Decreasing Multiple Births By Single Embryo Transfers

Researchers say women opting to undergo a single embryo transfer instead of a double embryo transfer during in vitro fertilization can decrease the chance of multiple births without substantially lowering live births, according to a new study.

Researchers studied 661 women younger than 36 and compared the two approaches of in vitro fertilization. They also evaluated pregnancy rates resulting in at least one live birth and rates of multiple pregnancies. Results showed about 42 percent of the women receiving a double embryo transfer became pregnant resulting in at least one live birth compared to about 38 percent who received a single embryo transfer. The rate of multiple births in the single embryo transfer group was 0.8 percent vs. about 33 percent in the double embryo transfer group. Researchers also say that though the rates of live births between the two methods are not close enough to claim an equivalent result, the difference is unlikely to exceed 11.6 percent.

Thus in conclusion researchers suggest that in women under 36 years of age, transferring one fresh embryo and then, if needed, one frozen-and-thawed embryo dramatically reduces the rate of multiple births .