How Common Are Complications in Women Who Donate Oocytes?

Overall, 87% of donors had no apparent complications or concerns.

More than 12% of all cycles of in vitro fertilization (IVF) now involve use of oocytes provided by healthy young women. These donated oocytes enable pregnancy for women who would otherwise be unable to bear children — including cancer survivors, those with no ovarian function and those who carry genes for serious inheritable diseases. But what are the risks to oocyte donors, who must undergo ovarian stimulation with exogenous gonadotropins and oocyte retrieval? To address this question, clinicians at a single U.S. IVF center reviewed data for 587 donors who participated in 973 cycles and 886 egg retrievals from 1991 until 2007.

There were six serious complications (0.7% of cycles) that resulted in hospitalization — infection requiring IV ant…

Reviewing Author

Robert W. Rebar, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardMyovant Sciences, Inc.

Editorial BoardsEndoText; Clinical OB/GYN Alert

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesAmerican Society for Reproductive Medicine (Member, Ethics Committee)

Robert W. Rebar, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardMyovant Sciences, Inc.

Editorial BoardsEndoText; Clinical OB/GYN Alert

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesAmerican Society for Reproductive Medicine (Member, Ethics Committee)

How Common Are Complications in Women Who Donate Oocytes?

Topics

Reviewing Author