So you just underwent egg retrieval… now what? In-vitro fertilization (IVF) can be an intimidating process, but it is definitely manageable with the correct information and preparation. I underwent IVF to preserve my fertility due to an endometrioma on my left ovary. (More about that here.) In this blog post, I document my personal IVF journey. While the reasons I underwent IVF may be different than others, the process remains the same.
What to Expect After Egg Retrieval
You’ll have minor side effects.
After my egg retrieval, I was placed in recovery until the anesthesia wore off. I went into the surgical suite at 7:20 in the morning and was texting Matt 30 minutes later. I remember coming to my senses as I sat up in bed with the surgeon sitting in a chair at my feet. No physical pain, just groggy. Seriously, though: shoutout to our amazing fertility clinic for treating us like family. I’ve had my fair share of operations and hospital stays in the past and never received such attentive TLC!
As soon as I opened my eyes, the surgeon let me know how it all went. “You did great. We got 10 (eggs). How are you feeling?” I was feeling ALL the emotions! Instant tears blurred my vision. I could sense the emotional overwhelm consuming me inside. Relief I had a double-digit egg retrieval… but also curiosity if that was enough… surprise I wasn’t in any physical pain… but also worry as to when it’d hit me. It was a lot to process!
I was monitored for another 20 minutes or so and given something to eat and drink. Once my vitals remained consistent, my room nurse helped me shuffle my way to the bathroom. This is a requirement before discharge. I did my thing without incident and was released into the responsible loving arms of Matt. It was recommended to eat a salty meal. At 9AM, we had already lived a whole life so we hit the local diner for a little B&E (bacon and eggs) before heading home for a day of cat naps.
You’ll be filled with anxiety.
In between the naps and frequent bathroom breaks, I worried like it was my full-time job. Was 10 enough? Were they good quality? Would most make it to freezing? I had to keep reminding myself I was not — and never was — in control. God’s got this! He already knows. He’s already working it out for my good and His glory. I need not worry, which was waaaay easier said than done at the moment.
My reproductive endocrinologist (RE) called around 6 PM, mainly to check on me post-op. (Seriously, I love this clinic. Not a nurse… not a receptionist… no. My super busy, super smart RE personally called me after a day of rounds and reports.) Of course, I had to be extra. I have learned to advocate for myself. If I’ve got questions, I’m asking for answers. A wellness check turned into a whole report. Out of the 10 eggs retrieved, 8 were mature, making them ideal candidates for fertilization.
Sidebar: While my intention was to retrieve eggs only, my RE informed me embryos freeze better. Eggs are suuuuper temperamental and have lower success rates “surviving the freeze” when the time comes to thaw and use. In fact, they’re even super sensitive fresh out of the ovaries. My pre-op instructions made sure to tell me no scents of any kind: deodorants, body wash, hair styling products… I went into that surgical suite all-natural to give them their best fighting chance!
You’ll start crunching numbers.
As my doctor spoke, I kept running every scenario in my head: the good, the bad, and the ugly. That’s the thing with egg retrieval and IVF. Attrition is the unfortunate but completely normal process of diminishing odds of success. Each and every stage of the IVF process comes with risks. Not all eggs retrieved will be mature. Not all mature eggs will fertilize. Not all fertilized eggs (now called embryos) will grow into genetically-typical blastocysts. Not all genetically-typical blastocysts will implant and result in a healthy pregnancy with a live birth at the end. It’s a loooong process. Only the strong survive!
The higher your egg numbers to start, the better your chances. As I mentioned before, I started with 10 eggs… which became 8 eggs at the next stage… which became 5 embryos at the next… which became 4 blastocysts! We are hoping to grow our family by 2 people.
The general rule of thumb is to have 2 blastocysts on ice for each live birth you are hoping to have: an heir and a spare, so to speak. IVF is not for the faint of heart. Sometimes, perfectly healthy blastocysts don’t survive the thawing process. There’s a whole lot of loss on the IVF journey. In fact, based on data from the Society of Assisted Reproductive Technology (SART), the chances that one egg retrieval cycle will eventually result in a live birth are 55.6% for people under 35; 40.8% for people 35-37; 26.8% for people 38-40; 12.6% for people 41-42; and 3.9% for people 43 and over. You’ll become a statistical expert in no time. For more IVF hard truths, check out the next blog post in this miniseries: IVF Things No One Talks About
ACTIONABLE STEPS: Got questions? I may have answers. Don’t be shy; say hi! I’m happy to help ease your mind. If you’ve gone through the IVF process before, share your own experience in the comments below. What should other women expect? Got tips and tricks? We’d love to hear them all!
