Reducing the risks associated with in vitro fertilization

1.0 CME/CE Credits

Symposium held November 2008 at the American Society for Reproductive Medicine Annual Meeting in San Francisco, California. Supported by an independent educational grant from Organon, a part of Schering-Plough.

	Richard H. Reindollar, MD Professor and Chair, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Dartmouth Medical School Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center Lebanon, New Hampshire
	Owen K. Davis, MD Associate Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology Associate Director of In Vitro Fertilization The Center for Reproductive Medicine and Infertility Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, New York
	Renee H. Martin, PhD, FCCMG Canada Research Chair in Genetics Professor, Department of Medical Genetics University of Calgary Calgary, Canada

NEEDS ASSESSMENT

In vitro fertilization (IVF) has provided thousands of couples the opportunity for achieving pregnancies that would likely have never occurred. However, a number of risks have been identified that potentially place mothers and/or their babies in harms way. Such risks range from morbidity and mortality to the potential long-term effects of genetic disorders. Multiple gestations and ovarian stimulation syndrome have tremendous risks for both mothers and babies. Turner syndrome women pregnant by donor oocyte have a real risk of death from aortic dissection and rupture during and after pregnancy. The long term risks for maternal cancers and the potential of genetic disorders and congenital anomalies in the newborn IVF babies have all been implicated.

Clinics that provide assisted reproductive technologies have the need to provide appropriate counseling, identify couples at risk when possible, and employ strategies to reduce risks in this pursuit of obtaining healthy babies for infertile couples. Reviews of IVF statistics published by SART and the CDC indicate that there is a gap between the ideal and the real. This program will provide specialists in reproductive medicine information on real and potential risks associated with IVF as well as known strategies for reducing them.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES
At the conclusion of this symposium, participants should be able to:

1. Discuss the potential and real risks of mothers and their babies conceived through IVF: ie, morbidities, mortality, genetic disease, and potential for future malignancy.
2. Appropriately counsel patients with Turner syndrome about risk for death during or following an IVF pregnancy.
3. Develop treatment regimens minimizing the likelihood of multiple gestations while maximizing the likelihood of pregnancy.
4. Utilize treatment regimens that minimize the risk of Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome (OHSS).
5. Discuss data regarding the likelihood of normal progeny following IVF.

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Release date: January 7, 2009

Expiration date: January 6, 2010

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The American Society for Reproductive Medicine is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

The American Society for Reproductive Medicine designates this educational activity for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits.^TM

All speakers were required to complete a disclosure of commercial and financial relationships with manufacturers of pharmaceuticals, laboratory supplies, or medical devices and with commercial providers of medically related services. These disclosures were reviewed and potential conflicts of interest resolved by the Subcommittee on Standards of Commercial Support of the Continuing Medical Education Committee of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine. The disclosures are listed in the presentations.