6. Complications of IVF            

Assisted conception, which includes IVF as well as other methods, such as GIFT, ZIFT, blastocysts culture and ICSI, were described above. These are successful ways for achieving pregnancy when nature fails. As with many other types of medical treatment, there is a possibility of side effects, which can sometimes be serious.

The first danger lies in the stimulation of the ovaries to obtain more than one egg. The hazard is known as "ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome"(OHSS), which describes the combination of huge enlargement of the ovaries, a large collection of fluid in the abdomen (and sometimes in the chest) nausea, vomiting and coagulation problems.

OHSS is not uncommon in its mild degree, and usually settles with rest. If there is vomiting or if fluid needs to be removed from the abdomen or chest it is necessary for hospital observation and treatment. This happens in about 1-in-200 to 1-in-500 stimulations.

The second, more or less immediate, unwanted effect is the risk of multiple pregnancies. Twins are usually welcomed. Triplets are quit difficult in their management even if the pregnancy itself goes uneventfully. Quadruplets and higher order multiples are very difficult in there management with many complication during pregnancy. To avoid this result the number of transferred embryos should cautiously be judged and in general not to transfer more than 3-4 embryos.

In IVF pregnancies there is an increase in the risk of premature delivery and low birth weight. There is no appreciable increase in the risk of birth abnormalities. Studies have shown that children born from IVF achieve their milestones at least as efficiently as children conceived normally do.

There is about a 15% to 20% chance that an IVF pregnancy will end as a miscarriage. The risk is higher in older women. There is a 5% or so chance that it will be ectopic -implanting in the fallopian tube instead of the uterus. Pregnancies from IVF do not appear to have increase congenital abnormalities (the chance is approximately 2%).