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

A retrospective study was conducted ill a private infertility centre to evaluate tile 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 Still-11-flated with the use of,onaclotrophin-releasing hornione (GnRH) agoilists and ill 28 14 cycles (69.4%) the GnRH antagonist protocol was used. The GnRH antagonist treated cycles were tri.--glered with hunlan chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) or a GnRH agonist in 1295 and 1519 cycles, respectively. Complications related to oocyte retrieval occurred in 17 patients (0.4267a) (intra-abdoninial bleeding: a = 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. Mode rate/se vere ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) Occurred in 22 clonors I I required hospital admission and I I were managed oil all Outpatient basis. All cases were related to HCG triggering (0.87%). Serious complications related to oocyte retrieval occurred at a IoNv rate in healthy young donors. The risk of CHSS call be Substantially reduced by specific stimulation protocols, which include GnRH onist tri-cring. Prospective oocyte donors should be adequately counselled about the risks related to egg donation.