Embryology

Question

To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Earl Howe on 13 October 2010 (WA 73–74), how many incidents of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) have been reported by clinics whenever a patient had been hospitalised (a) over each of the last two years, and (b) between 1999 and 2003; and how many incidents of OHSS have been reported to the HFEA whenever a licensed clinic became aware of OHSS that is less severe over the same time periods.

Answer

The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) has advised that the number of cases of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) reported as adverse incidents to the HFEA by licensed clinics for each of the periods requested is set out in the following table.

Year	Number of cases of OHSS reported as adverse incidents
1999-2003	0
2008	64
2009	114

Licensed centres are required to report to the HFEA the occurrence of any adverse incident, which includes OHSS that requires a hospital admission and has a severity grading of severe or critical. Licensed centres are not required to report to the HFEA cases of OHSS that do not require admission to hospital.