What are the risks of fertility medications?
Use of fertility medications carries risks that can vary depending on the patient’s diagnosis as well as the response to specific medications. In general, the most common risks-often more associated with the gonadotropin class drugs-include the following: • Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome This side effect occurs in about 1-5% of cycles. The ovaries become enlarged due to overstimulation by fertility medications. The blood vessels supplying the ovaries become ‘leaky’ and this results in fluid collecting in the abdomen. In severe cases (~1%) hospitalization is required for close monitoring. The problem lasts for 1-2 weeks but can be longer if pregnancy results. • Multiple births Since fertility medications cause more follicles to be stimulated, there is a higher rate of multiple births. The multiple birth rate with clomiphene citrate is 5-10% and with gonadotropins it is 15-20% per pregnancy. In order to put these statistics in perspective, the chance for a couple to have a multiple bi
