1. Ovulation & Fertility Slideshow Pictures
2. Early Pregnancy Symptoms Quiz
3. Stages of Pregnancy Slideshow Pictures

Medical Author:

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.

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Medical Editor:

Roxanne Dryden-Edwards, MD

Roxanne Dryden-Edwards, MD

Dr. Roxanne Dryden-Edwards is an adult, child, and adolescent psychiatrist. She is a former Chair of the Committee on Developmental Disabilities for the American Psychiatric Association, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland, and Medical Director of the National Center for Children and Families in Bethesda, Maryland.

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There are rare risks associated with any surgical procedure such as the egg retrieval procedure necessary for IVF. These include bleeding, infection, and damage to the bowel or other organs from the procedure.

One risk that is specific to the medications used for stimulation is known as ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS). OHSS is seen in certain women who take medications to stimulate the ovaries and affects up to 10% of women who undergo IVF. Symptoms can range from mild to severe. In mild cases, a woman may experience bloating, mild pain or cramping, and weight gain. Severe cases are characterized by significant weight gain (for example, over 10 pounds in a few days), shortness of breath, and severe pain or swelling in the abdomen. Severe cases may need to be managed in the hospital. Treatment includes rest, hydration, and avoidance of strenuous activity. OHSS generally resolves on its own once the cycle is over.

Cancelled Cycles In some cases, if a woman does not respond sufficiently to the medications and an insufficient number of follicles are produced or matured, the cycle may be cancelled. This means that the egg retrieval does not take place.

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