Pregnancy & Baby Index: Real moms guide: Trying to Conceive: The risks of multiple pregnancy associated with IVF
The risks of multiple pregnancy associated with IVF
Angie Beltsos, MD
In-Vitro fertilization (IVF) is an exciting therapy that offers many infertile couples the opportunity to achieve pregnancy that would not otherwise exist. It's important for couples to remember that as they consider IVF, they need to know it has played a significant role in increasing the incidence of high order multiple pregnancies (triplets or more) since its introduction in 1978.
The goal of
infertility treatment is the delivery of a full-term, healthy infant. Multiple pregnancy -- especially high order multiple pregnancy -- clearly puts this goal at risk. Maternal complications of high order multiple pregnancy include:
Pre-eclampsia
Excessive weight gain
Anemia
Chronic back pain
Possible damage to the anterior abdominal wall
More importantly, fetal complications include prematurity and the resulting increase in infant morbidity and mortality. Furthermore, the rearing of high order multiples creates physical, emotional and financial stress for the family with a reported increase in the incidence of maternal depression and anxiety. For these reasons, reducing the number of high order multiples has become an essential goal of most successful IVF programs.
Two relatively new developments in the art and science of IVF appear to significantly decrease the need to transfer a large number of embryos and therefore, offer the promise of decreasing the incidence of high order multiple pregnancies. In 1990, preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) became a reality. Embryos created through IVF can now be tested for age-related genetic abnormalities. This screening allows the clinician to transfer fewer PGD screened embryos in women 35 years of age and older, while still maintaining high rates of pregnancy.
The second significant development has been the ability to keep embryos in culture for five days (blastocyst stage) instead of two or three days (cleavage stage) prior to transfer. Blastocysts are more likely to implant and lead to pregnancy. Therefore, the fewer blastocysts (usually only two) need to be transferred in order to maintain good pregnancy rates. 