What Does IVF do to your Body
In Vitro Fertilization, or IVF, is when a woman’s eggs are removed from her body and mixed with sperm in the laboratory to make embryos. These embryos grow in the laboratory for several days and are then transferred back into the woman’s uterus. Fortunately, serious complications from IVF medicines and procedures are rare, but as with anything in life, there are some possible side effects.
IVF medicines
In order to take out a reasonable number of eggs from the body at one time (which increases overall success rates), IVF involves taking hormone injections that stimulate multiple eggs to grow. These hormones are called gonadotropins and their side effects can include:
Mild bruising and soreness at the injection site
Nausea (rarely vomiting)
Allergic reactions
Breast tenderness
Stomach upset
Increased vaginal discharge
Mood swings and irritability
Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS symptoms can be mild and include nausea, bloating, ovarian discomfort or they can be severe and cause large amounts of fluid to build up in the abdomen (belly) and lungs, dehydration, trouble breathing, severe abdominal pain, kidney failure, and blood clots. Severe OHSS is very rare and minimized with the appropriate use of medications)
Early reports suggested a link between ovarian cancer and breast cancer with the use of fertility medicines. Fortunately, better and more recent studies no longer show these associations
Egg Retrieval
In order to remove the eggs, a long, thin needle is inserted through the vagina and into the ovary under ultrasound guidance. This procedure is done in the office using a vaginal ultrasound for guidance and under anesthesia so you won’t have any pain. The complication rates from an egg retrieval are very very low. They include:
Mild to moderate pelvic and abdominal pain
Injury to organs near the ovaries, such as the bladder, bowel, or blood vessels which can equire emergency surgery and blood transfusions
Pelvic infection
Embryo Transfer
A catheter containing the embryos is used to gently place them into the uterus. Women may feel mild cramping with the catheter, they may have vaginal spotting, and very rarely, an infection may occur.
About Reproductive Health and Wellness Center
RHWC is a botique fertility clinic in Orange County, that combines innovative fertility medical treatments like IVF with fertility wellness like acupuncture. Fertility clinic, offering virtual consultations nights & weekends. IVF, IUI, ICSI, egg freezing, LGBTQ fertility and fertility wellness are some of the fertility treatments they offer . Dr. Marcus Rosencrantz, founder of RHWC, was selected Top Fertility Doctor by Medical Association in 2020.
At Reproductive Health and Wellness Center, we are experts at treating fertility issues. We provide the latest in cutting-edge embryo science by using the latest technologies, and we create innovative fertility plans tailored specifically to each individual. But we’re so much more.
