Risks associated with treatment

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 your 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. 

For more information about the drugs that may be prescribed, see pages 18 and 19 of the HFEA Guide to Infertility.

Ovarian hyper-stimulation 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 cases, 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. An HFEA report in 2005 found that severe OHSS occurs in approximately 1% of cycles.

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. 

Find out more about Ovarian hyper-stimulation syndrome.

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 three for women aged 40 or over who are using their own eggs (if you are using donated eggs, the maximum is two). 

Multiple births carry risks to both the health of the mother and to the health of the unborn babies.  The babies are more likely to be premature and to have a below-normal birth weight.  Studies show that the risk of death before birth, or within the first week of life, is more than four times greater for twins than for a single baby (sometimes called a ´singleton'.).  For triplets, the risk is seven times greater than for a single baby. 

The risk of cerebral palsy is five times higher for twins and 18 times higher for triplets than for a single baby.  Your clinic should discuss these risks with you when deciding how many embryos to transfer in your treatment.  For more about the risks of multiple births visit Oneatatime.org.uk

Ectopic pregnancy

This is when an embryo develops in your fallopian tube rather than in the womb, and can happen in a natural pregnancy or when you have become pregnant through fertility treatment.  The chances of having an ectopic pregnancy seem to be slightly higher in women having fertility treatment, especially if you have existing problems that affect your fallopian tubes.  Symptoms include vaginal bleeding and low pregnancy hormone levels.  If the pregnancy continues, there is a risk of miscarriage and the fallopian tube bursting. 

Report any vaginal bleeding or stomach pain to your clinic.  They can do a blood test to check your hormone levels.  You should have a scan at six weeks to check for the baby's heartbeat and to make sure it is growing properly in the womb.