UK woman killed by rare IVF risk, Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome
By BBC News,
BBC News
| 04. 13. 2005
Temilola Akinbolagbe, 33, from Plumstead, south London, collapsed at a bus stop after developing Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome (OHSS).
The potentially fatal form of the condition affects about one per cent of women undergoing IVF, although a less severe form is more common.
Experts believe this was the first such death from OHSS in the UK.
Mild and moderate forms of OHSS have been reported to affect up to 20% of women undergoing ovarian induction, which mimics the production of normal hormones.
It is believed there have been three other deaths from the condition in the last 30 years.
Mrs Akinbolagbe, from Plumstead, south London, started to feel ill after receiving fertility treatment.
She was taken to hospital immediately, but suffered a massive heart attack.
Mrs Akinbolagbe's life support machine was turned off five days later.
Her husband, Samuel Ifaturoti, said his wife had been "very positive" about the fertility treatment.
'Not a particular risk'
Gynaecologist John Parsons said staff at Kings College Hospital, where she had received her fertility treatment, were all shocked by Mrs Akinbolagbe's death.
He said: "We...
Related Articles
Since the “CRISPR babies” scandal in 2018, no additional genetically modified babies are known to have been born. Now several techno-enthusiastic billionaires are setting up privately funded companies to genetically edit human embryos, with the explicit intention of creating genetically modified children.
Heritable genome editing remains prohibited by policies in the overwhelming majority of countries that have any relevant policy, and by a binding European treaty. Support for keeping it legally off limits is widespread, including among scientists...
By Ed Cara, Gizmodo | 06.22.2025
In late May, several scientific organizations, including the International Society for Cell and Gene Therapy (ISCT), banded together to call for a 10-year moratorium on using CRISPR and related technologies to pursue human heritable germline editing. The declaration also outlined...
By Elise Kinsella, ABC News | 06.15.2025
When *Sarah and her partner needed fertility testing, it was Monash IVF that the pair turned to.
"Having a quick browse online, Monash IVF was one of the most prominent ones that came up on Google search and after contacting...
By Tory Shepherd, The Guardian | 06.13.2025
IVF is “big business” and experts are concerned about conflicts of interest between profit-making and helping families have children.
Monash IVF’s second embryo bungle has sparked renewed scrutiny on the IVF industry as a whole amid calls for national regulation...