For those women who are about to embark on the journey of IVF and long to have their babies, the first time they see the legendary ‘egg retrieval needle’, their hearts will inevitably ripple, just like the nervousness and apprehension before facing an unknown adventure. ‘Oops, how come this needle looks so long and thick, can it be painless?’ Such doubts quietly took root in their hearts. After all, the length of the egg extraction needle is 35cm, which makes people inevitably feel intimidated.
But don't worry, the warm light of modern medicine has already put a gentle veil over this worry. The term ‘painless egg retrieval’, which sounds full of humanistic care, is like a gentle mantra specially created to ease the apprehension in women's hearts. Under the careful care of intravenous anaesthesia, the whole process of egg retrieval seems to be enchanted, becoming both safe and secure. When you gently close your eyes, it's like stepping into a sweet dream, and all the noise and anxiety of the outside world is cut off by the gentle barrier called ‘anaesthesia’. At that moment, the doctors are using their skills to guide the follicle puncture technique through transvaginal ultrasound, as if installing a precise navigation system for each precious follicle. This technique not only greatly improves the success rate of egg retrieval, but also acts as an attentive guardian, eliminating the risk of complications such as bleeding, infection and injury.
The anesthesiologist will gently and professionally ask about the patient's medical history again before the operation, leaving no stone unturned to ensure that every step of the process is flawless. Then, a series of sophisticated preparations are carried out in an orderly manner. The vital signs monitor was gently attached to the patient's skin, like an invisible shield, always guarding the safety line of life. The opening of the venous channel, on the other hand, is like a green channel paved for hope, paving an unobstructed path for the anaesthesia drugs to come. When everything is ready, the anaesthesiologist gently presses the button of the syringe, and a small dose of sedative and analgesic drugs slowly flows into the patient's bloodstream. In a few moments, the patient slowly drifted off to sleep in a state of peace and tranquillity, as if the whole world had pressed the pause button for her. Under the guardianship of the anaesthetic drugs, the doctors completed this ‘secret operation’ of hope in just 5-10 minutes with their exquisite skills. In this battle without smoke, anaesthesia drugs not only bring patients a comfortable experience but also become an invisible guard to protect the quality of eggs.
Perhaps there is still a lingering doubt in the patient's mind about the anaesthetic drugs, fearing that it may affect the quality of the precious eggs. But believe me, according to countless researchers, anaesthetics work mainly on the central nervous system, and the short window of time during the egg retrieval procedure makes the effect of anaesthetics minimal.
After the procedure, as you slowly awaken from your dream world, it is like stepping back into reality after an amazing journey. There are a few warm tips that you need to pay close attention to ensure that this journey ends perfectly. Physically, you should feel relaxed and at ease, with no nausea or vomiting to disturb your tranquillity, and no headaches or dizziness to make you feel ‘lost’. Your limbs should feel like freshly awakened spring shoots, full of vigour, without any soreness or limpness. When you try to stand up and take that step, your steps should be steady and not wobbly. In addition, you will need to have a reliable family member by your side for the first 24 hours after anaesthesia. They are like your guardians on the journey, making sure that you receive the utmost care during this special time. During this time, ‘adventurous’ behaviours such as driving a car or climbing a mountain need to be put aside for a while.
The entire procedure is like being immersed in a warm and peaceful dream, with no discomfort or pain, only peace of mind and anticipation. When you wake up, you know that the once seemingly difficult step has quietly become a new starting point for happiness under the dual protection of painlessness and technology.
