IVF pregnancy is no different from a natural pregnancy. It is distinguished only by being long-awaited and hard-earned. Below are the possible risks of IVF pregnancy, including the risk of pregnancy loss.
LOW HCG LEVELS:
The pregnancy hormone hCG is measured in the blood. It’s tested 9 days after transfer. Initially around 100 IU, the value should double every other day. In patients whose hCG level starts below 50 or doesn’t double, the risk of loss is high. This condition is called biochemical pregnancy and typically resolves with menstrual bleeding without intervention, observed in 5% of cases.
DEVELOPMENT OF AN EMPTY SAC:
Even with high hCG levels and doubling every two days, this situation can occur. About 10 days after the first blood test, a vaginal ultrasound shows the gestational sac, but no heartbeat is detected in later weeks. This condition is attributed to genetic or structural defects in the embryo, accounting for about 5% of pregnancy losses.
LOSS OF HEARTBEATS:
This means the heartbeats observed in previous checkups are no longer detected. Genetic or structural defects in the embryo, along with uterine issues or clotting disorders, may contribute to this condition.
BLEEDING IN PREGNANCY:
Although often harmless, this condition can cause concern as it’s seen as a miscarriage threat. In these cases, bed rest and progesterone medications are commonly recommended. Bleeding rarely leads to pregnancy loss.
HEALTH CHECKUPS DURING PREGNANCY:
Anemia, diabetes, hypertension, thyroid diseases, and other conditions affecting pregnancy are monitored once a month. Diabetes screening is done at 26 weeks with a 50-gram sugar loading test if there’s no hereditary risk.
SCREENING FOR FETAL ABNORMALITIES:
Screening tests for Down syndrome are conducted in the 12th-13th week (double test) and 16th-17th week (quadruple test), with around 70% accuracy. The "NIFT" or "Fetal DNA test in maternal blood" offers 99% accuracy. Due to the pregnancy loss risk associated with amniocentesis, we recommend starting with the NIFT test.
PREVENTING PRETERM BIRTH:
On the 20th week, a vaginal ultrasound measures the cervix length to prevent preterm birth. For twin pregnancies, where the risk is four times higher, a monthly checkup is advised. If the cervical length drops to 2 cm, a cervical stitch (cerclage) is recommended to strengthen that area. Progesterone therapy is also effective for patients with previous preterm births.
CHOOSING THE TYPE OF BIRTH:
There are no obstacles to natural birth. However, due to the difficulty of achieving this pregnancy, cesarean section is often preferred.