Is the egg retrieval procedure painful?

Patients experience no pain during egg retrieval when anaesthetic is used. A vaginal ultrasonography probe with a long, thin needle attached is inserted through the vaginal wall and into each ovary during egg retrieval, a simple operation. Each egg follicle is penetrated by the needle, and the egg is then delicately suctioned out. Once the egg harvesting process is over, anaesthesia soon wears off. Patients may have some mild ovarian cramps, which may be managed with the correct medication.