What are the side effects of the drugs?
The major side effects of the drugs include bloating and a sense of fullness in the lower abdomen and breasts. Additionally, some donors might experience mood swings as a result of the hormones. On very rare occasions, a condition called Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome (OHSS) could occur. Here the patient has an excessive reaction to the medication causing the ovaries to enlarge considerably and can be accompanied by fluid accumulation within the abdomen. This will make the donor feel quite bloated. The risks of this happening are minimized by careful monitoring by our physicians during the stimulation phase. A risk that most donors forget to acknowledge, is the fact that that she will be taking daily fertility drugs for a week and a half to two weeks. This, in turn will increase her risk of getting pregnant while on these medications. Therefore, it is important for the donor to abstain will taking the fertility drugs.
