You’ve done your part: the injections, the scans, the endless countdowns to follicle growth. Now comes the phase where the clinic steps in: IVF egg retrieval. This is the turning point where all that hormonal preparation shifts into lab precision.
In the next sections, we’ll break down what really happens: from the last few days of stimulation and the trigger shot to egg pickup, post-procedure recovery, and the lab’s hunt for mature eggs. The process may sound clinical, but it’s full of meaning.
With Dr. Sophia Umair Bajwa and her team at Family Fertility & IVF Center Lahore, each detail is handled with quiet confidence, because behind every follicle is a story, and every story deserves care.
Monitoring Follicle Growth
After several days of hormone injections to stimulate the ovaries to produce multiple follicles, scans reveal those little fluid-filled sacs each with the potential to contain an egg. The ovaries swell. The count of follicles becomes a topic of discussion. The “average number of eggs retrieved IVF by age” comes into play: younger women often yield more, older women fewer; there’s variation person to person. At this point the team at the centre monitors progress very closely.
When the follicles reach the target size the trigger injection is given (often hCG or a similar agent) to mature the eggs and prepare for retrieval roughly 36 hours later.
In the narrative: imagine walking into the clinic, feeling the ovaries a little heavy, the scans showing right and left ovaries each with a cluster of follicles. The discussion with Dr. Sophia Umair Bajwa touches on how many follicles and what they might mean in terms of “egg collection in IVF procedure”.
The Egg Retrieval Procedure
The pick-up day arrives. At the clinic the patient is sedated or under light anaesthesia. The procedure is short, around 15-20 minutes according to standard practice.
A transvaginal ultrasound probe guides a very fine needle through the vaginal wall to each ovary. The needle aspirates follicular fluid and retrieves the eggs from each follicle. Each ovary (right and left) is visited and multiple follicles drained. Some follicles may not yield an egg. The term IVF egg retrieval refers to this process of physically retrieving the eggs.
In the storyline the mood might be a mix of anticipation and relief. One counts the follicles: “Left ovary 10, right ovary 12,” for instance. Discussion: “We expect maybe 10-12 eggs given your age and reserve,” the doctor says. The fluid from each follicle is labelled and sent instantly to the embryology lab.
Post-Procedure Care Tips
After retrieval the patient is taken to a recovery area. There may be mild cramping, some spotting or bloating. It’s standard to rest a few hours. The ovaries are stimulated and manipulated; they feel swollen. Drinking water, light movement, and monitoring for heavy pain or bleeding are advised.
In our narrative: there’s a coffee and a lounge seat, magazines on the table, brain still ticking about “how many eggs did we get?” The staff phones at intervals: “The embryology team is checking the samples now.”
At this point the ovarian stimulation part of the cycle is complete, the physical retrieval done, and the next phase in the lab begins.
The Lab’s Role After Retrieval
The aspirated follicular fluid arrives at the IVF lab. Embryologists under microscopes search for eggs (oocytes). The phrase “how are eggs retrieved for IVF” covers the needle aspiration plus lab handling of the fluid.
Inside the fluid they look for cumulus-oocyte complexes (clusters of cells surrounding the egg). Those are trimmed and prepared. If regular insemination is used the eggs are placed in culture dish with sperm. If fertilisation may be complex (male factor etc) the lab may plan for intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) though ICSI is covered later.
In the narrative: the moment of truth: “Egg count: 11 mature eggs identified.” That’s great news. The lab confirms the number and reports back to Dr. Sophia Umair Bajwa’s team at Family Fertility & IVF Center. The mood switches to “okay next step”.
The “average egg collection ivf” number is relevant: some cycles retrieve 8-15 eggs in many centre for certain age groups; older ages may yield fewer. The higher the number retrieved (within safe limits) the better chances of quality eggs. But more eggs is not everything, quality matters more than quantity.
Next Steps and Care Tips Post-Retrieval
Right after retrieval you’ll be given instructions:
- Light activity for the rest of the day.
- Possible breakfast before discharge, but avoid heavy exertion for 24-48 hours.
- Watch for signs of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS): swelling, rapid weight gain, severe pain. The pharmacologic stimulation aimed to collect multiple eggs increases that risk.
- The lab report will tell you how many eggs were retrieved, how many were mature. You can ask: “IVF egg retrieval numbers” how did we compare?
In our narrative: the clinic team calls later that day: “11 eggs retrieved, 9 mature; we’ll inform you tomorrow how many fertilised.” The patient is home relaxing; heavy chores postponed. The ovaries are tender, but manageable.
What Happens After Eggs Are Retrieved
Retrieval is a key pivot point in the IVF procedure step by step. Once eggs are safe retrieved and identify in the lab, fertilization (via conventional insemination or ICSI) begin. The next blog will cover fertilisation, embryo culture, and transfer.
At this stage patients often ask: how many eggs is “good”? What is “IVF procedure cost in Pakistan”? In Pakistan a typical IVF cycle (including retrieval, fertilisation, embryo transfer) can run in the range of PKR 250,000 to PKR 500,000 for standard cycles.
From the narrative lens: after retrieval patient feels: “Okay this part is done. I gave the injections, did the scans, tolerated the pick-up. Now we wait for fertilisation and hope.” It’s a mixture of physical relief and emotional suspense.
Choosing Where to Do Your IVF
When facing this process the choice of clinic matters. For example at Family Fertility & IVF Center Lahore under Dr. Sophia Umair Bajwa you get a team-driven approach, clear communication of “IVF egg retrieval” and “egg collection in IVF procedure” details, and support during each step. Have a centre experienced with egg retrieval, lab handling, embryo culture and following protocols = less stress.
In the narrative: patient had scoured the web, asked about best IVF center in Lahore Pakistan and decided that being at a centre where the team had strong retrieval protocols made sense. The doctor explained the process: number of injections, monitoring scans, what retrieval would involve, recovery expectations, and next steps in the lab.
Is IVF on Your Mind Too? Visit Us Anytime
Egg retrieval marks a big turning point in the whole IVF process. It is physically short but emotionally weighty. When follicles are perfectly stimulate the retrieval can feel like a jump-start to hope. The count of eggs retrieved matters for statistics (“IVF egg retrieval numbers”) but the quality and subsequent lab steps matter more.
To anyone reading and hesitating: yes this procedure has injections, scans, a little sedation, and a recovery period. But under a good team it is manageable. Choosing the right IVF center Lahore can make the difference in comfort, clarity and outcome.
For any support or future treatments, Family Fertility & IVF Center in Lahore is the place to trust. For continual guidance you can watch helpful content anytime on the Dr. Sophia Umair Bajwa YouTube channel. Got a topic you want covered? Drop a comment here or on our YouTube video and we’ll dive into it!
Remember the egg retrieval process is a major milestone in your fertility journey. With the right team and realistic expectations you move from stimulation to retrieval to fertilisation with momentum. The next blog in this series will examine the lab seduction: fertilisation, culture, embryo transfer and beyond. Stay tuned.