What you need to know:
- IVF is one of the best options for treating infertility, but there are several risks that must be considered.
- Miscarriage, ectopic abnormalities, multiple pregnancies, mental stress, and Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome (OHSS) are risks that can occur when undergoing IVF.
For those who are having infertility problems, IVF (IVF) is one of the best options for conceiving children. However, please note that the IVF program is not completely risk-free. IVF can cause problems for the mother or baby such as:
Miscarriage
Every pregnancy has a risk of miscarriage, but this risk increases in IVF pregnancies, especially at older ages. At the age of under 35 years with a healthy embryo, the risk of miscarriage is 10-15%. This risk increases at age 35-39 years to 20-30% and at age over 40 years to 30 to 50%.
Apart from that, other factors that must be considered are baby factors, such as chromosomal abnormalities, organ abnormalities.
Ectopic pregnancy
The IVF pregnancy program slightly increases the risk of ectopic pregnancy or pregnancy outside the womb. Symptoms that can arise are abdominal pain, bleeding with dark blood. Therefore, it is important to confirm the location of the pregnancy. The doctor will confirm via ultrasound in the sixth week.
Giving birth to twins
If during the IVF process there is more than one embryo inserted into the uterus, it does not rule out the possibility that the pregnancy that occurs is a twin pregnancy.
Pregnant with twins is certainly a happy thing, but it also increases the risk of complications for the mother and baby. Complications for mothers include miscarriage, hypertension in pregnancy, preeclampsia, diabetes in pregnancy, anemia. Complications that may occur in babies are premature birth, low birth weight, life-threatening conditions such as difficulty breathing at birth, disabilities such as cerebral palsy. However, the risk of complications presented does not always occur, depending on the condition of each individual.
The American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) advises doctors and patients to only perform single-embryo transfers (implanting only one embryo) to minimize the chance of multiple pregnancy.
Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS)
Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) is a rare complication. This condition is caused by sensitivity to the drugs used for IVF programs. If too many egg cells are formed, it can cause symptoms such as bloating, abdominal pain, shortness of breath, weakness.
According to the NHS, around 33% of women undergoing infertility therapy will experience mild OHSS. However, OHSS conditions that are too severe can be dangerous. Consult immediately if you experience something similar.
Stress
For most couples undergoing IVF, this procedure is the last option to overcome infertility. Not only that, IVF is quite expensive.
Thus, the IVF program will have a large financial, physical and emotional impact. Couples undergoing IVF programs will really need support from counselors, family and close friends.
Source
Guidance on the limits to the number of embryos to transfer tv er: a committee opinion . (2021). American Society for Reproductive Medicine. Retrieved July 9, 2024, from https://www.asrm.org/practice-guidance/practice-committee-documents/guidance-on-the-limits-to-the-number-of-embryos-to-transfer-a ---committee-opinion-2021/
IVF risks . (2021, October 18). IVF - NHS. Retrieved July 9, 2024, from https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/ivf/risks/
Kallen, A. (2022, June 23). IVF twins: How common are they? Flo. Accessed July 9, 2024, from https://flo.health/getting-pregnant/trouble-conceiving/fertility-treatments/ivf-twins