One woman's egg collection is a 10-egg gourmet omelette, and another's is a 1-egg scrambled hot mess…

Forgive the breakfast egg analogies, but you get the idea! Individual experiences of egg collection do vary. Some collections feel like a breeze, while others are more challenging.

Your experience could be influenced by a range of different factors that might include:

• how well you've responded to stimulation and how many follicles you have

• your AMH

• your FSH

• your age

• whether you have PCOS or diminished ovarian reserve

• your feelings about the procedure

• the position of your ovaries and how easy or challenging the retrieval is

• if there's any scar tissue / endometriomas on your ovaries

• if you had follicles but no eggs inside

• whether you had general anaesthetic or light sedation

• the technique of your specialist

• the position and shape of your cervix

What happens during an IVF egg retrieval?

During your IVF cycle, you inject medications to stimulate your ovaries to produce more follicles and eggs than usual.

In a normal menstrual cycle you produce one dominant follicle that's then ovulated. In IVF the aim is to get multiple follicles and eggs, to improve your chances of creating an embryo for transfer, or to improve the chances of pregnancy if the egg collection is for freezing. The number of follicles varies from woman to woman, and it's important to remember it's all about egg quality, not quantity.

When the follicles are mature (this is determined by their size), your egg pick-up is arranged.

The egg collection (also called the ‘egg retrieval’ or ‘egg pick up’) is a short surgical procedure. Depending on your IVF centre, you will be under general anaesthetic (where you are under complete sedation or 'asleep'), or light sedation + pain relief (where you're awake and aware of what's happening), or the 'green whistle' + pain relief (an analgesic often used in emergency situations and very simply administered via an inhaler).

A local anaesthetic is injected into the wall of the vagina, to numb the area. A needle is passed through the vaginal wall, and into each follicle, to aspirate the fluid in the follicle, containing the egg. This is done under ultrasound guidance, and repeated for all follicles that are accessible.

Image taken from www.affordableivf.com.au

After the procedure you might feel whoozy, tipsy, dizzy, and also feel some abdominal pressure, cramping or bloating.

There are a few things you can do, to make your egg collection experience a bit easier.

Preparing for your egg collection

1.

Create space for rest

It's hard to juggle early morning blood tests and ultrasounds, with your work and life commitments. You have little control over any of it which can be incredibly stressful.

If it feels right for you, let your employer know what's going on - that you might be late to work or need to take a day off for your collection and/or transfer. Some companies even offer fertility treatment leave. You'll be surprised how many of your employers will be sympathetic because they've been through IVF themselves.

If you are self-employed, try to take the pressure off - avoid scheduling work / clients in the morning when you could have an unexpected blood test or ultrasound to do at the last minute.

Prioritise your rest and relaxation. Enjoy activities that are relaxing for you - a walk in Nature, a swim, reading, watching tv, knitting, colouring in. Get to bed early.

2.

Warmth & circulation

• Maintain good circulation to your pelvic organs by keeping them warm. Avoid feeling chilled at your ovaries, back and feet.

• Embrace keeping your feet warm with socks and slippers. Avoid bare feet on cold flooring.

• Enjoy warm, cooked foods, and avoid cold, raw foods and salads.

• Include dietary ginger and cinnamon in your food and drink - these spices are circulatory stimulants and 'warm up' your pelvic organs.

• Consider acupuncture.

3.

Fertile thoughts

The mind-body connection is powerful. Speak to your body lovingly, with kindness and compassion, and with optimism.

Visualise sparkly and energetic eggs...even if you only have two follicles - you just need One Good Egg! Imagine your thick and ripe uterine lining...even if it's measuring at 5mm - it can still be juicy and receptive!

Don't mistake this for toxic positivity. It isn't. It's creating space for the magic of the unknowable. Do acknowledge any fears or doubts that you may have - unspoken fears only grow stronger. But make space for even just one minute of powerful hope & trust - that your body’s got this. 

4.

Be organised

Being organised means less stress.

Your egg collection will take place at approximately Day 14 - 16...ish. Try to plan in advance as best you can.

• Have your pantry stocked and snacks ready for that post-collection downtime.

• Keeping hydrated after your egg collection reduces bloating and fluid retention, so keep some herbal teas handy, maybe freeze some individual portions of soup, or enjoy some miso sachets, or bone broth.

• Have some food in the fridge or make sure your partner or a friend is on cooking duty that night - you won't be able to cook for 24 hours after sedation.

• Write lists if it helps.

• Take notes at your doctor or nurse appointments.

• Phone the nurses if you need a reminder about your trigger time or collection time, or to clarify any instructions for your collection.

• Know the time you need to arrive at the clinic. Plan your transport accordingly.

• If it’s a very early morning collection, pull out your clothes the night before.

5.

The ‘egg collection outfit’

Speaking of pulling your clothes out the night before…! Yup, the 'egg collection outfit' is a thing. Depending on your clinic you'll have to change into a hospital gown, or just remove pants and underwear, for your egg retrieval. Dress warmly and in clothes that are easy to get on and off…especially in a post-anaesthesia/analgesia haze. Loose pants or dresses are best. Take warm socks to keep on if your feet get cold. Avoid tight jeans / pants / tight zips or buttons - if you're not already feeling bloated in the lead up to your collection, you will be afterwards.

And remember, your IVF clinic will have advised you not to wear perfumes / cologne / aftershave for your partner, on egg collection day. Those fragile eggs are damaged by the volatile organic compounds in perfume, and better indoor air quality during egg collection is associated with better IVF outcomes. This is not the day for highly fragrant shampoo, body butter, or perfume of any kind.

6.

Cramping & dizzy & bloated, oh my!

Forewarned is forearmed! You might feel spacey, hazy, whoozy, tipsy, drunk, dizzy after your collection - depending on the form of anaesthesia used and how you respond to it. Your clinic will always want to make sure you have someone to drive you home. Get into your pj's and climb into bed.

You might also experience cramping. This can be alleviated by taking regular painkillers for the rest of the day, and by using a heatpack or hot water bottle. Or even a sticky heat pad you can apply onto your clothes to rest on your abdomen. Herbal teas can help too - antispasmodic herbs like crampbark, chamomile and lemon balm can assist with relief.

Herbal teas can also help with post-collection bloating #thebloatisreal. Chamomile, lemon balm, peppermint and ginger will all help with bloating. They also soothe the nervous system as you wait to hear from the lab how many eggs were mature, and how many have fertilised. Ginger and cinnamon are also beautiful to encourage pelvic circulation in the lead-up to an embryo transfer.

Keeping well hydrated is an important way to reduce bloating. Make up a thermos of herbal tea to take to your collection and start drinking afterwards. Drink lots of water, soups, broth.

7.

Keep calm

It's easier said than done to keep calm during the intensity of an IVF cycle. Or on the days heavy with hope and expectation as you wait on updates about embryo numbers and development. But it does help.

Calm can be found in the quiet moments, so make time for them - the waiting for the kettle, the drive / commute to work, the waiting for the nurses, the hour before sleep. Put headphones in if you need to. Tune in to your breath, and your hopes.

For some of us the still moments are overwhelming. Feel what needs to be felt, but keep distracted if that's better for your mindset. Distract yourself with a juicy book or tv series. Or by cooking extravagant meals. Or talking to friends.

(a sneaky #8)

Preconception care

Lastly, if you're reading this and have some time before you embark on IVF, consider the ultimate preparation for your egg collection...preconception care!

Preconception care is a 90-day preparation to work on egg quality prior to the commencement of your cycle, with the aim to optimise egg quality, as well as all factors contributing to conception (thyroid health, immune function, hormone balance, uterine health, vaginal microbiome balance, modifying dietary and lifestyle factors...). Your fertility is about more than egg and sperm, and exists in the context of your overall health. Preconception care addresses all aspects of your health as you prepare to conceive.

While you’re here you might also be interested in:

- my article & recipe Beetroot + watermelon juice to assist embryo implantation

-my article Why are so many of us struggling with our fertility

- my meal planning template to keep organised during your IVF cycle

- this guided meditation to support you through your IVF cycle

If you’d like to discuss how to optimise your IVF cycle with naturopathy, make an appointment with Jacintha to discuss