Article
Complications related to ovarian stimulation and oocyte retrieval in 4052 oocyte donor cycles

https://doi.org/10.1016/S1472-6483(10)60200-3Get rights and content

Abstract

A retrospective study was conducted in a private infertility centre to evaluate the rate of complications in a large oocyte donation programme. A total of 4052 oocyte retrievals were performed between January 2001 and October 2007. Altogether, 1238 cycles (30.6%) were stimulated with the use of gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists and in 2814 cycles (69.4%) the GnRH antagonist protocol was used. The GnRH antagonist treated cycles were triggered with human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) or a GnRH agonist in 1295 and 1519 cycles, respectively. Complications related to oocyte retrieval occurred in 17 patients (0.42%) (intra-abdominal bleeding: n = 14, severe pain: n = 2, ovarian torsion: n = 1). Fourteen of these were hospitalized (0.35%) and six donors (0.15%) required surgical intervention. Pelvic infections, injury to pelvic structures or anaesthesiological complications were not observed in this series. Moderate/severe ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) occurred in 22 donors; 11 required hospital admission and 11 were managed on an outpatient basis. All cases were related to HCG triggering (0.87%). Serious complications related to oocyte retrieval occurred at a low rate in healthy young donors. The risk of OHSS can be substantially reduced by specific stimulation protocols, which include GnRH agonist triggering. Prospective oocyte donors should be adequately counselled about the risks related to egg donation.

Section snippets

Daniel Bodri studied medicine at Semmelweis University, Budapest before specializing in Obstetrics and Gynecology in Hungary. Following a 1–year fellowship at the Public Hospitals of Paris, he trained at the Assisted Reproduction Unit of Jean Rostand Hospital, Sèvres in France. In 2004 he moved to Barcelona, Spain to work in a private infertility centre. His current research interests include various aspects of oocyte donation and the use of GnRH antagonists for donor stimulation protocols.

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      Citation Excerpt :

      Donation may have only minor medical or psychological consequences, but more data are needed to ensure fully informed consent and possibly to protect donor health.’ Bodri et al. (2008) reported complications from 4052 donor oocyte cycles and found that 17 women were hospitalized in the process, with two of these women requiring hospitalization for pain management without another diagnosis. Kenney et al. (2010) found that donors’ reported awareness of the short-term effects from retrieval was low for all potential consequences.

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    Daniel Bodri studied medicine at Semmelweis University, Budapest before specializing in Obstetrics and Gynecology in Hungary. Following a 1–year fellowship at the Public Hospitals of Paris, he trained at the Assisted Reproduction Unit of Jean Rostand Hospital, Sèvres in France. In 2004 he moved to Barcelona, Spain to work in a private infertility centre. His current research interests include various aspects of oocyte donation and the use of GnRH antagonists for donor stimulation protocols.

    Declaration: The authors report no financial or commercial conflicts of interest.

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