Treatment Risks

Your Fertility Specialist will discuss the possible risks as they relate to you and your partner during the Informed Consent Process.

Anyone taking medication for any reason should be aware of the possible side effects and should report adverse effects to those managing their treatment. The medications used for ART are known to create some minor side effects in women, but there is no evidence of increased risk to a baby born as a result of a properly managed treatment. The operations and anesthetics used in ART carry similar risks as for any gynecological operation. For gynecological operations, the usual risks of serious complication or death are approximately 1 in 5,000.

Here is more information on possible risks:

Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome

Women contemplating ovarian stimulation should be aware that the procedure carries risks that are comparable with the risks of elective surgery.
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Multiple Pregnancy

Management of IVF in Barbados, is characterized by a conservative approach to embryo transfer, in order to reduce the likelihood of multiple births. Generally between one to three embryos are transferred in each attempt, depending on the individual patients history.
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Cancer

Infertility occurs in about one in six Barbadian couples. Cancer occurs in approximately one in three Barbadian women.
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Birth Defects

It is important to remember that any medical or surgical treatment has risks, adverse effects and side effects. Couples should be aware that one baby in 20 born worldwide will have a birth defect. There is no clear evidence that infertility medicines, if properly used, increase this risk.
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