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5 Tips for a Peaceful and Productive Egg Retrieval

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This blog was written by Dr. Jaime Knopman and Dr. Sheeva Talebian from CCRM NY, and Lily + Horn’s Dr. Mary Sabo as part of their collaborative blog project East Meets West Fertility. Read on for our tips on maximizing your retrieval and click here for more blogs from this integrative fertility trio!

It’s go time! 

The big day is here. You have prepared for months, done your injections, twice weekly acupuncture and are filled with anticipation, angst, and probably some fear. To minimize some of the negative thoughts running through your hormone-infused head, we have some suggestions (and reassurance) as you go into your retrieval day. 

  1. Before you walk into the operating room, make sure you have spoken with your doctor and have an idea about what to expect. What will the procedure be like, how many eggs do they think you will get, and how many embryos will you ultimately have? Managing expectations (particularly when it comes to the number side of things) will make both walking in to and out of the operating room a whole lot easier.  

  2. Pain is not a part of the process.  No pain, no gain does not apply to the retrieval. We want to minimize the physical (and mental) discomfort you feel in every way possible. There will be an anesthesiologist present during your retrieval whose job is to focus on you, your comfort, and your overall wellbeing. Be honest and forthcoming with them about your health history when they initially chat with you. Their cocktail will ensure that you neither feel pain nor remember a thing (without the calories or the hangover!).  

  3. Bloating is common before and especially after the retrieval. Stay hydrated with electrolytes. Acupuncture can help discomfort after the retrieval, but always discuss severe discomfort post-retrieval with your doctor.

  4. Don’t be tardy for this party. We are pretty punctual when it comes to retrieval time (no airport delays here!). The time of the trigger medication and the retrieval are more coordinated than the worst bridezilla’s bridal party’s attire; while clinics vary in how many hours separate the trigger medication and the retrieval (some do 34, some 35, and some 36), what doesn’t vary is their commitment to staying on time. When things run behind schedule, what’s at stake is not your connecting flight but our ability to retrieve your eggs (ovulation can occur). So give yourself plenty of time to face the morning rush hour and the inevitable street closures—you don’t need another thing to stress about. All in all, the process is pretty quick. Retrieving eggs is a fairly simple and fast procedure. In fact, most egg retrievals are no longer than a power nap and take no more than 15–20 minutes. Before you know it, you will be recovering in the recovery room, drinking apple juice, and eating graham crackers! 

  5. Relax—we’ve got you covered! Most fertility doctors are more comfortable doing retrievals than tying their shoes. As medical procedures go, this is our “bread and butter.” Think of something that you do every day (with ease and with grace): that is how we feel about extracting eggs. So while fear and anxiety are totally normal emotions, take solace in our experience. Close your eyes, enjoy the relaxing medications, and dream of something good. We will see you on the other side. 


Testimonials

“Mary Sabo is my miracle worker! It’s really incredible to think that I get to see my eastern doctor every week and have her really listen and do things that help. She is so warm and I feel like because of her, I can achieve my goals. I am not sure if this is the case for others, but my cycles have since gone from 60+ days to 35 days the first month, 30 the second and we’re on track for a 28 day cycle!!”

— T.S

I adore Mary. I have been seeing her for 4 years through a tough miscarriage, a roller coaster pregnancy, and every issue and ailment (fertility and other) along the way. She is so knowledgeable in both eastern and western medicine. I always leave her office feeling amazing, both physically and emotionally. She is kind, caring, patient, and seems to know everything about everything. Her skill in acupuncture is unparalleled - this is evident not only through my own experience, but also the doctors who work with her, the panels she's so often asked to speak on, and the incredibly successful business she so quickly grew. My visits with Mary are the highlight of my week. I cannot recommend her enough.

— M.J.

“Jessica immediately made me feel seen, respected, heard and cared for through active listening, asking varied questions, getting my pronouns correct immediately after my first request, sending email follow-ups to keep the healing going, and her clearly in-depth understanding of Traditional Chinese Medicine. As someone with chronic mental and physical pain who has dealt with my fair share sub-par bedside manner, I’m incredibly grateful to have Jessica on my team.”

— Ray