Study results published in the journal “Human Reproduction” discovered that there was a strong link between the number of eggs taken from a woman’s ovaries during an IVF (in-vitro fertilization) cycle and the chances of having a live birth as a result.

Researchers found that doctors should aim to take out around 15 eggs per cycle to maximize the chances of a live birth while at the same time minimizing the risk of over stimulating the ovaries so the woman doesn’t have to deal with OHSS (ovarian hyper stimulation syndrome).

According to experts, infertility is something that affects around one in seven couples around the world. They say that hundreds of thousands of IVF cycles take place very single year in the hopes of these couples being able to have a baby of their own.

The entire IVF process happens by doctors surgically removing eggs from ovaries and mixing them with sperm to create embryos in a lab. Once the embryos have developed a little bit, doctors pick the best ones and implant them back into the uterus.

The best chances of a live birth happen between 15 and 20 eggs, after which the risk of OHSS becomes even higher. Side effects of OHSS include swelling, vomiting, nausea, abdominal pain, and in some severe cases it can be life-threatening.