[Patient's experience of topical anesthesia by lidocaine vaginal gel for oocyte retrieval]

Abstract

A recent adverse effect of a paracervical block (cardiac arrest) occurred during an oocyte retrieval (OR), forcing us to reconsider our pain management during OR. Since then, we decided to use intravaginal lidocaine gel as analgesia during OR.

Objectives: To evaluate the pain during OR after intravaginal lidocaine gel analgesia and to evaluate the motivations of women choosing this technique.

Methods: A monocentric observational study was performed on 200 patients. Pain was measured using a numeric pain scale during and after oocyte retrieval. The tolerance of the procedure was evaluated through a patient questionnaire.

Results: Median maximal pain was 5±2.3 (0-10) per-retrieval and 3±2.2 (0-10) post-retrieval. The procedure was considered bearable by 85.5% of the patients and 81.5% of them would choose this method in case of new oocyte retrieval. No adverse effect occurred during the study.

Conclusion: The use of intravaginal lidocaine gel seems an acceptable analgesia alternative during oocyte retrieval.

Keywords: Analgesia; Analgésie; Gel de lidocaine; Lidocaine gel; Oocyte retrieval; Ponction ovocytaire.