WHAT PROBLEMS MAY ARISE

Our experience and expertise provide you with the highest level of safety during your fertility treatment. However, as with any medical intervention, some procedures involved in artificial fertilization are not entirely risk-free.

POSSIBLE RISKS OF HORMONAL STIMULATION

Hormonal stimulation of the ovaries is closely monitored at the Fleetinsel Fertility Clinic Hamburg using high-resolution ultrasound equipment. However, in rare cases, overstimulation may occur. Specifically, this means that the ovaries produce a large number of oversized follicles. During such phases, couples should avoid sexual intercourse as the risk of multiple pregnancies increases significantly.

In severe cases of overstimulation, the ovaries enlarge, and the developed follicles produce excessive hormones. Symptoms may include nausea or severe abdominal pain. In very rare cases, patients may require hospitalization.

POSSIBLE RISKS AND DIFFERENT COURSES OF IN VITRO FERTILIZATION

MULTIPLE PREGNANCY

Depending on the age of the woman and the number of embryos inserted, the risk of a multiple pregnancy increases with in vitro fertilization. We therefore recommend that patients under 35 years of age transfer one or a maximum of two embryos into the uterine cavity. Nevertheless, the probability of a twin pregnancy after artificial insemination is increased in all age groups and is between 16 and 18 percent. Even if only one embryo is returned, an identical twin pregnancy can develop.

Multiple pregnancies are riskier for mother and children than pregnancies with just one child and more often end in premature birth. In Hamburg – in addition to the nationwide law, which generally allows the transfer of a maximum of three embryos – there is a special regulation from the medical association: In order to avoid multiple pregnancies, a maximum of two embryos may be used for women under 35 years of age and up to three embryos for women over 35 years of age.

ECTOPIC PREGBABCIES

Another, albeit low, risk is ectopic pregnancies: in two percent of cases, embryos inserted into the uterine cavity migrate back into the fallopian tubes. If the embryo implants there, an ectopic pregnancy occurs, which must be terminated either surgically or hormonally.

TREATMENT CYCLE WITHOUT EMBRYO RETURN

In less than ten percent of fertility treatments, no embryos can be inserted into the body. For example, if no or only immature egg cells are found during the follicular puncture, if there are no mature sperm cells from the man on the day of the puncture, the egg cell was not fertilized or further cell division in fertilized egg cells has not occurred.

RISK OF MISSBIRTH

Around 16 percent of pregnancies that occur nationwide after in vitro fertilization end in miscarriage. Compared to natural pregnancies, the rate is slightly higher. This is not least because couples who want to have children are on average older and the risk of miscarriage naturally increases.

THE CHILD’S HEALTH

The child’s health is our top priority. Unfortunately, the risk of a genetically inherited or spontaneous malformation and stillbirth cannot be completely ruled out. Couples who want to have children are often unsure whether fertility treatment itself can lead to deformities in their child. Many studies, including the most comprehensive data analysis to date by the Australian working group led by Michael J. Davies*, show that there is no increased risk of malformations due to artificial insemination via in vitro fertilization. The rate of malformations is slightly increased in children conceived through intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). However, the scientists do not attribute the cause to the method used, but to the genetic makeup of the parents themselves.

*Michael J. Davies, M.P.H., Ph.D. Vivienne M. Moore and M.P.H., Ph.D., Kristyn J. Willson et al.: Reproductive Technologies and the Risk of Birth Defects. In: New England Journal of Medicine 2012; 366: 1803-1813. May 10, 2012.

The hormonal stimulation of the ovaries is closely monitored at the Kinderwunsch Praxisklinik Fleetinsel Hamburg using a high-resolution ultrasound device. However, in rare cases overstimulation can occur. Specifically, this means: The ovaries produce a lot of very large egg follicles. During such a phase, couples should definitely avoid sexual intercourse, as the risk of a multiple pregnancy is significantly increased.

If severe overstimulation occurs, the ovaries enlarge and the follicles that have grown develop too many hormones. Nausea or severe abdominal pain are possible consequences. In very rare cases, patients have to be treated as inpatients in hospital.