What are the risks attached with IVF treatment process?

IVF is a form of assisted reproduction in which a man's sperm and a woman's eggs are mixed in a laboratory dish to form an embryo. One or more fertilized eggs (embryos) may be placed into the uterus of the woman, where they will implant and develop in the uterine lining.

On the other side, IVF doesn’t bring along any serious side effects from related medication and treatment options. There are, however, certain risks associated with this therapy, as with any other medical procedure. Goral Gandhi, one of the most talked about IVF expert around, throws further light on the same notion.

What are the possible side effects of IVF medications?

In most IVF cycles, injectable fertility drugs (gonadotropins) are employed. These medications aid in the growth of a number of follicles containing eggs in the ovaries. The following are some of the possible negative effects of injectable fertility medications:

• Mild bruising and pain at the injection site are to be expected (using different sites for the injections can help)

• Nausea and, on rare occasions, vomiting

• Temporary allergic responses at the injection site, such as skin reddening and/or itching

• Increased vaginal discharge and breast soreness

• Mood swings and exhaustion

• Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome

As indicated by Goral Gandhi Mumbai, the majority of OHSS symptoms (nausea, bloating, and ovarian pain) are moderate. They normally go away on their own after a few days after the eggs are collected. OHSS can cause huge volumes of fluid to build up in the abdomen (belly) and lungs in extreme instances. This can result in enlargement of the ovaries, dehydration, breathing difficulties, and severe stomach discomfort.

OHSS can cause blood clots and renal failure in a small percentage of women who have egg retrieval for IVF. See the ASRM fact sheet ovarian hyper stimulation syndrome for additional information on OHSS (OHSS).

Several decades ago, research revealed a relationship between ovarian cancer and the use of reproductive drugs. More recent and well-conducted studies, on the other hand, no longer demonstrate obvious links between ovarian cancer and the use of reproductive medicines.

What are the potential risks attached with egg retrieval?

As indicated by Goral Gandhi IVF, Your doctor will use vaginal ultrasonography to guide the insertion of a long, thin needle through your vagina into the ovary and then into each follicle to extract eggs during the egg retrieval procedure. The following are some of the dangers associated with this procedure:

• Pelvic and abdominal discomfort that ranges from mild to significant (during or after). The discomfort usually goes away in a day or two and may be handled with over-the-counter pain relievers.

• Organs near the ovaries, such as the bladder, intestine, or blood arteries, might be injured. Injury to the colon or a blood artery can necessitate emergency surgery and, on rare occasions, blood transfusions.

• Because antibiotics are routinely provided at the time of egg collection, pelvic infections after egg retrieval or embryo transfer are now uncommon. Severe infections may necessitate hospitalization and/or intravenous antibiotic therapy.

• Surgery to remove one or both of the ovaries and tubes, as well as the uterus, may be necessary in rare cases to treat a serious infection. IVF-related infections are more prevalent in women who have had pelvic infections or endometriosis impacting the ovaries.

Ectopic pregnancy and miscarriage

According to Goral Gandhi, miscarriage rates after IVF are similar to those after spontaneous conception, with the risk increasing with the mother's age. Miscarriage rates can range from 15% for women in their twenties to more than 50% for those in their forties.

With IVF, there is a modest chance of an ectopic (tubal) pregnancy (1%), although this likelihood is similar to that of women with a history of infertility. If a woman has an ectopic pregnancy, she may be given medications to stop it or surgery to remove it. If you're pregnant and you're having severe, stabbing pains, vaginal spotting or bleeding, dizziness or fainting, lower back discomfort, or low blood pressure (from blood loss), and you haven't had an ultrasound to confirm the pregnancy, call your doctor right once.

All of these symptoms, as per Goral Gandhi IVF, point to an ectopic pregnancy. After IVF, there is a 1% chance of a heterotopic pregnancy. A simultaneous ectopic pregnancy occurs when one embryo implants and grows in the uterus while another embryo implants and grows in the tube. Heterotopic pregnancies almost always need surgery (to remove the ectopic pregnancy). After the tubal pregnancy is removed, the pregnancy in the womb may usually continue to develop and expand safely.