Egg retrieval from both ovaries in same cycle

[Anonymous]

I am undergoing IVF and am currently in a stimulated egg retrieval cycle. During the ultrasound today the doctor said both ovaries are responding to the medications (first just one was responding but in last few days the other has “woken” up). Dr said they will retrieve all responsive follicles from both ovaries.

Has anyone had this happen before or have any info on this? Basically, is this normal? I had never heard of this before and am having trouble finding any info about this online.

[Anonymous]

Isn’t that typical?

[Anonymous]

OP here - maybe it is. I’m not sure. My understanding is that there is usually one responsive ovary per cycle and that is the one you ovulate from or retrieve from.

[Anonymous]

It’s normal

[Anonymous]

It's typical to get eggs from both ovaries. If you haven't in the past, I would assume you're not a "good responder".

[Anonymous]

OP here - I didn’t realize it was normal. Thanks for the helpful responses. This is my first stimulated cycle. I’ve only don’t natural cycles before. At my baseline appt they only counted follicles on one side so I assumed that was the ovary “in focus”.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here - I didn’t realize it was normal. Thanks for the helpful responses. This is my first stimulated cycle. I’ve only don’t natural cycles before. At my baseline appt they only counted follicles on one side so I assumed that was the ovary “in focus”.

That’s weird.

[Anonymous]

Yes. Stimulating meds don’t pick which ovary stimulates: both are stimulated. Good luck with your cycle!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes. Stimulating meds don’t pick which ovary stimulates: both are stimulated. Good luck with your cycle!

Thank you 🤞🏼 - OP

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here - maybe it is. I’m not sure. My understanding is that there is usually one responsive ovary per cycle and that is the one you ovulate from or retrieve from.

No - the meds stimulate both ovaries. It makes sense the ovary that would be "next" in your monthly cycles responds first but usually the point of the meds is to stimulate you enough to get many eggs from each ovary.

[Anonymous]

I didn’t know they didn’t take from both. That makes no sense, of course they are going to take from all of the follicles that are the right size. OP, what we’re expecting would be the issue?

[Anonymous]

everyone calm down. As a poor responder I know that sometime one ovary just doesn't get going. OP it's totally normal to collect from both follicles.

[Anonymous]

Hey, OP here. I totally get it now. In a stimulated cycle egg retrieval occurs from both ovaries. I just didn’t realize and this info is probably so basic no one mentioned it during my education sessions.

For background I have been TTC for 5+ years and this was my first fully stimulated cycle. I have done numerous tracked cycles, IUI’s and natural cycle IVF’s in the past. Because of this it was always one ovary I was focusing on at a time. I think I just assumed it would be the same and now realize with a fully stimulated cycle that is not the case. Anyway, retrieval done and now waiting. I responded OK to meds.