Stage 2 - Collection of eggs from the ovaries

You are deeply sedated and monitored throughout the egg collection procedure, which usually takes about 20 minutes. Using an ultrasound probe to as a guide, a fine needle is passed inside the vagina and through the vaginal wall into each follicle, until we have emptied all the follicles in one ovary. The needle is then removed and the procedure is repeated in the other ovary.

Each egg is placed in special fluid and transferred to an incubator. Not every follicle will contain an egg and sometimes no eggs will be found during egg collection. We will discuss this with you before the procedure.

After the procedure you will rest on a bed in the recovery area for about one or two hours.

You will be prescribed the hormone progesterone for 17 days following the egg collection to help the lining of your uterus be as receptive as possible to the embryos.