What Are the Risks of In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)?

1. In Vitro Fertilization (IVF): What Are the Risks? IVF is a form of assisted reproduction where a man's sperm and a woman's eggs are combined outside of the body in a lab dish. One or more fertilized eggs (embryos) may be placed in the woman's uterus, where they may mature and implant in the uterine lining. It's rare for IVF treatments and procedures to have serious negative effects. However, risks are there throughout every medical operation. This article covers the threats that are most common. Which adverse effects are possible with IVF medications? For an IVF cycle, injectable fertility drugs called gonadotropins are often utilized. These drugs encourage the development of several egg-bearing follicles in the ovaries. The ASRM brochure, Medications for promoting ovulation, has a more in-depth review on fertility drugs. The following are possible adverse effects of injectable fertility medications: Soreness and some bruising at the injection site (using different sites for the injections can help) Vomiting and occasionally, nausea adverse responses that only last a short time, including skin redness or itchiness where the injection was made increased vaginal discharge and pain in the breasts mood changes and exhaustion Syndrome of ovarian hyperstimulation (OHSS) The majority of the nausea, bloating, and ovarian pain symptoms of OHSS are moderate. Usually, they disappear on their own a few days following the egg gathering. In extreme circumstances, OHSS can

2. result in significant fluid buildup in the lungs and belly. Dehydration, breathing difficulties, severely enlarged ovaries, and severe stomach discomfort can all result from this. In a very small percentage of women undergoing egg retrieval for IVF (less than 1%), OHSS can result in blood clots and renal failure. Consult the ASRM fact sheet on ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome for further details on OHSS (OHSS). Always choose the best IVF center in Chandigarh. What are the potential dangers of egg retrieval? Your doctor will use vaginal ultrasonography to help guide the placement of a long, thin needle into each follicle of your ovary during the egg retrieval procedure. Risks associated with this technique include: Most of the time, taking over-the-counter pain relievers will help you get through the discomfort, which often goes away in a day or two. injury to blood arteries, the bladder, or other organs close to the ovaries Very infrequently, blood transfusions and emergency surgery may be needed for intestine or blood vessel injuries. Infection of the womb (mild to severe). Due to the prevalent practice of administering antibiotic medications at the time of egg collection, pelvic infections during egg retrieval or embryo transfer are now quite rare. A severe infection might need to be treated with intravenous antibiotics or hospitalization. Rarely, surgery may be necessary to remove one or both of the ovaries, the fallopian tubes, and/or the uterus in order to treat a serious infection. What are the dangers of transferring an embryo? The embryos are carefully inserted into the uterus using a catheter (womb). When the catheter is put through the cervix, some women may have minor cramping, and some women may experience vaginal spotting (slight bleeding) subsequently. An infection can very infrequently occur, although it is often treatable with antibiotics. Will my pregnancy be more difficult (than if I had naturally conceived) if I had an IVF pregnancy? With IVF, especially when more than one embryo is transferred, the likelihood of having a multiple pregnancy (pregnancy with more than one kid) increases. These pregnancies come with serious dangers, such as: Preterm labor and/or delivery: Infants who are born prematurely are more likely to experience health issues such cerebral palsy, intestinal infections, intellectual difficulties, language delays, and behavioral issues, regardless of whether they were conceived naturally or through IVF. maternal bleeding delivery by a c-section (C-section) hypertension connected to pregnancy pregnancy diabetes

3. The more embryos that are transferred into the uterus, the greater the risk. Your doctor should transfer the minimum number of embryos necessary to provide a high likelihood of pregnancy with the lowest risk of multiple pregnancy. For more information about multiple pregnancy, see the ASRM booklet titled Multiple pregnancy and birth: twins, triplets and high order multiples. One way to avoid multiple pregnancy is to choose to transfer only one embryo at a time. For more information about this, see the ASRM fact sheet Why Would I Choose to Have Elective Single-embryo Transfer (ESET)? Will IVF raise my child's chance of having a birth defect? Infertile patients have a slightly higher risk of birth abnormalities than the general population, which has a rate of 2%–3%. The main reason for infertility and the delay in conception are what cause the majority of this risk. The question of whether IVF alone is to blame for birth abnormalities is still being researched. However, there may be a higher risk of birth abnormalities when intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) is used in conjunction with IVF. ICSI may also slightly raise the likelihood of faulty sex chromosomes (X or Y chromosomes). It is unclear, though, whether these hazards are brought on by the ICSI process itself or issues with the sperm. Chromosome abnormalities are more common in men with defective sperm and can be passed on to offspring. These illnesses are quite rare, though. With IVF, the risk of rare genetic diseases known as imprinting disorders may slightly rise. Obstetric ectopic pregnancy and miscarriage The likelihood of miscarriage increases with mother's age, and the rate after IVF is comparable to the rate after spontaneous conception. Miscarriage rates can range from 15% in women in their 20s to more than 50% in women in their 40s. With IVF, there is a modest chance of an ectopic (tubal) pregnancy (1%), although this probability is comparable to that of women who have had infertility in the past. A woman may get medication to stop the pregnancy or surgery to remove it if an ectopic pregnancy develops. If you are pregnant and have not had an ultrasound to confirm that the baby is in the uterus, call your doctor right away if you suffer a sharp, stabbing pain, vaginal spotting or bleeding, dizziness or fainting, lower back discomfort, or low blood pressure (from blood loss). All of them indicate a potential ectopic pregnancy. After IVF, there is a 1% chance of having a heterotopic pregnancy.