Personally, I didn't want to know what they were going to do... and I was more scared when I actually saw the picture of the ultrasound probe they use with all the egg collecting bits attached... Just know that it involves a big needle... and if you really want to know more, I'll tell you.

Mine were done under general anaesthetic so it didn't hurt at the time, and I have no idea how long it actually takes.

However as I had quite a LOT of eggs, I would often be in a heap of pain afterwards. I recall being given some really great painkillers while in recovery twice, and being sent home with panadeine forte the first time (26 eggs). The second time I wasn't sent home with any painkillers at all (32 eggs) and landed in hospital and spent a week in there - both times I had OHSS, so definitely not normal.

The third time, with no OHSS, I think I just had some panadol for a few days and was pretty much fine. I had 20 eggs collected, which is still on the high side of things.

If you do have pain, anything with paracetamol and/or codeine is fine. Ibuprofen and aspirin are out.

Hope this helps a bit!

BW