One of the most common causes of infertility in women is that eggs are not released as frequently or regularly as needed for the woman to become pregnant. As a result, many treatments involve using hormones to “kick start” or stimulate the ovaries to release eggs so that they may become fertilized by sperm. It’s a marvelous approach to fixing a complicated problem but, like all medical procedures, it has potential drawbacks.
One of the most common problems happening in women having hormone therapy with the stronger, injectable stimulation hormones (named “gonadotropins”), is called ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, better known as OHSS. So, what is Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome? This is a condition in which the ovaries have a markedly increased response to the injected hormones. According to the Mayo Clinic, “Too much of the hormone in your system can lead to ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS), where your ovaries become swollen and painful. A small number of women may develop severe OHSS, which can cause rapid weight gain, abdominal pain, vomiting and shortness of breath.” About 5-20% of women can get mild or moderate hyperstimulation but only about 1-2% get severe hyperstimulation.
So in most cases OHSS is not a serious condition, but it should definitely be evaluated and treated by a doctor as soon as possible after potential symptoms appear. There is no single cause for the syndrome, and doctors don’t fully understand the cause. One contributing factor is human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG), a hormone that is produced when a woman is pregnant, so if a woman gets pregnant the symptoms can be more serious.
If you are currently undergoing fertility treatments such as IVF, and you feel pain or bloating, be sure to contact your physician right away. OHSS is easily diagnosable, and eventually goes away by itself. But there are number of treatments that help, including simple bed rest and drinking fluids with electrolytes, such as sports drinks.
