AUSTRALIAN JOURNAL OF BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH
Original Article
Feb 26, 2026 2 2

Ultrasound-Guided Trans-Abdominal Oocyte Retrieval During in Vitro Fertilization: Applicability and Safety of a Necessary Intervention in Nigeria

Chidinma Magnus Nwogu 1,
Sunday Isaac Omisakin Isaac Omisakin 2,
Aloy Okechukwu Ugwu 3 * ,
Kayode Ayodeji Adefemi 4,
Muisi Alli Adenekan 5,
Awoniyi Adebayo 6,
Damilola O. Akinlawon 7,
Kehinde S. Okunade 2,
Solomon Oluseyi Showunmi 3,
Ogoh Godwin Sunday 3,
Adeshina Bola 3,
Ayeni Abraham Sunday 3
1 Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Kingswil Specialist Hospital, Lagos, Nigeria2 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Lagos University Teaching Hospital/College of Medicine University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria3 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 68 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital, Yaba, Lagos, Nigeria4 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria5 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Lagos Island Maternity Hospital, Lagos, Nigeria6 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Lagos, Nigeria7 Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Lagos Medical Centre, Lagos, Nigeria * Corresponding Author
Australian Journal of Biomedical Research, 2(1), 2026, aubm014, https://doi.org/10.63946/aubiomed/17981
Publication date: Feb 26, 2026
Full Text (PDF)

ABSTRACT

Background: Controlled ovarian hyperstimulation and oocyte retrieval are key stages in the in vitro fertilization process. If developing follicles are difficult to access or visualize using the preferred imaging method (transvaginal ultrasound scan), careful monitoring with transabdominal ultrasound and oocyte retrieval may be required to avoid cycle cancellation and enhance in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment success.
This study aimed to assess the feasibility, pregnancy outcomes and presence of risk factors among a cohort of women who had transabdominal oocyte retrieval during their IVF treatment process
Methods: This was a retrospective cross-sectional study carried out at Kingswill Specialist Hospital, Lagos Nigeria from January 2020 to December 2023. Medical records of women who had transabdominal oocyte retrieval (TAOR) were retrieved and variables such as socio-demographic variables, indications and pregnancy outcomes were analysed. 
Results: Fifty-seven women had TAOR during the study period. The mean age of the women was 36.2 ± 4.28 SD years. Their mean weight was 86.0kg ± 14.79 SD.  Twenty-six (45.6%) had pelvic masses, 50.9% had previous pelvic surgeries. 
There were 21 (36.8%) conceptions, 38 (66%) live births and 5.2% miscarriages. 
Conclusion: Couples’ desire to conceive continues to pose a significant challenge in sub-Saharan Africa, where wealth and strength are sometimes equated to family size, often accompanied by substantial social, psychological, and economic consequences for affected individuals. When IVF treatment cycles are cancelled due to inaccessible oocytes, these burdens are further intensified, sometimes with severe psychological and financial repercussions. To improve outcomes and enhance patient satisfaction and safety, it is essential to prioritize careful patient selection, thorough evaluation of key clinical factors, and the customization of care. In this context, transabdominal oocyte retrieval has been observed to be a potentially safe and necessary intervention. However, the small sample size of 57 patients limits the ability to draw definitive conclusions about its safety and efficacy, and the absence of a control group restricts the ability to compare outcomes relative to transvaginal oocyte retrieval (TVOR) patients.

KEYWORDS

In Vitro Fertilisation Transabdominal Oocyte Retrieval Infertility Obesity Pelvic Masses

CITATION (Vancouver)

Nwogu CM, Omisakin SIOI, Ugwu AO, Adefemi KA, Adenekan MA, Adebayo A, et al. Ultrasound-Guided Trans-Abdominal Oocyte Retrieval During in Vitro Fertilization: Applicability and Safety of a Necessary Intervention in Nigeria. Australian Journal of Biomedical Research. 2026;2(1):aubm014. https://doi.org/10.63946/aubiomed/17981
APA
Nwogu, C. M., Omisakin, S. I. O. I., Ugwu, A. O., Adefemi, K. A., Adenekan, M. A., Adebayo, A., Akinlawon, D. O., Okunade, K. S., Showunmi, S. O., Sunday, O. G., Bola, A., & Sunday, A. A. (2026). Ultrasound-Guided Trans-Abdominal Oocyte Retrieval During in Vitro Fertilization: Applicability and Safety of a Necessary Intervention in Nigeria. Australian Journal of Biomedical Research, 2(1), aubm014. https://doi.org/10.63946/aubiomed/17981
Harvard
Nwogu, C. M., Omisakin, S. I. O. I., Ugwu, A. O., Adefemi, K. A., Adenekan, M. A., Adebayo, A., . . . Sunday, A. A. (2026). Ultrasound-Guided Trans-Abdominal Oocyte Retrieval During in Vitro Fertilization: Applicability and Safety of a Necessary Intervention in Nigeria. Australian Journal of Biomedical Research, 2(1), aubm014. https://doi.org/10.63946/aubiomed/17981
AMA
Nwogu CM, Omisakin SIOI, Ugwu AO, et al. Ultrasound-Guided Trans-Abdominal Oocyte Retrieval During in Vitro Fertilization: Applicability and Safety of a Necessary Intervention in Nigeria. Australian Journal of Biomedical Research. 2026;2(1), aubm014. https://doi.org/10.63946/aubiomed/17981
Chicago
Nwogu, Chidinma Magnus, Sunday Isaac Omisakin Isaac Omisakin, Aloy Okechukwu Ugwu, Kayode Ayodeji Adefemi, Muisi Alli Adenekan, Awoniyi Adebayo, Damilola O. Akinlawon, Kehinde S. Okunade, Solomon Oluseyi Showunmi, Ogoh Godwin Sunday, Adeshina Bola, and Ayeni Abraham Sunday. "Ultrasound-Guided Trans-Abdominal Oocyte Retrieval During in Vitro Fertilization: Applicability and Safety of a Necessary Intervention in Nigeria". Australian Journal of Biomedical Research 2026 2 no. 1 (2026): aubm014. https://doi.org/10.63946/aubiomed/17981
MLA
Nwogu, Chidinma Magnus et al. "Ultrasound-Guided Trans-Abdominal Oocyte Retrieval During in Vitro Fertilization: Applicability and Safety of a Necessary Intervention in Nigeria". Australian Journal of Biomedical Research, vol. 2, no. 1, 2026, aubm014. https://doi.org/10.63946/aubiomed/17981

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