Possible risks and complications

However, for the offered treatment options, we cannot give you a 100% guarantee of a successful outcome.



In some cases it is possible that the body’s own hormones interfere with the maturing egg cells and thus the therapy has to be interrupted.

It rarely occurs that no egg-cells can be obtained during follicular puncture. Neither can fertilization itself be influenced. Therefore it may occur that there will be no fusion of egg-cell and sperm. Although we do support the implantation of the embryo by medication a successful outcome can never be forced.

Success rates of an IVF treatment should be judged individually. On the basis of "normal" hormonal and semen results experienced centers with conventional incubation methods may reach an average of 25 % - 37 % per puncture.

The best chances to achieve a healthy pregnancy exists for women with a good response to follicle stimulation (more than 10 egg cells per puncture) and blastocyst transfer after choosing the best blastocysts (in such cases 70 % - 80 % positive pregnancy tests may be expected).

The situation becomes increasingly difficult with advanced female age, i.e. around the age of 38 years and beyond. Despite an optimal preparation of the treatment and good response to follicle stimulation the chances to achieve pregnancy and the delivery of a healthy child plunges to 5 % and less between the age of 43 and 45 years!

1. Risks for the woman
2. Risks for the embryo

We aim, of course, to keep the strain on the patient and the impacts on health as low as possible. Yet please be aware of the remote possibility that just like with any other medical intervention, too, complications may arise.

We cannot exclude the complications that are associated with every pregnancy, such as miscarriage, premature labor and others.

In this respect there is no difference between a pregnancy after IVF and a “normally conceived” pregnancy. However, there’s an increased likelihood of having a multiple pregnancy. On average a transfer of two or more embryos results in twins in 20 % of all cases, the chance to be expecting triplets is 2 % if three embryos have been returned to the mother’s womb.

In theory, there also is the risk of an ectopic or tubal pregnancy after embryo transfer. The risk of tubal pregnancy amounts to about 2 % when pregnancy has occurred naturally. If pregnancy has occurred after embryo transfer there will be a slightly increased risk of 3 % provided that parts of the fallopian tubes are still present.

The characteristic complication of hormonal treatment is referred to as „ Ovarian Hyper-Stimulation Syndrome or OHSS”. This condition involves grossly enlarged ovaries with cyst formation, the feeling of pressure in the lower abdomen and, in rare cases, fluid build-up in the abdomen or even the lungs. On rare occasions and particularly if pregnancy occurs during OHSS, these symptoms may intensify, requiring short-term hospitalization. The Ovarian-Hyperstimulation-Syndrome will vanish on its own accord.

There is no evidence to suggest any threat or harm to the embryo by techniques used in assisted reproduction. As the genome is not modified and at no time there is any direct interference with egg-cell or sperm or their fusion, we do not have to expect any damages or malformations.

However, we cannot rule out the possibility that possible genetic defects of the parents might be passed on to the child. Yet all parents have to take that risk.