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Review
. 2025 Feb 7;14(4):1053.
doi: 10.3390/jcm14041053.

Risk of Thrombosis in Women Undergoing In Vitro Fertilization: A Narrative Review

Elvira Grandone  1   2   3 , Victoria Bitsadze  1 , Jamilya Khizroeva  1 , Elena Chinni  2 , Mario Mastroianno  2 , Luigi Nappi  3 , Maria Tretyakova  1 , Natalia Makatsariya  1 , Kristina Grigoreva  1 , Nilufar Gashimova  1 , Arina Lazarchuk  1 , Daredzhan Kapanadze  4 , Tatyana Polyakova  1 , Anastasia Shatilina  1 , Elizaveta Lyadnova  1 , Armen Blbulyan  5 , Nart Kuneshko  6 , Marina Zainulina  7   8 , Grigoris Gerotziafas  1   9   10 , Alexander Makatsariya  1
Affiliations
Review

Risk of Thrombosis in Women Undergoing In Vitro Fertilization: A Narrative Review

Elvira Grandone et al. J Clin Med. .

Abstract

This narrative review summarizes the available literature on the association between In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) treatments and thrombosis, focusing on epidemiology and pathophysiology. Thrombosis is a rare IVF-related complication, with an incidence of approximately 0.2%, dramatically increased by ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS). Arterial thrombosis, primarily associated with OHSS, is a rare and early event, while venous thrombosis, although more common, remains a rare complication of IVF. Venous thrombosis often affects the upper body. The thrombotic risk is higher during the first trimester of pregnancy obtained through IVF. This review discusses the impact of risk factors such as OHSS, thrombophilia, obesity, advanced maternal age, and polycystic ovarian syndrome, which predispose women to thromboembolic events during and after IVF stimulation.

Keywords: In Vitro Fertilization (IVF); ovarian stimulation; thrombosis risk.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Pathophysiology of OHSS. GnRH—gonadotropin-releasing hormone; hCG—human chorionic gonadotropin; LH—luteinized hormone; VEGF—vascular endothelial growth factor; IL-6—interleukin-6; IL-8—interleukin-8; IL-2—interleukin-2; TNF-a—tumor necrosis factor-alpha; IL-1—interleukin-1.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Risk factors predisposing to thromboembolic events during in vitro fertilization.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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