How Can OHSS Complicate Your IVF Treatment?
Many fertility treatments use medications that are designed to stimulate a woman’s reproductive system. The stimulation is often medically needed in order to aid a woman in ovulation. Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, commonly referred to as OHSS, can occur when a woman’s body becomes overstimulated, resulting is discomfort and pain.
Symptoms of OHSS
The symptoms of OHSS can range greatly between individuals, even those who receive the same dosage. Symptoms of OHSS include:
- Pain in the abdomen
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Pain or tenderness in the lower abdomen
- Vaginal bleeding
The symptoms above are typically mild to moderate and resolve themselves within about a week. The condition can also become severe and have other symptoms including:
- Gaining weight quickly, up to ten pounds in a few days
- Pain in the abdomen that is severe
- Nausea and/or vomiting that gets worse
- Feeling short of breath
- Having abnormally dark urine
- Urinating less frequently
OHSS and Fertility Treatment
Monitoring throughout the fertility treatment process helps fertility experts to react quickly to changes in the body. This can help to avoid OHSS. When the condition is not caught in time, or the OHSS occurs quickly, severe complications can result including:
- Collecting fluid within the body
- Having abnormal levels of electrolytes
- Blood clots
- Failure of one or both kidneys
- Breathing problems
- Rupturing ovarian cysts
Because of the seriousness of the above, fertility centers may cancel treatment protocols if a woman is suspected to have OHSS. Treating the condition immediately can reduce the likelihood of the condition becoming serious. Depending on the severity of the issue, an IVF cycle may need to be halted until a woman’s body returns to normal. This can mean that a woman will need to do a frozen rather than a fresh embryo transfer. For women who develop OHSS, the cycle may need to be halted before egg retrieval occurs.
For additional information on how to avoid OHSS, including the use of more holistic IVF protocols, contact a member of our team today. Please click the link below to enter your information and New Hope will contact you, or simply call 212-517-7676. Thank You.
