Yes, the egg collection will take place in the clinic in one of our procedure rooms.

The procedures generally take place in the morning, and you should expect to be here for approximately 3-4 hours. 

Yes, the procedure is performed under sedation so please arrive fasted.

You may be asked to fast from midnight the night before your procedure, or from 6am on the day of your procedure – this will depend on the time your procedure is scheduled and will be confirmed by a nurse.

Because you are being sedated you will need to remove all makeup, jewellery and nail polish. If you have gel nails etc. please have these removed prior to the procedure.

We also request that you do not wear any heavily scented products. You can shower on the morning of your procedure but do avoid heavily scented products.

On the day of your egg collection ,it is important to go home and rest.  Take regular pain relief if required – paracetamol is what we advise – avoid any medications containing codeine.  Use a hot water bottle or heat pad if you need.  It is important to drink lots of fluids – avoid alcohol.

You should expect your period or withdrawal bleed within the next 7-10 days, although it can take up to two weeks.

You should abstain from intercourse and avoid exercise until you have your withdrawal bleed.

Some spotting is normal and you may observe this for a few days. Any heavy, bright red bleeding that you are concerned about, you should contact us.

You may experience constipation after an egg collection and this is very common. We would advise some over the counter medications such as Fybogel or Lactulose.  Prune juice is also helpful.

Here is a step by step account of what to expect on the day of your retrieval. We hope you find it useful.

1.You will be shown to a room in the ward and this will be your allocated room for the time you are here.

2. We will ask you to get changed into a hospital gown; you will have to remove all your clothes including underwear. We will provide you with some disposable slippers and also a hair net to wear.

3. We will ask you to complete some paperwork on the day and we will also place an ID band on your wrist. Your partner can be with you in this room but cannot be with you in the procedure room or in recovery.

4. On the day of the egg collection you will meet different members of the Beacon CARE Fertility team. You will meet nurses and healthcare assistants, you will meet embryologists and also the consultant who will be performing your procedure.

The doctors work on rotation in theatre so it may not be your consultant who performs your egg collection.

5. To give you the sedation we have to place an IV cannula in your arm or hand. An IV cannula is inserted with a needle, the needle is removed leaving a small flexible tube in the vein so we can administer medications or fluids – we will remove this again before you go home.

You will also be given oxygen through a mask during your procedure. Throughout the procedure and in recovery we will closely monitor your blood pressure, heart rate and oxygen levels.

We will perform an ID check with you in the procedure room and confirm your details before any sedatives are given.

6. Once the medications are given you will feel sleepy – the level of sedation achieved is specific to each person. We call this conscious sedation – in that you will respond to stimulus.

You may feel some discomfort at times but this is mild, most people tolerate it very well and we will administer additional medications if we feel it is required.

7. After the procedure you will be moved to recovery until you are awake a nurse will continue to monitor you at this point. We will then return you to your room and provide you with some tea and biscuits.

8. You will then be reviewed by the consultant, the embryologist and finally the nurse. The nurse will give you some patient advice to take away with you.

If you are having an egg freeze the embryologist will contact you by phone later rather than seeing you in person.

9. The day of your egg collection it is important to go home and rest. Take regular pain relief if required – paracetamol is what we advise – avoid any medications containing codeine. 

Use a hot water bottle or heat pad  if you need.  It is important to drink lots of fluids – avoid alcohol.

10. You should expect your period or withdrawal bleed within the next 7-10 days although it can take up to two weeks. You should abstain from intercourse and avoid exercise until you have your withdrawal bleed.

Some spotting is normal and you may observe this for a few days, any heavy, bright red bleeding that you are concerned about you should contact us.

11. You may experience constipation after an egg collection – this is very common – we would advise some over the counter medications such as Fybogel or Lactulose. Prune juice is also helpful.

12. If you have had a high response we may want to see you back for a check scan a few days later. We may also prescribe you additional medications to take.