Summary & Overview
CPT 58970: Transvaginal Oocyte Retrieval by Needle Aspiration
CPT code 58970 designates oocyte retrieval by transvaginal needle aspiration, a core procedure in in vitro fertilization (IVF) and other assisted reproductive technologies. It involves multiple ovarian punctures to aspirate eggs through a needle introduced usually via the vaginal wall and is a critical step in achieving laboratory fertilization. Nationally, this code represents a high-resource, procedure-driven service with implications for clinical workflow, facility utilization, and coverage policy for infertility care.
Key payers included in scope are Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise explanation of the clinical procedure and typical sites of service, the common diagnostic contexts that justify use, and the billing relationships to closely related laboratory and embryo-transfer codes. The publication summarizes payer coverage patterns, common modifiers used with the code, and how 58970 interacts with adjacent reproductive services such as oocyte processing and embryo transfer.
This resource is intended for revenue cycle professionals, practice managers, and clinical leaders seeking a national-level briefing on coding and billing context for oocyte retrieval. It covers clinical context, typical billing pathways, links to related procedure codes used in assisted fertilization workflows, and the diagnoses that commonly accompany claims for 58970.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 58970 describes a transvaginal, needle-based procedure in which the provider creates multiple punctures in an ovary to retrieve oocytes for laboratory fertilization. This procedure is performed as part of assisted reproductive techniques and involves percutaneous access to ovarian follicles, typically via the vaginal wall under ultrasound guidance.
Service Type: Oocyte retrieval for assisted reproductive technology
Typical Site of Service: Hospital outpatient or ambulatory surgical center (procedure room) or fertility clinic procedure suite
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A 34-year-old woman with a three-year history of infertility secondary to polycystic ovarian syndrome (E28.2) presents to a reproductive endocrinology clinic for in vitro fertilization (IVF). Her prior evaluation included semen analysis for her partner and baseline fertility testing (Z31.41). The care team performs controlled ovarian hyperstimulation with serial transvaginal ultrasounds and serum estradiol monitoring. When multiple mature follicles are identified, the patient is scheduled for transvaginal ultrasound-guided oocyte retrieval (CPT 58970).
On the day of the procedure, the patient is placed under monitored anesthesia care in an outpatient ambulatory surgery center. Under ultrasound guidance, the provider introduces a needle through the vaginal wall into each mature follicle, aspirates follicular fluid, and retrieves oocytes for laboratory fertilization. Post-procedure recovery includes monitoring for bleeding, infection, and ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, with discharge instructions and a planned follow-up for embryo transfer (CPT 58974) or additional laboratory procedures as indicated.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|