used to guide the needle into the ovaries. The ovaries are actually located very close to the top of the vagina, so the doctor extracts the eggs by sticking the needle through the top of the vagina and into the ovaries.

The only puncture is the hole the needle makes, so it doesn't require any stitches. Egg retrieval is done under light anesthesia; women wake up very soon after the procedure and can go back to work the next day. Some women feel fine after the procedure, while others have cramping, swelling, and soreness.