Pain Management during Ultrasound Guided Transvaginal Oocyte Retrieval - A Narrative Review

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Medicine
• Anesthesiology
• In Vitro Fertilization

Background:

• Transvaginal oocyte retrieval (TVOR) for assisted reproduction can cause significant pain, necessitating effective analgesia.
• Anesthetic choices for TVOR must consider potential impacts on oocyte quality and embryo development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review anesthesia methods and drugs for safe and effective pain management during TVOR.
• To evaluate anesthetic effects on oocyte quality and patient outcomes.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review of Medline, Embase, PubMed, and Cochrane databases.
• Adherence to modified Preferred Reporting Items for Systemic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines.

Main Results:

• Conscious sedation is favored for TVOR, offering reduced adverse effects, quicker recovery, and improved comfort for patients and specialists.
• Conscious sedation demonstrates minimal impact on oocyte quality and embryo development.
• Combining conscious sedation with a paracervical block decreased anesthetic drug consumption, potentially benefiting oocyte quality.

Conclusions:

• Conscious sedation is the optimal anesthesia choice for TVOR, balancing efficacy, safety, and reproductive outcomes.
• Paracervical block in conjunction with conscious sedation may enhance oocyte quality by reducing anesthetic requirements.