The infertility patient, who has not been named, died on Monday at Leicester Royal Infirmary, after having a short operation to harvest eggs from her ovaries last week.

The cause of death has yet to be firmly established, and it remains possible that it was unrelated to fertility treatment. If a link is confirmed, however, the case would be one of the first British fatalities associated with IVF.

It was reported yesterday that the patient suffered a complication during egg retrieval — a routine element of IVF — that caused internal bleeding and then kidney problems. She is thought to have been sent home, before being readmitted to hospital over the weekend.

“She was admitted to a ward with renal complications and died on Monday,” a member of staff at the hospital told The Sun.

At least one other death has been related to IVF before, as a result of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS), a complication caused by an abnormal reaction to the hormonal drugs used to promote egg growth. Last year, Temilola Akinbolagbe, 33, from Plumstead, south London, died of a heart attack brought on by OHSS, following IVF treatment at King’s College Hospital.

If the Leicester patient died as the result of a surgical error, it would be the first case of its kind in the UK.

A spokeswoman for Leicester Royal Infirmary confirmed the death yesterday, but said it was not yet possible to give any details of its circumstances.

“Tragically a patient undergoing IVF treatment has subsequently died,” she said. “The cause of death is yet to be determined and a full investigation is underway. The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority has been informed and the case has been reported to the coroner.”

John Paul Maytum, a spokesman for the authority, said: “We have been informed of an incident at Leicester Fertility Centre and, as with all incidents, we will be carrying out an investigation. It is not clear yet whether this incident falls within our remit.”

IVF is generally regarded as a safe and routine medical procedure: about 38,000 cycles of treatment are conducted in Britain each year, leading to the birth of more than 10,000 children.

It does, however, carry some risks. As well as causing OHSS, which affects up to 6 per cent of women, there is a small danger that a blood vessel can be punctured during the collection of eggs for fertilisation in the laboratory.

During this procedure, a needle is inserted into the ovary through the side of the vagina, guided by ultrasound. Any bleeding is usually stemmed safely before the patient is discharged the same day, but if this goes unnoticed there is a possibility of serious complications.

Mark Hamilton, chairman of the British Fertility Society, said: “The BFS is sorry to hear of this tragic death and our sympathy is extended to the family. Worldwide more than three million babies have been born as a result of IVF. In the UK over 30,000 women receive IVF treatment each year and more than 10,000 children are born as a result. The procedures used in clinics are very safe and serious complications for patients are extremely rare. Anyone with anxieties about their own treatment should contact staff at the clinic providing their care.”

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