Fertility Treatment - Risks

Procedures which are connected with hormonal stimulation in particular harbor the danger of multiple pregnancies as well as the risk of the formation of ovarian cysts due to ovarian overreaction. In the presence of excess matured follicular vesicles, these can be sucked up along with the ova found within them; in exceptional cases, the truncation of a cycle prior to ovulation is unavoidable.

When pregnancy occurs after one of the above described treatment methods, all potential complications that would accompany a "normal" pregnancy are possible. These can include, for example, miscarriage or tubular pregnancy. The risk for such complications varies from woman to woman.

The risk of the occurrence of miscarriage cannot be ruled out. According to current discussions, the risk of miscarriage of a child procreated via IVF or ICSI is slightly higher than a child conceived using natural methods. This increased risk hovers in the area of one-tenth of one percent and should not be ascribed to the methods, but rather the genetic and personal conditions of the parents with fertility issues.

Risk factors for complications are, among other things, advanced age, being overweight, female diabetes mellitus, intermarriage, genetic irregularities in a partner or among relatives, the previous birth of children with congenital conditions or incidents among relatives, one's state of health after radiation therapy or chemotherapy, poor nutrition, or smoking during pregnancy.

Like any normal operation, the operative procedures described here harbor general operational risks. In very rare cases, follicle penetration can lead to vaginal bleeding, intestinal injuries, or infection of the abdomen.²

The doctor who is treating you will clarify these and further possible risks in greater detail.

Please do not forget to educate yourself specifically on everything related to the ethical foundations and the legal situation regarding the topic of reproductive medicine

Sources:
¹ Nationmaster.com
² German Federal Association of Reproductive Medical Centres e.V.
³ University Women's Clinic of the Munich-Grosshadern University Hospital
⁴ University of Frankfurt Clinical Centre