High level of satisfaction among women who underwent oocyte retrieval without anesthesia

Abstract

To assess the level of satisfaction of women undergoing transvaginal oocyte retrieval (TOR) without anesthesia as well as the comfort of the gynecologists. Single-center, prospective cohort study of women undergoing TOR from July 2017 to January2018. This study was conducted in an academic public hospital. Women with ≤15 follicles for retrieval were eligible. Women with body mass index > 35, difficult vaginal approach, endometrioma > 5 cm, or pelvic inflammatory disease were excluded. None. Our primary endpoint was patient satisfaction. Secondary endpoints were women's willingness to recommend or undergo the procedure again without anesthesia, anxiety levels before the procedure, expected level of pain, actual pain levels during the procedure, and gynecologist's level of difficulty or technical compromise. During the study period, 500 TORs were performed, of which 402 (80%) were screened for study eligibility. Overall, data were analyzed for 50 eligible women who had their first invitro fertilization cycle (participating in the study) without anesthesia. High rates of satisfaction were reported, and 90% would recommend the procedure without anesthesia to their friends. Physicians graded the difficulty of the procedure as very easy in 35 procedures; in only two procedures was difficulty reported. TOR without anesthesia is feasible, with a relatively high satisfaction rate from both patients and gynecologists, suggesting that it should be considered in selected women.