Before the patient was able to have the eggs removed effectively, she began a series of tests and hormone regimens. The patient explained t

The patient endured a couple more tests early that morning, and then made her way to the operating room to receive her epidural. By 7:00a.m. Dr. Smith began the retrieval. She used a vaginal ultrasound with a long, thin needle which was inserted in a guide on the ultrasonic probe. This needle is connected to a suction cup which aspirates the fluid from all accessible follicles within the ovary. As the many test tubes were filled one by one and delivered to the laboratory, the nurse would return and exclaim, “We’ve got two in that sample!” Everyone would smile, the hopeful mother began to tear up a little, it was actually quite an emotional experience. Our final count was 14! Dr. Smith seemed rather pleased with their results. She explained that that was the easy part, and that success in the laboratory would be the most crucial.

In the laboratory, the oocytes are isolated, then placed in an incubator for 6 to 20 hours. After incubation it is time for fertilization. Sometimes it is as simple as placing the egg and sperm in the same Petri dish, in other situations a single sperm can be injected into the interior of the egg by use of microscope. This particular patient had a simple and successful experience with her lab work. I was able to see fertilization occur almost naturally, right before my eyes.

This was an educational, intriguing, and touching experience for me. I personally, was blessed with a gift to reproduce quite easily, and never thought to put myself in the shoes of someone with such struggles in obtaining something which came so easily to me. It hurt me to see these parents have to endure such a traumatic and expensive procedure for, what had always seemed so simple to me. I know have the understanding that reproduction should be a much appreciated gift. Assisted reproduction is a truly cherished gift of life

Some topics in this essay:
Dr Smith, FSH LH, Medicine Department, Deb Smith, , dr smith, follicular development, gnrh injection, telephone call, received telephone call, ovulation stimulation, physician determination, oocyte retrieval, estrogen levels, patients age, particular patient,