Egg collection checklist: 14 things to arrange, take and ask

Read your clinic’s admission letter as soon as you get it

Your clinic will tell you when and where to come, and what to bring. Fasting times, arrival times and what to bring all differ between clinics, so go by the instructions for yours rather than what someone else was told.

Source: Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals

Check the fasting instructions

Clinics ask you not to eat or drink for a set time before sedation, and the rules vary. Guy’s and St Thomas’ asks for nothing to eat or drink for 7 hours beforehand. Glasgow asks you to fast from midnight. Edinburgh asks for nothing to eat from midnight, but allows a glass of still water before 7am, and says the procedure will be cancelled if the instructions aren’t followed.

Guy’s and St Thomas’ explains why: sedation can make you feel sick, and an empty stomach reduces the chance of complications if you are.

Sources: Guy’s and St Thomas’, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, NHS Lothian, Edinburgh Fertility Centre

Arrange an adult to take you home

You’ll need a responsible adult to come with you or collect you, and take you home. Guy’s and St Thomas’ says this should be by car or taxi, not public transport. If your partner is having surgical sperm collection the same day, they’ll have had sedation too, so you’ll need someone else.

Sources: Guy’s and St Thomas’, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, NHS Lothian, Edinburgh Fertility Centre

Arrange for someone to stay with you

How long someone needs to stay varies. Newcastle Fertility Centre says you must have someone with you at all times until the following morning. If you’re going on your own, arrange for a friend or relative to collect you and stay overnight.

Newcastle also advises people who live more than 40 minutes from emergency care to stay locally.

Source: Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals

Don’t drive for 24 hours after sedation

Sedation can affect your reasoning, reflexes, judgement and coordination for a while. The NHS units that give a time all say 24 hours: no driving or using machinery, and Newcastle and Glasgow add no alcohol and no signing legal documents. If your clinic gives a longer time, follow that.

Sources: Guy’s and St Thomas’, Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, NHS Lothian, Edinburgh Fertility Centre

What to wear, what to leave off, what to pack

Clinics ask you to have a bath or shower that morning, and not to wear make-up, nail varnish, perfume, body lotion, jewellery or contact lenses. You’ll change into a hospital gown, and Glasgow asks you to bring a dressing gown and slippers. Leave valuables at home; Glasgow says a wedding ring is fine.

Sources: Guy’s and St Thomas’, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde

If a partner’s sample is being used, check their instructions too

A partner’s sperm sample is usually given in a private room on the same day. Clinics ask for a short time without ejaculating beforehand, and the advice differs: 2 days, 2 to 3 days or 2 to 5 days, depending on the clinic.

Some clinics ask the person giving the sample to stay nearby and be reachable by phone, in case a second sample is needed. If giving a sample at the unit feels difficult, tell the clinic in advance.

Sources: NHS, Guy’s and St Thomas’, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals, NHS Lothian, Edinburgh Fertility Centre

Using donor or frozen sperm

If you’re using donor sperm, the NHS says it will be ready in the laboratory. Guy’s and St Thomas’ says frozen sperm is only thawed once the eggs have been collected.

Sources: NHS, HFEA, Guy’s and St Thomas’

Who can come with you

Newcastle asks that only one person comes with you, and partners wait in the waiting room or leave during the procedure. If you’re having treatment on your own, you might want a friend or relative to come along.

Looking ahead to embryo transfer, Newcastle and Edinburgh ask you and anyone with you not to wear perfume, aftershave or strong deodorant, because strong smells may affect the embryos in the laboratory.

Sources: Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals, NHS Lothian, Edinburgh Fertility Centre

Allow time on the day

The NHS says the procedure takes around 20 minutes, and you’ll be offered a sedative. Afterwards you’ll usually rest for 1 to 3 hours before going home, depending on the clinic, and occasionally people stay overnight for observation. The clinic will usually tell you how many eggs were collected before you leave.

Glasgow suggests giving yourself plenty of time to travel, allowing for traffic and parking.

Sources: NHS, Guy’s and St Thomas’, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, NHS Lothian, Edinburgh Fertility Centre

If you’re anxious about it, tell the clinic beforehand

Experiences of egg collection vary a lot, so ask your own clinic what to expect. Newcastle offers a medicine beforehand to help with nerves, and you can contact the nurse sedationist with any worries before the day.

Source: Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals

Plan time off work

Newcastle advises 1 to 2 days off work after egg collection, resting at home for the first 24 hours. Leeds suggests the day of collection and the day after. There’s no legal right to time off for IVF in Great Britain, so check your workplace policy. Our guide to IVF and work explains your rights.

Sources: Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals, Leeds Teaching Hospitals, Acas

What’s common afterwards

Clinics say you may have some lower tummy pain, bloating, and light spotting or brown discharge, which usually settles within a few days. Use the pain relief your clinic advises, and have something light to eat that evening. Your clinic’s leaflet will say how much spotting to expect; call them if you’re unsure.

Sources: Guy’s and St Thomas’, Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals, NHS Lothian, Edinburgh Fertility Centre

Know when to call your clinic, NHS 111 or 999

Save your clinic’s number and its out-of-hours number before the day. Newcastle asks you to phone if pain is severe and persistent, or if you’re vomiting.

The NHS says to contact your fertility clinic or NHS 111 as soon as possible if:

• you have pain and bloating in your tummy
• you’re feeling and being sick
• you feel faint
• you’re coughing up blood
• you have vaginal bleeding or a brown watery discharge
• you have pain or discomfort when going for a poo or wee

Call 999 or go to A&E if you have difficulty breathing, pain in your chest or upper back, swelling in any part of your body, tummy pain low down on one side, pain in the tip of your shoulder, or you’re very thirsty and peeing less than usual. Don’t drive yourself to A&E.

Sources: Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals, NHS