Posts Tagged ‘single embryo transfer’

Does IVF increase the chance of identical (monozygotic) twins?

Tuesday, July 20th, 2010

It does, at least according to a study in the July 2010 issue of Fertility & Sterility.

The authors surveyed 4976 clinical pregnancies from one large IVF center and found ninety-eight cases of monozygotic twins (MZTs) were diagnosed after first-trimester ultrasound evaluation (2% incidence). In naturally conceived pregnancies the incidence is about 0.25-0.5%. 

The incidence in women transfering embryos from their own eggs was 1.7% but was 3.3% with donor eggs; however, younger women (<35 years old) using their own eggs displayed a similar rate (3.1%) to women using donor eggs.

Eighty MZTs occurred after fresh day-5 transfer; only 14 followed fresh day-3 transfer (2.6% vs. 1.2%). The MZT incidence in day-3 transfers without assisted hatching was not different from those with hatching (1.3% vs. 1.1%). In addition, MZT incidence did not differ significantly whether or not ICSI was performed (2.4% vs. 2.0%). Four MZTs occurred after frozen-thawed embryo transfer (0.8% incidence).

The good news is that ninety-five percent of all placental arrangements were confirmed as having two amniotic sacs on obstetric ultrasounds, making them safer pregnancies than when both babies are in the same amniotic sac.

The take-home message is that this is a good reason for young women and those using eggs from a young donor to seriously consider elective single embryo transfer (eSET) so if a set of identical twins does occur and the other embryo implants one does not have to deal with a triplet pregnancy.

RPMG studying financial incentives for eSET

Friday, October 30th, 2009

The LA Times article mentioned in the previous post shows the non-signficant difference in success rates between single- and double embryo transfers in a study from Sweden. Most impressive is the reduction in potentially complicated multiple pregnancies by transferring one embryo which should be an incentive for appropriate couples to select this option.

But in most of the U. S., couples are faced with more than the disappointment of a small increment  in the chance of a failed cycle. In most European countries, IVF is covered by the national health service so an additional cycle is less of a financial burden. In non-mandated states in the U.S, the couple is also faced with the cost of another fresh or frozen embryo cycle.

Our success rates in good prognosis patients who would be candidates to consider an eSET, our success rates are better than reported in the Swedish study and the difference in live birth rate between the two groups should be small.

In order to encourage couples to choose the single embryo option we are studying financial incentives to reduce the impact of a possible failed cycle which may not have occurred if two embryos had been transferred.

We would like to hear what financial incentive would help you choose a single embryo transfer if the difference in success rate was not statistically significant. You can post your responses to this blog.

LA Times article promotes single embryo transfer

Friday, October 30th, 2009

An article in the October 29th edition of the Los Angeles Times, “1 in vitro embryo may be best” reports on data from the New England Journal of Medicine that shows by transferring more than one embryo doctors are increasing the odds of having twins, creating a riskier pregnancy for both mother and baby.

Increased risks of twins over a single IVF baby include a greater chance of prematurity, cerebral palsy, birth defects, developmental delays and death for the babies, and gestational diabetes, bleeding and preeclampsia for the mother.

Researchers from Sweden expanded the results from a 2004 study showed a difference of 43% live birth from two embryo transfer; 39% from a  single embryo transfer. That difference was not statistically significant. One third of the patients in the double-embryo group had twins or triplets, compared with only 1% in the single-embryo group.

At Reproductive Partners we have been encouraging single embryo blastocyst transfer in appropriate couples who have a good prognosis for success and excellent embryo quality. The biggest barrier to acceptance of this concept seems to be financial. In the U.S., most couples pay for IVF out-of-pocket, where in many European countries the procedure is covered by national health insurance. So a couple with a failed cycle not only has to deal with teh disappointment of not succeeding, they are faced with paying for another fresh or a frozen cycle.