To request conscious sedation for egg retrieval (IVF)

I have had as several egg retrievals and all under sedation. Not a chance would I use gas and air. Having had to painful labours and the gas and air did nothing. Stand your ground and insist on sedation.

I've had egg retrieval twice - first time was with IV fentanyl and oral temazepam. It was agony. Second time was with IV fentanyl and something else IV - can't remember what. Started with half a dose of that and was still finding it painful so they gave me the full dose.

There is not a snowball's chance in hell that I'd just have gas and air for egg retrieval.

For what it's worth, I have a high pain threshold but some painkillers don't have much affect on me.

With the temazepam, I felt fine and went out for lunch afterwards. With the stronger stuff, I had to go home and sleep it off but I didn't have to stay in hospital for long at all really. I wouldn't let the aftermath sway your decision to be honest - it's better to be as comfortable as possible for the procedure.

I have no idea if it was painful because I was off my nut on fentanyl. I would speak to the gynea about your concerns.

Also just to add that there are a few people saying they had GA...i might be wrong but I think they might be mixing up sedation with this as mine was definitely "sedation" but it did feel like a GA and was totally knocked out for the procedure with an oxygen mask etc but I think the difference is you can go home within a couple of hours etc

I just had egg retrieval a few weeks ago. Had propofol and fentanyl. Only remember going into the room and them injecting the sedation and then I woke up in recovery. Was the best sleep ever and wouldn’t hesitate to do it again. Highlight of the quite crappy journey 😂 wouldn’t just have gas and air, what if you move?!

Nitrous oxide and oxygen is Conscious Sedation.

I had two egg collections and no way would I do them without sedation. I'm a bit shocked that some clinics offer an alternative.

With respect to a number of posters commenting who have not had this procedure, it is not really relevant if you haven't. I would 100% go for sedation. I have had numerous egg collections and all under sedation (which for me meant completely being knocked out- going under in the operating theatre and usually waking up back in my bed or sometimes in the theatre and being helped into a chair but def not fully with it).

I also read some experiences others had with gas and air that scared me and sadly I had a friend going through IVF at a similar time and didn't want to scare her too much about the negative experiences I'd read about as she could only have the gas and air and I think some sort of painkiller maybe but she did have a horrible experience. She said it was painful and she was awake and was saying often it hurt etc (luckily only had 5 follicles to flush) and she doesn't want to do another egg collection. Now I wouldn't be saying this if you had no option...but if you DO then 100% go for the sedation!

I'd recommend watching Making Babies on BBC player if you're interested in seeing what egg collections are like (unless it would scare you) and they did show one same sex couple (saying only so you can find the episode) where the lady couldn't have sedation for medical reasons snd she only had 2 follicles to flush and was shouting out in pain

I had NHS IVF in the South of England and I was only given an option of sedation for egg retrieval … make this request with the clinic, be firm and refuse the gas and air.

I found embryo transfer uncomfortable enough. I can't imagine being awake for an egg collection

Gas and air is insane for egg retrieval. You still feel pain on gas and air - I’ve had it before. You absolutely need deep sedation for an egg retrieval. I’ve done it 4 times and it’s great immediate recovery and no side effects for me.

I had sedation and I don’t remember a thing, it felt like general anaesthesia, complete no recollection. I was so glad as the whole prospect of the procedure was stressing me out so much beforehand. I would have rejected an offer of gas and air.

I had two egg collections with conscious sedation and it was absolute agony, I was screaming and crying in pain and they had to abandon my eggs. They said they couldn't offer me full sedation because they didn't have an anaesthetist. It was so traumatising I refused another egg collection and my daughter is from a donor egg. Conscious sedation is nowhere near enough, you need to be OUT. If they can't put you out, GO SOMEWHERE ELSE!!!

I was offered sedation. Have heard it can be really painful without.

I had IVF at Hammersmith. The anaesthetist asked me, if I wanted to be able to take an intelligent interest in what was going on in the screen; or not know or care. I chose the latter. I think it was fentanyl and something else. I was awake and knew what was going on; but felt no pain on having 19 eggs retrieved from one ovary. They couldn’t reach the other ovary, so told one of the doctors to try to move it. It felt like he was pushing on my abdomen. I thought he was trying to kill me; but that thought didn’t bother me at all! They still couldn’t access the other ovary and gave up.

I didn’t find the recovery period at all difficult.

I had gas and air during my delivery. I still felt the pain.

If I were you OP, I’d go for what I had - awake, but didn’t care or feel any pain!

I had my egg collection under sedation. The nurse that brought me around after, offered me more pain relief, I accepted straight away. I cannot imagine doing this without being fully sedated. A friend of mine had her egg retrieval in another clinic (also south west) without sedation and she said it was agonising. I mentioned this to a nurse a couple of weeks ago at the beginning of this current round and she said it's because of the clinic size. My clinic is large so they have an anaesthetist on site. This other clinic is smaller so they don't, and can't offer sedation. Maybe they could get one in but I didn't ask if that was an option.

I’ve had five egg retrievals.

Please insist on sedation. Do not let them fob you off.

Fight your corner with your husband if you need to as well. Sometimes if the men can’t produce a suitable sample, they need to extract it. How would he feel if he had to undergo that procedure and was only offered gas and air?

All the best. Do something nice for yourself afterwards, you’re going through a lot.

Dear God please insist on sedation. In this day and age to have a procedure like egg retrieval without the pain relief available is barbaric.

I used to anaesthetise for egg retrieval. I would generally use deep sedation, essentially a GA without an airway and self ventilating.

Some patients declined as they wanted to be awake. It is possible under gas and air, or indeed nothing at all, however it does seem less comfortable. There are many clinic that use gas and air as standard, though as I understand that number is reducing.

Your issue may be however that your clinic doesn’t have an anaesthetic provision, so is unable to offer anything else.

I would confirm with then before starting IVF what they can offer, so you can arrange for care elsewhere if they can’t offer what you want.

Take the sedation. I‘ve done it twice with once without and it’s a mistake. When your husband has to get a long needle poked up himself let him take the lead on that decision though.

I’ve had a sedation for a different reason and absolutely loved it. Felt like being on cloud nine. So relaxing!

Definitely sedation! Don't let them fob you off with gas and air.
I'm really fed up of the gender pain gap. I had a hysteroscopy and was told to take 2 paracetamol beforehand. It was excruciating!
It's not the same I know, but insist on sedation.

If I was going through what the OP had planned and the Dr suggested I utilise "relaxation techniques" alongside gas and air, I would put my head in my hands and sob.

Because once again, women's health and pain management are not considered important enough to treat effectively.

My best wishes OP, and wishing you joy.

I was in London (Lister) and had it under a general anaesthetic 4 times. No issues- definitely wouldn’t want to be awake!

Another vote for conscious sedation. I also had this and had no ill effects afterwards. All the best with your IVF journey. ❤️