Ovarian Stimulation and Egg Retrieval

Ovarian Stimulation and Egg Retrieval

Women with normal ovarian function usually produce one egg per month. To increase the number of mature eggs available for fertilization, the ovaries are stimulated with carefully regulated hormone doses, administered by injection. Your physician will monitor your response to these hormonal preparations and track follicular development through ultrasound scans and blood tests.

Ovulation is triggered with hormone injections. Once the follicles mature, your physician will retrieve as many eggs as possible. With the patient under conscious sedation or light anesthesia, the physician uses vaginal ultrasound to direct a needle through the vaginal wall to aspirate mature follicles from the ovary.