Are you considering infertility treatments? Infertility affects up to 10% of couples trying to conceive. Fortunately for many couples facing infertility, there are options to help them. Depending on the cause of infertility, a variety of treatments may be available. The downside is that some of these are painful or produce undesirable side effects, and some may be costly. Below are some risks and side effects of infertility treatments. Talk to your doctor and weigh potential risks against the benefits of infertility treatments before making a decision about your individual case.
Risks Associated with Infertility Treatments
Multiples: The increased chance of having multiple babies is one of the most widely recognized side effects of infertility treatments. Although desirable for some couples, multiples increase the risk of complications with both mother and babies, including miscarriage, hemorrhage, a higher risk of preeclampsia, gestational diabetes and anemia, among others. Multiples may also cause financial or emotional strain.
Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome: Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome, or OHSS, can be anything from a mild to life-threatening condition that occurs with several fertility treatments, including in vitro fertilization and artificial insemination. OHSS occurs when the ovaries become swollen and painful. Signs of OHSS include pain, a bloated feeling and mild abdominal swelling. Sometimes ovarian cysts form and fluid may collect in the abdominal cavity. Occasionally with OHSS, fluid will gather in the abdominal cavity and chest, causing abdominal swelling, a shortness of breath and a reduction in urine produced. With these extreme cases it is important to get to a hospital immediately because of the life-threatening risk that OHSS can pose.
Side Effects of Infertility Treatments
Clomiphene: This is a fertility drug in the form of a pill that regulates reproductive hormones and generates the release of eggs during ovulation. Side effects from Clomiphene may include cramping, bloating, headaches, hot flashes, breast tenderness, blurred vision and sometimes, but rarely, hair loss. Clomiphene may also result in multiples.
Gonadotropins: Like Clomiphene, Gonadotropins regulate reproductive hormones and aid in the release of eggs. Gonadotropins may also result in multiples. Other side effects include an absence of periods, mood swings, vaginal dryness, loss of bone density, acne, increased cholesterol level, bloating, rashes and soreness.
In vitro fertilization (IVF): IVF involves having your eggs removed from your ovaries and fertilizing them with your partner's (or donor's) sperm. You may have to take fertility drugs, increasing your chances of multiples or ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome. Infections from surgical procedures are a rare side effect.
Artificial Insemination: This is when a concentrated amount of sperm is injected into your uterus. Before artificial insemination, you may have to take fertility drugs, which can increase the chances that you'll have multiples or develop ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome. Artificial insemination may also cause cramping. Because this is a minimally invasive procedure, there is a lower risk of infection than there is with IVF.
Laparoscopy: Laparoscopy is a fertility test that looks at a woman's pelvic organs to find cysts, scar tissue, fibroids and infections. Laparoscopy is performed under anesthesia, which carries risks of life-threatening allergic reactions. Potential side effects from the procedure itself include bleeding, infection, and injury to the bladder, bowel or a blood vessel. Laparoscopy will generally not be done if you have abdominal cancer, an abdominal hernia or have had previous abdominal surgeries.
Egg Retrieval: This procedure is used as part of IVF. It is performed under general anesthesia and is a minimally invasive surgery, so it shares many of the same risks with laparoscopy. Additional risks include bleeding, infection and injury to structures around the ovary.
Hysterosalpingogram: This is an x-ray that looks at the fallopian tubes and inside of the uterus. It may show blockages of the fallopian tubes or problems inside the uterus. There is a small risk of damage being done to the cells because of radiation exposure, although this risk is generally low. Other risks include pelvic infection, endometritis or salpingitis after the test. There is also a small chance of damaging the fallopian tubes or uterus if you suffer an allergic reaction to the dye used for the x-ray. Rare but serious side effects occur when an oil-based dye is used and the oil leaks into the blood. This may lead to a pulmonary embolism.
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