Egg Collection

We have many women who choose to self-cycle with SCI, some of whom very generously share their stories via their blogs, but I thought it would be helpful to talk about the process. With SCI, it is important for you to note that it is Dr. Shivani who has trained and has extensive experience in all forms of egg collection will be the doctor who monitors you cycle and undertaking your egg collection.

Before Egg Collection

Prior to any egg collection it is important to have a detailed assessment of a woman’s fertility hormone levels and that we track your cycle to ascertain when you are ovulating. Establishing your AMH & FSH levels will give us some evidence based criteria to which we can assess your chances of success.

IVF egg collection

During a typical menstrual cycle, one egg matures and is released during ovulation. In order to increase the chances of creating a viable embryos and a successful pregnancy, we undertake a controlled hyper stimulation in order to stimulate resting/ dormant follicles. Your treatment is based on the information provided prior to egg collection, based on your hormone levels and ovulation cycle, so no one person’s cycle is the same as another.

Egg retrieval

Eggs develop in fluid filled structures in the ovaries called follicles. You cannot increase the number of your follicles that you have, but you can ensure that you make the most of what is available by carefully tracking your cycle and ensuring that medication is given at the right time. Each follicle can be seen and measured by ultrasound and contains one microscopic egg. The egg is loosely attached to the follicle wall. When the follicles are mature (determined by ultrasound measurements of follicle size and hormone measurements), the egg aspiration procedure is done to take the eggs out.

Anaesthesia for egg retrieval

Anaesthesia medications are given through an IV so that the woman is "out" during the egg retrieval procedure.

Egg retrieval procedure

A needle is passed through the top of the vagina under ultrasound guidance to get to the ovary and follicles. The fluid in the follicles is aspirated through the needle and the eggs detach from the follicle wall and are sucked out of the ovary ( please watch this video to see Dr. Shivani undertaking egg collection:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0oG-Gd7tiE&feature=player_embedded#!.

Laparoscopic egg collection

Is when egg collection occurs via you abdomen. This is an option for women who have had hysterectomies or other health conditions in which it makes it difficult to access your ovaries’. It is important to note that for women who have had hysterectomies, ovaries do move about and it is important to have an experienced doctor such as Dr. Shivani to undertake such procedures.

 

To maximise your chance of sucess, every step in this process needs to occur. If you believe we can assist you, please feel free to contact us.