Management of patients with antiphospholipid antibodies undergoing in vitro fertilization

Abstract

Infertility affects 10-15% of all married couples of reproductive age in the United States and results in substantial emotional distress and medical investment. Though it is uncertain whether antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is a cause of infertility, inevitably there is a small proportion of women who have both APS and infertility. In turn, some of these patients are candidates for ovulation induction, with or without assisted reproductive technologies, such as in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer, in an attempt to achieve successful pregnancy. The medications used for ovulation induction cause an increase in ovarian estrogen production beyond that typical of a normal menstrual cycle. Clinicians are appropriately concerned about the potential adverse effects of this estrogen surge on the clinical status of women with autoimmune disease. For APS, a primary concern would be that of thrombosis or embolism.