IVF: side effects
Typical side effects include:
- Passing a small
amount of clear or bloody fluid shortly after the procedure — due to the
swabbing of the cervix before the embryo transfer
- Breast
tenderness due to high estrogen levels
- Mild bloating
- Mild cramping
- Constipation
If you develop moderate or severe pain
after the embryo transfer, contact your doctor. He or she will evaluate you for complications such as infection,
twisting of an ovary (ovarian torsion) and severe ovarian hyperstimulation
syndrome.
About 12 days to two weeks after egg retrieval,
your doctor will test a sample of your blood to detect whether you’re pregnant.
- If you’re pregnant, your doctor will refer you to an
obstetrician or another pregnancy specialist for prenatal care.
- If you’re not pregnant, you’ll stop taking progesterone and
likely get your period within a week. If you don’t get your period or you
have unusual bleeding, contact your doctor. If you’re interested in
attempting another cycle of in vitro fertilization (IVF), your doctor might suggest steps you can
take to improve your chances of getting pregnant through IVF.
The chances of giving birth to a healthy
baby after using IVF depend on various factors, including:
- Maternal age. The younger you are, the more likely
you are to get pregnant and give birth to a healthy baby using your own
eggs during IVF. Women age 41 and older are often counseled to consider
using donor eggs during IVF to increase the chances of success.
- Embryo status. Transfer of embryos that are more
developed is associated with higher pregnancy rates compared with less
developed embryos (day two or three). However, not all embryos survive the
development process. Talk with your doctor or another care provider about
your specific situation.
- Reproductive history. Women who’ve previously given birth
are more likely to be able to get pregnant using IVF than are women who’ve
never given birth. Success
rates are lower for
women who’ve previously used IVF multiple times but didn’t get pregnant.
- Cause of infertility. Having a normal supply of eggs
increases your chances of being able to get pregnant using IVF. Women who
have severe endometriosis are less likely to be able to get pregnant using
IVF than are women who have unexplained infertility(more…).
- Lifestyle factors. Women who smoke typically have fewer
eggs retrieved during IVF and may miscarry more often. Smoking can lower a
woman’s chance of success using IVF by 50 percent. Obesity can decrease
your chances of getting pregnant and having a baby. Use of alcohol,
recreational drugs, excessive caffeine, and certain medications also can
be harmful.
Talk with our doctors about any factors
that apply to you and how they may affect your chances of a successful
pregnancy.