The medications used to
stimulate your ovaries may cause side effects. These
side effects can range from mild to severe. Excessive
stimulation of the ovaries is called ovarian hyperstimulation.
This may require removing some of the fluid in the physicians office
and/or a hospital stay in approximately 1 % of patients.
Be aware of body changes and ask your physician or nurse
if you have any questions or concerns. You may have symptoms of
mild hyperstimulation during your treatment cycle, however,
moderate and severe symptoms usually occur 6-8 days
after treatment ends.
Signs
and Symptoms |
Why
it Happens |
What
to Do |
| Mild- You may experience:- Abdominal
bloating and feeling of fullness- Nausea- Diarrhea-
Slight weight gain |
This may be due to:- Ovaries are
larger than normal, tender and fragile- High level
so estrogen (E2) and progesterone in the bloodstream
may upset your digestive system and fluid balance
causing bloating. |
Recommended treatment:- Avoid sexual
intercourse- Do not have a vaginal (pelvic) exam
other than by one of our physicians- Reduce activities,
no heavy lifting, straining or exercise- Drink clear
fluids, flat coke, ginger ale, cranberry juice,
Gatorade or Ensure |
| Moderate- may also experience:- Weight gain of
greater than 2 lbs. per day (excessive weight gain)-
Increased abdominal measurement causing clothes
to feel tight- Vomiting & diarrhea- Urine is
darker and amount is less- Skin/hair may feel dry-
Thirst |
This may be due to:- High levels of hormones in
the bloodstream upset the digestive system- Fluid
imbalance causes dehydration because body fluids
collect in the abdomen and other tissues- This fluid
collection causes severe bloating |
As noted above plus:- Call nurses- You may need
to be seen by a physician who will do an ultrasound-
Record your weight twice daily- Record the number
of times you urinate each day- Contact office if
you note a five pound weight gain over the previous
24 hours, note a drop in the frequency of urination
(~50%), or increasing pelvic pain |
| Severe- You may also experience:- Fullness/bloating
up above the belly button- Shortness of breath-
Urination has reduced or stopped and become darker-
Calf pains and chest pains- Marked abdominal bloating
or distention- Lower abdominal pain |
This may be due to:- Extremely large ovaries-
Fluid collects in lungs and/or abdominal cavity,
as well as in tissues- The risk of abnormal blood
clotting increases |
As noted above plus:- Notify the physician on
call- You may need to be assessed at the hospital
or the physician's office- Excess fluid may need to be removed
from your abdominal cavity |
