What are the risks associated with an IVF procedure?
Most IVF cycles proceed without difficulty, but factors beyond the Fertility Center’s control also are a possibility. The most common disappointment is when a transferred embryo fails to implant in the uterus, so no pregnancy occurs. Even if implantation occurs, the embryo may not grow or develop normally, and spontaneous abortions or miscarriages may occur. Natural ovulation can happen before eggs are retrieved from the ovarian follicles. Pelvic scarring, abnormal anatomy and technical problems can prevent recovery of some or all of the eggs as well as transfer of viable embryos. The eggs retrieved may not be mature or viable for fertilization. Sometimes, men cannot produce the semen sample needed to fertilize the eggs on the day of retrieval, or the quality of the semen sample produced is too poor to allow for fertilization. Even after fertilization, embryos may not grow or divide so the scheduled transfer cannot take place. Other rare risks for women include injury to organs, intern
