PollenTree

Use of strong IVF hormonal drugs

IVF involves the use of strong hormonal drugs particularly ovarian stimulating drugs.

These are given before treatment and usually taken for between 7-14 days as they allow a larger number of eggs to be collected and removed for fertilisation outside the body.

These drugs can lead to a condition known as Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome (OHSS), which in turn can lead to the development of ovarian cysts.

Other symptoms may include hot flushes, nausea, mood swings, headaches, restlessness, weight gain, heavy periods, vomiting and severe bloating.

Ovarian stimulation can also reduce the chances of pregnancy by producing too many eggs of reduced quality.

Further hormone drugs include those to stimulate the pituitary glands and progesterone given to prepare the womb for pregnancy.

There has been some progress in this drug giving lottery. Dr Geoffrey Trew of London's Hammersmith Hospital in the UK has developed a computer program that individually tailors fertility drugs given to a patient. This 'dose calculator' is known as ‘the Consort Calculator’ and uses the woman's age, body mass index, blood hormone levels and the number of eggs in her ovaries to prescribe a bespoke treatment.

An alternative to taking hormonal drugs is to consider ‘natural cycle IVF’.

This is where the one egg which a woman produces during her normal monthly cycle is collected and fertilised in the laboratory. This avoids the need for ovarian stimulating drugs although progesterone may still be given to increase the chances of implantation occurring.