Fertility treatment options
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In vitro fertilisation (IVF)
What is it?
In vitro fertilisation (IVF) literally means ‘fertilisation in glass’ giving us the familiar term ‘test tube baby’.
During the IVF process, eggs are removed from the ovaries and fertilised with sperm in the laboratory. The fertilised egg (embryo) is later placed in the woman’s womb.
The risks
Drug reaction
A mild reaction to fertility drugs may involve hot flushes, feeling down or irritable, headaches and restlessness.
Ovarian hyper-stimulation syndrome (OHSS)
OHSS can be a dangerous over-reaction to fertility drugs used to stimulate egg production. It can cause symptoms such as a swollen stomach, stomach pains, nausea and vomiting.
Miscarriage
Although the risk of a miscarriage after IVF is no higher than after a natural conception, nor is the risk lower. To check that the pregnancy is not likely to miscarry an ultrasound scan is usually done about two weeks after the positive pregnancy test.
Ectopic pregnancy
When an embryo deve...
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