Risks and Side Effects
Become a Surrogate
About Our Agency
Creative Love Egg Donor & Surrogacy Agency is a warm and caring agency located in Florida. We thank you for considering us for your surrogate parenting needs. Surrogacy can be a complex process to navigate on your own from the medical, legal, psychological, and emotional aspect. However, surrogacy is an exciting and fulfilling option to create or expand your family. Surrogacy allows you to be a proactive participant in the pregnancy from the very beginning. Whether you’re from the United State or from around the globe we welcome international intended parents to our agency.
Risks and Side Effects
It is important that all egg donor are well informed and fully understand any and all risks involved in the egg donation process. In some very rare cases an egg donor can develop a condition known as Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome, OHSS. The risks of developing OHSS is 1 -3% of cases. OHSS does not occur while you are taking the hormone injection stimulating your ovaries to develop multiply follicles. It occurs after ovulation has taken place, after the egg donor retrieval. OHSS is particularly associated with injections of a hormone call human gonadotropin, HCG which is used as your last and final injection before your egg retrieval. When a donor begins to take the hormone injection it is not uncommon for the ovaries to become a little enlarged. With OSHH the ovaries can become dangerously enlarged. OHSS causes the blood vessels to leak fluid into the abdominal cavity. This is why egg donors are closely monitored throughout the whole egg donation process. At each Dr’s appt you will have blood work done to check your estrogen levels. High estrogen hormone levels and a large number of follicles can put a donor at risk of OHSS. When this occurs the Dr can cancel the cycle or take a different approach to mature the follicles at the final phase preventing OHSS from happening to the donor after retrieval. Typically the symptoms that are associated with OHSS usually begin within a week after the egg retrieval. If an egg donor should ever feel any of the symptoms of OHSS it is important for her to contact the IVF clinic where the egg retrieval took place. OHSS can be classified as mild, moderate or severe by symptoms, signs, blood tests and ultrasound.
Most cases involving egg donors are mild to moderate case that resolve themselves within a few days.
- Mild OHSS: Patient may complain of mild pain, bloated feeling, mild abdominal swelling, mild nausea, mild weight gain and diarrhea
- Moderate OHSS: Same symptoms as mild OHSS, but the swelling and bloating is worse. Abdominal pain and vomit. Fluid may collect in the abdominal cavity causing discomfort.
- Severe OHSS: Same symptoms as moderate OHSS, but the swelling and bloating is worse. Abdominal pain and vomiting. You may feel ill and may suffer from shortness of breath and a reduction in the amount of urine output. Severe OHSS is typically found in a IVF cycle with the intended mothers own eggs and the intended mother having a transfer of the embryos to herself after she has gone through an egg retrieval. The worst cases seem to be associated with pregnancy.
If hyperstimulation is mild to moderate, you will typically be managed at home on bed rest. If diagnosed with hyperstimulation syndrome it is important to avoid strenuous activities, either work or sports related, as well as heavy housework. Intercourse should also be avoided during this time period. You will asked to drink water, Gatoraid/Poweraid, 12oz every hour or so. Also, recommended is to eat a high protein diet. Fortunately, this disease resolves in 7-10 days in most women after careful rest and adequate hydration. Severe hyperstimulation happens with large amounts of fluid retention and low urine output occur. This may require hospitalization sometimes. Severe OHSS is a rare occurrence, but can happen despite careful monitoring.
Other Risks
- Surgical Risks, which are extremely rare, include injury to the bladder, bowel, or blood vessels.
- Infection occurs even more rarely. You will be on antibiotics before the egg retrieval to prevent infection.
- Ovarian torsion occurs when the ovary becomes heavy and twists on its own stalk, cutting off blood supply. You will be asked to avoid strenuous activities and heavy lifting during your stimulation phase, in order to prevent that from happening. This is also a very rare occurrence.
- Blood tests may cause mild discomfort. The risk if developing a bruise and/or infection at the needle site.
- Ovulation induction hormones may overstimulate the ovaries producing pain and growth of cysts. On occasion, these cycsts may rupture and bleed, requiring hospitalization.
