Eggs are not “removed from a woman” in the everyday sense; in fertility treatment, they are collected from the ovaries with a minor procedure called egg retrieval or oocyte retrieval.

How it works

A doctor usually inserts an ultrasound probe into the vagina to locate the ovarian follicles, then guides a thin needle through the vaginal wall into each follicle. Gentle suction draws out the follicular fluid, which contains the egg, and the process is repeated for multiple follicles.

What to expect

This is typically done with sedation or anesthesia so the person is comfortable during the procedure. It usually takes about 15 to 30 minutes, though some clinics describe it as up to about an hour including preparation and recovery.

When it’s used

Egg retrieval is most commonly part of IVF, where the goal is to collect mature eggs for fertilization in a lab. If you want, I can also explain the difference between egg retrieval, ovulation, and a C-section in simple terms.