Is analgesia required for transvaginal single-follicle aspiration in in vitro fertilization? A double-blind study

Abstract

High oocyte retrieval rates using transvaginal follicular aspiration for single follicles and improved laboratory techniques have engendered renewed interest in naturalcycle in vitro fertilization (IVF). To assess analgesia requirements during single-follicle aspiration, a doubleplind study was set up in 30 patients comparing intraprocedure intravenous fentanyl with normal saline as a placebo. Analysis of pain perception using visual analogue scoring showed a similar pain tolerance in both groups for the procedures of vaginal ultrasound scanning needle insertion, and follicular aspiration. A correlation between each patient's tolerance of common painproducing experiences with that for the procedure was not well defined (r=0.5). We conclude that one of the benefits of natural-cycle IVF using transvaginal singlefollicle aspiration is that it can be performed without analgesia.