What are the basic steps to ovarian stimulation/egg retrieval?

Ovarian stimulation/egg retrieval is typically a two-week process as follows:

1. Hormone Stimulation: 10-14 days of hormone injections, ending with a final “trigger shot” 35-36 hours before the egg retrieval. During this time there are typically 4 office appointments for the purposes of “monitoring” (each appointment consists of an ultrasound and blood work to check in on the progress of follicle growth.
2. Egg Retrieval: A 20-minute procedure performed under sedation (I.V. anesthesia only, neither intubation nor paralysis).

   The entire process typically requires a total of 5 office visits.