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Definition
By Mayo Clinic staffOvarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) usually occurs as a result of taking gonadotropins — hormonal medications that stimulate the production of eggs in a woman's ovaries. These injectable fertility drugs may be prescribed to treat irregular ovulation or infertility. In ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, your ovaries become swollen and painful.
About one-fourth of women who use gonadotropins get a mild form of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, which goes away after about a week. If you become pregnant after taking one of these fertility drugs, however, your symptoms of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome may last several weeks. Fewer than 2 percent of women taking fertility drugs develop a more severe form of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, which can cause rapid weight gain, abdominal pain, vomiting and shortness of breath.
- Van Voorhis BJ. Outcomes from assisted reproductive technology. Obstetrics & Gynecology. 2006;107(1):183-200.
- Manno M, et al. Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome: The best approaches for prevention and treatment: A mini-review. Current Women's Health Reviews. 2007;3:49-54.
- Management of the causes of infertility. In: Katz VL, et al. Comprehensive Gynecology. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby Elsevier; 2007.
- Practice Committee of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine. Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome. Fertility and Sterility. 2006;86(5 Suppl):S178-83.
- Insler V, et al. Pathogenesis of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome. http://www.uptodate.com/online/content/topic.do?topicKey=r_endo_f/16220&view=print. Accessed Oct. 8, 2008.
- Insler V, et al. Classification and treatment of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome. http://www.uptodate.com/online/content/topic.do?topicKey=r_endo_f/31096&view=print. Accessed Oct. 8, 2008.
- Delbaere A, et al. New insights into the pathophysiology of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome. Human Reproduction. 2004;19(3):486-9.
- Schorge JO, et al. Treatment of the infertile couple. In: Schorge JO, et al. Williams Gynecology. New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill; 2008. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=3158038. Accessed Oct. 8, 2008.
- Mathur R, et al. Review of the evidence base of strategies to prevent ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome. Human Fertility. 2007;10(2):75-85.
- Hornstein MD, et al. Patient information: Infertility treatment with clomiphene (Clomid or Serophene). http://www.uptodate.com/patients/content/topic.do?topicKey=~jeeD_7aaQM.h0m&view=print. Accessed Oct. 13, 2008.
- Hart R. Polycystic ovarian syndrome — Prognosis and treatment outcomes. Current Opinion in Obstetrics and Gynecology. 2007;19:529-535.
- Insler V, et al. Prevention of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome. http://www.uptodate.com/online/content/topic.do?topicKey=r_endo_f/20633&view=print. Accessed Oct. 8, 2008.
- Kallen B. Maternal morbidity and mortality in in-vitro fertilization. Best Practice & Research Clinical Obstetrics and Gynaecology. 2008;22(3):549-558.
- Aboulghar MA. Editorial: Preventing ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. 2007;92(8):2882-2884.
