DEBATE - Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome: are preventive measures effective?

Infertility treatment has been changed dramatically over the last decades with the introduction of the new assisted reproduction techniques (ART). Ovarian stimulation, either to induce ovulation in the management of anovulatory infertility or for controlled ovarian hyperstimulation in the course of in vitro-fertilization, is a main part of the various ART. Nevertheless, ovarian stimulation entails the risk for the development of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS), the commonest complication as such. Hence, it is of great importance not only to know how to effectively induce ovulation but also how to prevent this severe potential risk. Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome is a well-known and important complication of ovulatory drugs. Its development has been described following ovulation induction with almost every drug used for ovarian stimulation, either in the management of anovulatory infertility or during controlled ovarian hyperstimulation for in-vitro fertilization, having an incidence of 0,5-2% (1). The employment of gonadotropin releasing hormone-agonists (GnRH-a) seems to be associated with an increased incidence of OHSS (2-4).