No medical treatment is entirely free from risk and infertility treatment is no exception. It is important, however, to appreciate that most patients go through IVF and other assisted conception treatments without any problems at all.
No medical treatment is entirely free from risk and infertility treatment is no exception. It is important, however, to appreciate that most patients go through IVF and other assisted conception treatments without any problems at all.
The risks associated with infertility treatment can be considered over six categories:
Fertility drug side effects and risks will depend on which medication you’re taking and can vary from very mild to potentially very serious. The most common IVF drug side effects include bloating, headache, breast tenderness and mood swings.
A more concerning condition is ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS). Stimulation of the ovaries is a deliberate aspect of IVF treatment as we try to obtain more eggs than the one that would usually be produced in a normal menstrual cycle. When the ovaries are stimulated there is a possibility of OHSS developing which is an excessive response to the stimulatory drugs used to encourage multiple follicles to form.
After the hormone medication has stimulated the ovaries to produce more eggs, those eggs must be retrieved. Egg collection surgery takes place approximately 36 hours after the injection of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), which signals the follicles to prepare to ovulate.
During ovulation, a follicle expels the egg from the sac, after which it will travel through the fallopian tube to the uterus. Egg collection is scheduled to catch the eggs before they would start this journey, at a point at which they are ready for fertilisation but are still within the follicles and can easily be located.
Risks from the egg retrieval are usually rare as the procedure is performed with ultrasound guidance.
Patients’ treatment in the laboratory may result in an unexpectedly poor outcome both in the process of fertilisation and in embryo development. This can include no eggs/immature eggs collected and abnormal eggs; no sperm or fewer sperm than expected; problems with fertilisation; and problems with cleavage (further development) of the embryo.
While accidents and incidents in the laboratory are extremely uncommon, complications such as eggs or embryos sticking in micropipettes or in the cervix during embryo transfer, accidental spillage of culture dishes or equipment malfunction have all been described and may lead to the loss or compromise to eggs, sperm and embryos. Aria Fertility’s protocols and quality assurance procedures are rigorous, regularly reviewed and designed to minimise problems.
IVF and related treatments increase the likelihood of multiple or an ectopic pregnancy.
Risks of a multiple pregnancy include increased risk of miscarriage and complications such as high blood pressure during pregnancy, higher rate of premature birth and increased risk of Caesarean section.
IVF and related treatments increase the likelihood of an ectopic pregnancy by about twice the normal rate.
To date there have been over a million babies born following IVF and ICSI treatment worldwide. In the UK between 1 and 2% of all babies are conceived following IVF and related cycles.
Concerns have been raised about the possible risk to children born as a result of these treatments because of the preparation of eggs and sperm during the process. Many studies have reported the incidence of a baby with an abnormality, but most have been too small or of insufficient quality to provide a reliable answer and, currently, there is no conclusive data otherwise to link IVF with any specific abnormality.
Treatment for infertility is an emotional ‘rollercoaster’ of expectation, disappointment and success and the marked hormonal changes that occur during the cycle of treatment can create psychological and emotional pressures that can in turn place strain on a relationship.
Support is provided by the staff of the clinic during this difficult time and additionally patients may find counselling beneficial.
When you are ready and the time is right for you, the next step is to contact us and we will help you arrange a face-to-face, telephone or video-call introduction with one of our consultants.
You can do this by filling in the contact form below or by giving one of our friendly team a call on +44 (0) 203 263 6025 or emailing us at admin@ariafertility.co.uk.
Mon – Fri: 9am – 5pm
8 Welbeck Way London W1G 9YL
