Risks associated with fertility treatments

Like all medical treatments, IVF carries some risks and your clinic should discuss these with you before you go ahead with treatment. Risks can include reactions to fertility drugs that may be prescribed, and also the risks associated with any pregnancy.

Drug reactions

You may experience a mild reaction to fertility drugs such as ovulation-inducing drugs, pituitary stimulators and ovary-stimulating hormones. Discuss these in advance with our doctor, so that you know what a ‘normal’ reaction is. Symptoms can include any of the following: hot flushes, nausea, feeling down or irritable, headaches or restlessness, weight gain and heavy periods.

Ovarian-hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS)

This is a potentially dangerous over-reaction to fertility drugs used to stimulate egg production before your eggs are collected for IVF treatment. Cysts develop in the ovaries and fluid collects in the stomach. In rare case (about 1-2% of patients), the ovaries become very swollen and fluid can fill the stomach and chest cavities. A fall in the concentration of red blood cells can lead to blood clots. Blood flow to the kidneys may also be reduced. Symptoms include a swollen stomach and stomach pains. In severe cases, this is accompanied by vomiting, shortness of breath, faintness and reduced urine. OHSS is potentially very serious, so if you start to experience any of these symptoms, contact your clinic immediately

Multiple births

Having a multiple birth (twins, triplets or more) is the single greatest health risk associated with fertility treatment. This is why the HFEA has imposed restrictions on the number of embryos that can be transferred in IVF to a maximum of two for women under the age of 40 and a maximum of read more