| Serious side-effects from in vitro fertility treatment | | | | comparatively small. Despite experiencing no |
| are relatively rare according to current evidence. The | | | | immediate side-effects from die drugs, some women |
| drugs used to induce the superovulation involved in in | | | | remain concerned about the longer-term implications, |
| vitro fertility and similar techniques are also widely | | | | and this contributes to their decision to stop. |
| used in other forms of fertility treatment. They are | | | | If you find yourself in very severe pain, or with any |
| used over short periods of time, and pass through | | | | unexpected symptom, make sure you report it to |
| the system relatively quickly. The replacement of | | | | your clinic. In emergencies, you may need to go to |
| general anaesthetic with sedation for the egg | | | | the casualty department of the local hospital. If so, |
| collection procedure, and the avoidance of | | | | make sure you tell the staff you are having in vitro |
| laparoscopy, has cut out a further source of risk. | | | | fertility treatment and that you think your symptoms |
| However, it is also argued that the treatment is still | | | | may be related to it, and ask them to contact the |
| too new for its long-term effects to be known, not | | | | doctors who have been treating you. Other hospital |
| just for the women who receive it, but also for the | | | | staff may not be familiar with in vitro fertility or its |
| children born as a result. Some limited research has | | | | associated complications, and may not know how to |
| been undertaken, but the numbers involved are | | | | deal with your problems. |