Risks & chances
What are our chances to have a baby?
. It is completely understandable that this question particularly concerns you now. Unfortunately, it is often impossible to give a definite answer to this question. The factors, that finally influence the occurrence and the course of a pregnancy, are too individual. Anyhow, to be able to give you an idea, we would like to refer to the data provided by the German IVF Registry. The German IVF Registry publishes an annual overview of the IVF and ICSI treatments performed in Germany. The German IVF Registry is an official supervisory body of the medical associations, which monitors the quality of work in all German IVF Centres. As a matter of course, we also take part in this anonymous data collection.
. Further, we would like to present you some data from the yearbook 2003 of the German IVF Registry. This data should help you better assess your own situation.
Risks
Follicle puncture
. Each follicular puncture is a surgical intervention and thus entails the respective risks. A follicle puncture may unexpectedly lead to complications such as bleeding and allergic or other anaesthesia related reactions. Should these occur; the female patient will be immediately taken care of and intensively monitored. Under certain circumstances, an inpatient treatment may also be necessary.
Treatment cycles without embryo transfer
. An embryo transfer can take place in less than 5% of all treatment cycles. An embryo transfer may fail to take place, if:
Pregnancy
. Pregnancy is surely not a risk in the actual sense of the word. However, a pregnancy may always lead to unexpected complications.
Multiple pregnancy
. In order to avoid multiple pregnancies after in-vitro fertilisation, we recommend our patients under the age of 35 to transfer a maximum of two embryos. We discuss the possibility of transferring three embryos only if patients are older then 35 years. The occurrence of a multiple pregnancy cannot be completely excluded. Even in the case of transferring only one embryo, it may result in a monozygotic twin pregnancy. Please note: all multiple pregnancies are high-risk pregnancies with health risks for mother and children. Many multiple pregnancies end in premature births. The probability of a twin pregnancy is about 16 to 18%, the probability of a triple pregnancy is about 3 to 4 %.
Abortion after the occurrence of a pregnancy
. About 16 % of all pregnancies, occurred nationwide after in-vitro fertilisation, was aborted at an early stage. This number, compared to a control group, is slightly increased. However, please bear in mind: the average age of fertility patients is higher, and with increasing age, the rate of miscarriage is rising.
Fallopian tube pregnancy
. In 1 to 2 % of all pregnancies after in-vitro fertilisation the so-called “fallopian tube pregnancy” or extrauterine gravidity (EUG) may occur. In any case, it must be medically aborted, either surgically or hormonally. Regular checks and immediate therapy minimise the risk of complications.
Child’s health
. The health of your child is our primary objective. Unfortunately, the risk of a hereditary or spontaneous defect or a stillbirth cannot be completely excluded. A German study has shown an increased risk of malformation in children, conceived after intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ISI). However, the authors consider parental risks to be the cause here (e.g. with an advanced maternal age in the comparison group; Ludwig et al., 2002)
Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHHS)
. In spite of ultrasound monitoring and regularly performed hormone checks, the stimulation of follicular growth can still lead to a significant enlargement of the ovaries and the so-called “hyperstimulation syndrome”. Depending on the degree of severity, it may require treatment and intensive follow-up. In the case of a pronounced abdominal pain, an inpatient treatment may be necessary.
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