Semin Reprod Med 2012; 30(02): 077-083
DOI: 10.1055/s-0032-1307415
Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

Consequences of Superovulation and ART Procedures

Rachel Weinerman
1   Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, NYU School of Medicine, New York
,
Jamie Grifo
2   NYU Fertility Center, New York, New York
› Institutsangaben
Weitere Informationen

Publikationsverlauf

Publikationsdatum:
27. April 2012 (online)

Abstract

Superovulation procedures and assisted reproductive technologies (ART) have provided the means for significant improvement in infertility care. Although generally safe, these procedures are associated with complications that, albeit rare, can have significant morbidity. Complications from superovulation include ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, thromboembolism, and adnexal torsion. Complications from oocyte retrieval include infection, bleeding, bowel injury, and anesthetic complications. Early pregnancy complications from in vitro fertilization include multiple gestations, ectopic pregnancy, and heterotopic pregnancy. Stimulation, retrieval, and transfer techniques can be modified to minimize these risks and prevent complications. Further research in the field is needed to continue to improve the safety of superovulation and ART.

 
  • References

  • 1 Nygren KG, Sullivan E, Zegers-Hochschild F , et al. International Committee for Monitoring Assisted Reproductive Technology (ICMART) world report: assisted reproductive technology 2003. Fertil Steril 2011; 95 (7) 2209-2222 , 2222, e1–e17
  • 2 Vloeberghs V, Peeraer K, Pexsters A, D'Hooghe T. Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome and complications of ART. Best Pract Res Clin Obstet Gynaecol 2009; 23 (5) 691-709
  • 3 Zivi E, Simon A, Laufer N. Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome: definition, incidence, and classification. Semin Reprod Med 2010; 28 (6) 441-447
  • 4 Golan A, Ron-el R, Herman A, Soffer Y, Weinraub Z, Caspi E. Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome: an update review. Obstet Gynecol Surv 1989; 44 (6) 430-440
  • 5 Agents stimulating gonadal. Report of a WHO scientific group function in the human. World Health Organ Tech Rep Ser 1973; 514: 1-30
  • 6 Nastri CO, Ferriani RA, Rocha IA, Martins WP. Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome: pathophysiology and prevention. J Assist Reprod Genet 2010; 27 (2–3) 121-128
  • 7 Papanikolaou EG, Tournaye H, Verpoest W , et al. Early and late ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome: early pregnancy outcome and profile. Hum Reprod 2005; 20 (3) 636-641
  • 8 Practice Committee of American Society for Reproductive Medicine. Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome. Fertil Steril 2008; 90 (5, Suppl) S188-S193
  • 9 Navot D, Bergh PA, Laufer N. Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome in novel reproductive technologies: prevention and treatment. Fertil Steril 1992; 58 (2) 249-261
  • 10 Neulen J, Yan Z, Raczek S , et al. Human chorionic gonadotropin-dependent expression of vascular endothelial growth factor/vascular permeability factor in human granulosa cells: importance in ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1995; 80 (6) 1967-1971
  • 11 Griesinger G. Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome prevention strategies: use of gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonists. Semin Reprod Med 2010; 28 (6) 493-499
  • 12 D'Angelo A, Brown J, Amso NN. Coasting (withholding gonadotrophins) for preventing ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2011; 6 (6) CD002811
  • 13 D'Angelo A, Amso N. Embryo freezing for preventing ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2007; 3 (3) CD002806
  • 14 Youssef MA, Al-Inany HG, Evers JL, Aboulghar M. Intra-venous fluids for the prevention of severe ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2011; 2 (2) CD001302
  • 15 Rosenwaks Z, Benadiva C. An eye to the future. Semin Reprod Med 2010; 28 (6) 540
  • 16 Bodri D, Guillén JJ, Galindo A, Mataró D, Pujol A, Coll O. Triggering with human chorionic gonadotropin or a gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist in gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonist-treated oocyte donor cycles: findings of a large retrospective cohort study. Fertil Steril 2009; 91 (2) 365-371
  • 17 Galindo A, Bodri D, Guillén JJ, Colodrón M, Vernaeve V, Coll O. Triggering with HCG or GnRH agonist in GnRH antagonist treated oocyte donation cycles: a randomised clinical trial. Gynecol Endocrinol 2009; 25 (1) 60-66
  • 18 Engmann L, DiLuigi A, Schmidt D, Nulsen J, Maier D, Benadiva C. The use of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist to induce oocyte maturation after cotreatment with GnRH antagonist in high-risk patients undergoing in vitro fertilization prevents the risk of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome: a prospective randomized controlled study. Fertil Steril 2008; 89 (1) 84-91
  • 19 Smitz JE, Thompson JG, Gilchrist RB. The promise of in vitro maturation in assisted reproduction and fertility preservation. Semin Reprod Med 2011; 29 (1) 24-37
  • 20 Källén B. Maternal morbidity and mortality in in-vitro fertilization. Best Pract Res Clin Obstet Gynaecol 2008; 22 (3) 549-558
  • 21 Aurousseau MH, Samama MM, Belhassen A, Herve F, Hugues JN. Risk of thromboembolism in relation to an in-vitro fertilization programme: three case reports. Hum Reprod 1995; 10 (1) 94-97
  • 22 Braat DDM, Schutte JM, Bernardus RE, Mooij TM, van Leeuwen FE. Maternal death related to IVF in the Netherlands 1984–2008. Hum Reprod 2010; 25 (7) 1782-1786
  • 23 Chan WS. The 'ART' of thrombosis: a review of arterial and venous thrombosis in assisted reproductive technology. Curr Opin Obstet Gynecol 2009; 21 (3) 207-218
  • 24 Gelbaya TA. Short and long-term risks to women who conceive through in vitro fertilization. Hum Fertil (Camb) 2010; 13 (1) 19-27
  • 25 Hurwitz A, Milwidsky A, Yagel S, Adoni A. Early unwinding of torsion of an ovarian cyst as result of hyperstimulation syndrome. Fertil Steril 1983; 40 (3) 393-394
  • 26 Gorkemli H, Camus M, Clasen K. Adnexal torsion after gonadotrophin ovulation induction for IVF or ICSI and its conservative treatment. Arch Gynecol Obstet 2002; 267 (1) 4-6
  • 27 Roest J, Mous HV, Zeilmaker GH, Verhoeff A. The incidence of major clinical complications in a Dutch transport IVF programme. Hum Reprod Update 1996; 2 (4) 345-353
  • 28 Schenker JG, Ezra Y. Complications of assisted reproductive techniques. Fertil Steril 1994; 61 (3) 411-422
  • 29 Aragona C, Mohamed MA, Espinola MS , et al. Clinical complications after transvaginal oocyte retrieval in 7,098 IVF cycles. Fertil Steril 2011; 95 (1) 293-294
  • 30 Howe RS, Wheeler C, Mastroianni Jr L, Blasco L, Tureck R. Pelvic infection after transvaginal ultrasound-guided ovum retrieval. Fertil Steril 1988; 49 (4) 726-728
  • 31 Dicker D, Ashkenazi J, Feldberg D, Levy T, Dekel A, Ben-Rafael Z. Severe abdominal complications after transvaginal ultrasonographically guided retrieval of oocytes for in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer. Fertil Steril 1993; 59 (6) 1313-1315
  • 32 Klemetti R, Sevón T, Gissler M, Hemminki E. Complications of IVF and ovulation induction. Hum Reprod 2005; 20 (12) 3293-3300
  • 33 Rísquez F, Confino E. Can Doppler ultrasound-guided oocyte retrieval improve IVF safety?. Reprod Biomed Online 2010; 21 (4) 444-445
  • 34 Sequeira PM. Anesthesia for in vitro fertilization. Int Anesthesiol Clin 2003; 41 (2) 95-105
  • 35 The ESHRE Capri Workshop Group. Multiple gestation pregnancy. Hum Reprod 2000; 15 (8) 1856-1864
  • 36 Grifo JA, Flisser E, Adler A , et al. Programmatic implementation of blastocyst transfer in a university-based in vitro fertilization clinic: maximizing pregnancy rates and minimizing triplet rates. Fertil Steril 2007; 88 (2) 294-300
  • 37 Scotland GS, McLernon D, Kurinczuk JJ , et al. Minimising twins in in vitro fertilisation: a modelling study assessing the costs, consequences and cost-utility of elective single versus double embryo transfer over a 20-year time horizon. BJOG 2011; 118 (9) 1073-1083
  • 38 Wang YA, Kovacs G, Sullivan EA. Transfer of a selected single blastocyst optimizes the chance of a healthy term baby: a retrospective population based study in Australia 2004-2007. Hum Reprod 2010; 25 (8) 1996-2005
  • 39 Guerif F, Frapsauce C, Chavez C, Cadoret V, Royere D. Treating women under 36 years old without top-quality embryos on day 2: a prospective study comparing double embryo transfer with single blastocyst transfer. Hum Reprod 2011; 26 (4) 775-781
  • 40 Schoolcraft WB, Treff NR, Stevens JM, Ferry K, Katz-Jaffe M, Scott Jr RT. Live birth outcome with trophectoderm biopsy, blastocyst vitrification, and single-nucleotide polymorphism microarray-based comprehensive chromosome screening in infertile patients. Fertil Steril 2011; 96 (3) 638-640
  • 41 Racowsky C, Ohno-Machado L, Kim J, Biggers JD. Is there an advantage in scoring early embryos on more than one day?. Hum Reprod 2009; 24 (9) 2104-2113
  • 42 Chang HJ, Suh CS. Ectopic pregnancy after assisted reproductive technology: what are the risk factors?. Curr Opin Obstet Gynecol 2010; 22 (3) 202-207
  • 43 Tal J, Haddad S, Gordon N, Timor-Tritsch I. Heterotopic pregnancy after ovulation induction and assisted reproductive technologies: a literature review from 1971 to 1993. Fertil Steril 1996; 66 (1) 1-12
  • 44 Knutzen V, Stratton CJ, Sher G, McNamee PI, Huang TT, Soto-Albors C. Mock embryo transfer in early luteal phase, the cycle before in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer: a descriptive study. Fertil Steril 1992; 57 (1) 156-162
  • 45 Azem F, Yaron Y, Botchan A , et al. Ectopic pregnancy after in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET): the possible role of the ET technique. J Assist Reprod Genet 1993; 10 (4) 302-304
  • 46 Pope CS, Cook EK, Arny M, Novak A, Grow DR. Influence of embryo transfer depth on in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer outcomes. Fertil Steril 2004; 81 (1) 51-58
  • 47 Nazari A, Askari HA, Check JH, O'Shaughnessy A. Embryo transfer technique as a cause of ectopic pregnancy in in vitro fertilization. Fertil Steril 1993; 60 (5) 919-921
  • 48 Flisser E, Grifo JA. Is what we clearly see really so obvious? Ultrasonography and transcervical embryo transfer—a review. Fertil Steril 2007; 87 (1) 1-5
  • 49 Ali CR, Khashan AS, Horne G, Fitzgerald CT, Nardo LG. Implantation, clinical pregnancy and miscarriage rates after introduction of ultrasound-guided embryo transfer. Reprod Biomed Online 2008; 17 (1) 88-93
  • 50 Flisser E, Grifo JA, Krey LC, Noyes N. Transabdominal ultrasound-assisted embryo transfer and pregnancy outcome. Fertil Steril 2006; 85 (2) 353-357
  • 51 Weinerman R, Mullin C. Use of ultrasound-guided embryo transfer reduces rates of extra-uterine pregnancies. Poster presented at: American Society for Reproductive Medicine Annual Meeting; October 19, 2011; Orlando, FL
  • 52 Keegan DA, Morelli SS, Noyes N, Flisser ED, Berkeley AS, Grifo JA. Low ectopic pregnancy rates after in vitro fertilization: do practice habits matter?. Fertil Steril 2007; 88 (3) 734-736
  • 53 Milki AA, Jun SH. Ectopic pregnancy rates with day 3 versus day 5 embryo transfer: a retrospective analysis. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2003; 3 (1) 7-10
  • 54 Rosman ER, Keegan DA, Krey L, Liu M, Licciardi F, Grifo JA. Ectopic pregnancy rates after in vitro fertilization: a look at the donor egg population. Fertil Steril 2009; 92 (5) 1791-1793
  • 55 Donadio NF, Donadio N, Martins PT, Cambiaghi Cde G. Heterotopic gestation: diagnostic possibility after in vitro fertilization. A case report [in Portuguese]. Rev Bras Ginecol Obstet 2008; 30 (9) 466-469
  • 56 Maruotti GM, Sarno L, Morlando M, Sirico A, Martinelli P, Russo T. Heterotopic pregnancy: it is really a rare event? The importance to exclude it not only after in vitro fertilization but also in case of spontaneous conception. Fertil Steril 2010; 94 (3) e49 ; author reply e50