To request conscious sedation for egg retrieval (IVF)

[SquashedSquashess]

I have IVF coming up in the next few months.

Our NHS IVF clinic offers only gas and air as standard for the egg retrieval procedure. Our nurse was emphatic that this is clinically effective, and has persuaded my husband (who won’t be having a needle repeatedly jabbed through his uterus wall into his ovaries) that this is fine.

A friend of mine who has been through IVF recommended sedation, and seemed shocked I’d only be offered gas and air.

I’m concerned that, as with so much in women’s health, this “clinically effective” option is offered to keep costs down without any consideration of whether it’s best for me.

In addition, I previously had PTSD from a rape which I’ve overcome. I’ve been through various intrusive procedures on the IVF journey without incident, but don’t fancy the prospect of being re-triggered if gas and air is going to result in the egg retrieval process being both invasive and painful.

Grateful for any insights from others that have been through this.

YABU: gas and air will be fine
YANBU: request the sedation

I had sedation and could still feel it, like a PP I also said ow, they upped something and then I woke up in recovery. Had several
procedures and only felt it once but every time I had no problems with the sedation wearing off. My advice would be kind to yourself OP, this is one thing you can do to make this IVF process less stressful. Good luck with it all

With my first round they tried it with me awake (as was standard) and they had to drug me unconscious quite early on. It was agonising and, given the amount of eggs, would have taken ages. Also I found hard to recover from whatever they drugged me with. From then on I insisted on GA, which my body recovers very quickly from.

I have has sedation for both my egg collections. It was standard at our clinic. As a fellow SA survivor and someone who has medical trauma, I would insist on sedation even if you need to pay extra because you may need an anaesthetist present.

Wow I would not have wanted gas and air. I had NHS IVF (15 years ago) and was sedated for my egg retrieval, it was absolutely fine and frankly the best sleep of my life!

I had sedation in Scotland. Don't remember being given the option of gas and air but would have chosen sedation anyway.

Had gas and air during my induction and it did absolutely hee haw except make me feel sick and thirsty.

I had fentanyl and gas and air during my egg retrieval both times. Even with that, it was incredibly painful.
best of luck with your treatment.

I had my first round with nothing but a paracetamol suppository (standard where it was done). They told me it didn't hurt as there were few nerves where they were working. It took 45 minutes to retrieve 6 eggs and it was incredibly painful. For future rounds I insisted on the twilight sedation.

I had sedation all 3 times, but wasn't given any other choice.

Jesus. I never knew gas and air was even an option.

Get the sedation - you’ll be back round in no time and will be able to leave after about an hour

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

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

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.

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.

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

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 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.

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’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.

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

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 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.

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