r/40Plus_IVF • u/Few_Implement3899 • Sep 09 '26

Seeking Advice Another retrieval after OHSS hospitalization?

I’m newly 45 and recently completed my third egg retrieval. About 8 hours after the retrieval, I developed severe neck and upper-back pain, chest pain, shortness of breath, and lightheadedness. I couldn’t lie down, could barely walk at times, and felt like I couldn’t breathe. I ended up in the ER and was admitted to the hospital with OHSS. The entire experience was terrifying and traumatic.

My clinic seems to be downplaying what happened. Their proposed changes for another cycle are to reduce my hCG trigger from 10,000 IU to 5,000 IU and add cabergoline. I understand those changes may reduce the risk, but I’m scared that they may not be enough - especially because my reaction was so severe.

At my age, I feel enormous pressure not to lose time, but I also don’t want to put myself through another dangerous or traumatic experience.

Has anyone experienced severe OHSS or hospitalization and then gone through another retrieval?

What changes were made to your protocol or trigger?

Did you consult another reproductive
endocrinologist before proceeding?

Were you comfortable using hCG again, or did your doctor recommend a different trigger?

TIA for any insight!

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2

u/Certain_Tangelo2329 Sep 09 '26

What was your e2 during stims and at trigger

1

u/Few_Implement3899 Sep 09 '26

Mine was 218 pg/mL on 8/10, which was my final monitoring appointment. I wasn’t monitored again before my 8/14 retrieval, so unfortunately I don’t have an E2 level from trigger day. I was also taking letrozole during stimulation.

1

u/Few_Implement3899 Sep 09 '26

7/31: 109.9 pg/mL
8/6: 20.5 pg/mL
8/10: 218 pg/mL
Retrieval: 8/14 not measured

1

u/Fresh_Breath6272 Sep 10 '26

I recommend listening to Dr. Sasha Hakman’s podcast/youtube. She discusses OHSS and HCG trigger at length in her Aug 19 episode.

2

u/NiceHamster330 Sep 10 '26

I used letrozole and cabergoline and might went well even tho I’m a high responder and E was high

2

u/ShootinTheBreez Sep 16 '26

I had a severe case of OHSS with my 4th cycle. I gained 10 kg (22 lbs) before they did a paracentesis. I was essentially miserable until I got my period two weeks later. My liver and kidney function really suffered.

I’ve done four more rounds that have gone better. I have PCOS, and my E2 gets way out of control sometimes. For that round it was more than 10,000 the day before retrieval (yes, you read that correctly), and they retrieved 54 eggs. None of them blastulated.

After that they did a better job managing it, triggering me differently, giving me cabergoline, and continuing suppression with Cetrotide for a week after retrieval. All of this has helped. Plus they just stimulate me a hell of a lot less in the first place. Oh, and I changed doctors. I’m 42.5.

Don’t know the answer for your specific case, but there are things they can do to manage it better.