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Complications and
Disappointments
Fertility treatment
can be extremely demanding, both physically and emotionally, so it is
important to understand the problems and difficulties which can arise. The
time following treatment is perhaps the most difficult part of the whole
procedure for couples. Only time will reveal whether a pregnancy has been
achieved and ultimately whether this will lead to a successful birth.
Even in fully fertile
couples when intercourse has taken place at the correct time, pregnancy
probably occurs in only 15% of cycles. While using more than one egg will
improve the chances of success, in practice numerous other adverse factors
probably offset this advantage. If the procedure has been unsuccessful, a
period will normally start within two weeks. A sensitive pregnancy test can
be performed just before the expected period and by five weeks following the
procedure an ultrasound scan can be carried out to assess the pregnancy.
The main reasons for
failure of IVF are as follows:
- The
ovaries may not respond to the stimulation medication.
- Ovulation
may occasionally occur before the eggs can be collected. (This is
virtually unknown using current drug programmes).
- Egg
collection may not take place if the response is excessive.
- The
ovaries may not be accessible for egg collection. The egg collection may
not produce any eggs.
- The eggs
may fail to fertilise.
- The
fertilised eggs may fail to divide.
- Embryo
transfer may not go ahead due to OHSS.
- The
embryos may fail to implant in the uterus and a menstrual period occurs
Complications are
rare following egg collection and usually only amount to some slight
bleeding or minor pain or discomfort for a couple of days following the
procedure. However, it is important to be aware of potential complications
which may include:-
1. Pain or bleeding following
the egg collection.
2. Complications of the
anaesthesia, which may occur in any operation
3. Miscarriage, which can be as
high as 20 to 25%, or rarely an ectopic (tubal) pregnancy.
4. Over-stimulation of the
ovaries, in its more severe form is known as “ovarian hyperstimulation
syndrome” (OHSS). |
