| Many women have a laparoscopy as part of the | | | | However, as a rule, this procedure is carried out on a |
| investigations into their infertility, and so will be familiar | | | | day-case basis. The woman is admitted to hospital just |
| with the basics of this procedure. The laparoscopy for | | | | over 30 hours after the final hCG injection, leaving |
| egg collection is different in that it usually involves the | | | | enough time to prepare for the surgery. Once the |
| insertion of three instruments into the woman's | | | | procedure is complete, she spends a few hours |
| abdomen, and therefore three small incisions, one or | | | | recovering from the anaesthetic and can go home in |
| two of which may require a stitch. The laparoscope is | | | | the afternoon or early evening. |
| inserted through a small incision at the lower edge of | | | | There may be some stomach pains afterwards, and it |
| the navel. This enables the doctor to see the ovaries | | | | is possible for the cuts to become infected, in which |
| and the follicles containing the eggs. A second small | | | | case medical attention may be needed. Sometimes |
| incision is made, usually on one side of the abdomen, | | | | women find that after a laparoscopy they experience |
| through which an instrument is inserted to hold the | | | | a bloated feeling or pains in their shoulders which is |
| ovaries in place. The needle for removing the eggs is | | | | usually the effect of the gas which is pumped into the |
| inserted through a third small incision, again usually at | | | | abdomen. |
| one side of the abdomen. | | | | |