Risks of IVF

In vitro fertilization is a process designed to help women suffering from infertility to be able to conceive, and it is a process that has been proven to help a number of women to conceive more easily. The downside to IVF is that the procedure is not without risks and complications, and the many risks of IVF make it an option that you should consider carefully before committing to. Here are some of the main risks of IVF that you need to know about before you go forward with the IVF process:

Many women will react negatively to the various medications and drugs used in the IVF process. The side effects, while mostly mild, can actually complicate the process and make it dangerous for the woman. These effects include irritability, pain in the head, vomiting, nausea, a bloating of the abdomen caused by too much fluid, lack of breath, restlessness, hot flashes, and hyperstimulation of the ovaries.

Multiple pregnancies are a risk that some women face when opting for the IVF procedure. This is caused by multiple embryos being placed into the woman's womb, rather than just the one that is present in most natural pregnancies. This could lead to the woman being pregnant with twins or triplets, and further risks include hypertension, diabetes, and the multiple infants being born grossly underweight or premature.

Many doctors believe that the various medications used in the IVF process can cause cancerous cells to form in the body. Ovarian cancer has been suspected to be caused by one of the drugs used in the process, but it is also a fact that women who have never conceived have much higher chances of developing cancer in their ovaries than women who have given birth.

There is a small risk that severe hemorrhaging can be caused during the process of removing the eggs. Seeing as the ovaries are located near major blood vessels, the bladder, and the bowels, severe internal bleeding could result if these structures are punctured. The chances of that happening are considered to be .04%.

The needle used to inject the eggs into the ovaries pass through the vaginal wall, and there is a slight chance that infections can be introduced into the ovaries. This process is risky if there are any endometriotic cysts present in the ovaries during the IVF procedure. However, the chances of this happening are considered to be .2%

When women's bodies are too sensitive to the various drugs used in the IVF procedure, there is a risk of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome. OHSS causes more eggs to be produced than the uterus can hold, which can be incredibly painful. Usually women with PCOS are the most likely to develop this complication, though it is not very common. Side effects can include bloating and pain in the lower abdomen, vomiting, nausea, or more severe side effects that can require surgery.

There is a much higher chance of having an ectopic pregnancy using IVF than with natural pregnancies. This can cause internal bleeding in the abdomen or in the vagina.

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