IVF Risks

IVF has come a long way since the first successful IVF pregnancy in 1976. Since then, there has been numerous IVF research focused on the knowledge and technology to increasing pregnancy rate. IVF has been monumental in helping so many who may not have been able to conceive and have babies without it, however, IVF is not without is risks an adverse effects, and there are still so much that is not known.

What are the risks associated with the IVF process?

• Experiencing side effects from medications (e.g., injection site reaction, nausea, mood changes, ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome)

• Egg retrieval complications

• Embryo transfer adverse effects

• Multiple pregnancies and possible complications

How does IVF pregnancy risks and complications compare to spontaneous pregnancies?

• In a meta-analysis comprising 12,283 singleton infants of women who underwent IVF and 1.9 million singleton infants of women who had spontaneous pregnancies, and after adjusting for maternal age, IVF pregnancies showed higher odds of the following:

  • Perinatal mortality

  • Preterm delivery

  • Low birth weight

  • Very low birth weight

  • Small-for-gestational-age status

• In another study looking at the first and second trimester, IVF was associated with a statistically significant increase in:

  • Preeclampsia

  • Gestational hypertension

  • Placental abruption

  • Placenta previa

  • Risk of cesarean delivery

• It has been reported that subchorionic hematoma was significantly higher in the IVF pregnancies than non-IVF pregnancies

Does subchorionic hematoma increase the risk of pregnancy loss?

• There are ongoing studies to help understand what causes subchorionic hematomas, and if they carry a higher pregnancy loss rate compared to those without

• Currently, the evidence that is available is insufficient to conclude if subchorionic hematomas DO or DO NOT increase pregnancy loss