| Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome is the most | | | | blood tests during the early stages of treatment to |
| serious and well-documented side-effect of in vitro | | | | pick up early signs of the problem. The second is to |
| fertilisation. This is almost common knowledge | | | | ensure that it has freezing facilities so that if the |
| nowadays. It is painful and can be very dangerous, | | | | syndrome does occur, the eggs can be collected, |
| having resulted in several deaths, including one | | | | fertilised and frozen for replacement in a later cycle. |
| recorded in Britain. The condition occurs when the | | | | Many clinics would opt to abandon a cycle if a |
| woman's ovaries produce a large number of follicles - | | | | woman developed OHSS. Current estimates are that |
| the exact number varies from woman to woman. | | | | it occurs in about two to three per cent of cases, |
| After the eggs are collected, the fluid from the | | | | but very few women get it so severely that they |
| follicles collects and causes severe swelling in the | | | | have to go to hospital. Again, it is important that you |
| abdomen. | | | | report any pain after egg collection to the clinic, |
| The most obvious symptom is very bad | | | | especially if you have had a substantial number of |
| abdomi¬nal pain. There are two safety | | | | follicles. |
| precautions to protect against ovarian | | | | Each stage of IVF has its own success rate. This is |
| hyperstimulation syndrome. One is to ensure that the | | | | often not immediately obvious, when all the public |
| clinic monitors thoroughly using both ultrasound and | | | | debate is about miracle cures and test-tube babies. |