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Treatments and drugs
By Mayo Clinic staffOvarian hyperstimulation syndrome usually goes away on its own within a week or two, or somewhat longer if you're pregnant. Treatment is aimed at keeping you comfortable, decreasing ovarian activity and avoiding complications.
Moderate OHSS
If your symptoms worsen rapidly or last longer than a week, call your doctor. Treatment for moderate OHSS may involve:
- Taking either anti-nausea medication or prescription painkillers or both
- Having frequent physical exams and ultrasound exams
- Weighing yourself each day and measuring your abdominal girth, noting any changes
- Measuring your urine output each day
- Seeing your doctor to get blood tests to monitor for dehydration, electrolyte imbalance and other problems
- Drinking large amounts of fluids, such as sports drinks
- Draining excess fluid via a needle inserted in your abdominal cavity
- Staying as active as possible and wearing support stockings to help prevent blood clots
Severe OHSS
If you develop signs or symptoms of severe illness, you may need to be hospitalized for careful monitoring and more aggressive treatment, including intravenous (IV) fluids. Serious complications may require further treatments, such as surgery for a ruptured ovarian cyst or intensive care for liver or lung complications. Treatment also may include anticoagulant medications to decrease the risk of forming blood clots in your legs.
- Van Voorhis BJ. Outcomes from assisted reproductive technology. Obstetrics & Gynecology. 2006;107:183.
- 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.
- Lobo RA. Infertility: Etiology, diagnostic evaluation, management, prognosis. In: Katz VL, et al. Comprehensive Gynecology. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby Elsevier; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/208746819-4/0/1524/0.html. Accessed Dec. 2, 2010.
- Practice Committee of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine. Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome. Fertility and Sterility. 2006;86(suppl):S178.
- Insler V, et al. Pathogenesis of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Nov. 23, 2010.
- Insler V, et al. Classification and treatment of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Nov. 23, 2010.
- Luke B, et al. Factors associated with ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) and its effect on assisted reproductive technology (ART) treatment and outcome. Fertility and Sterility. 2010;94:1399.
- Doody KJ. Treatment of the infertile couple. In: Schorge JO, et al. Williams Gynecology. New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill Medical; 2008. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aid=3158038. Accessed Dec. 6, 2010.
- Humaidan P, et al. Preventing ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome: Guidance for the clinician. Fertility and Sterility. 2010;94:389.
- Insler V, et al. Prevention of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Nov. 23, 2010.
- Coddington CC (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Dec. 22, 2010.
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