Single Embyro Transfer Leads to Successful Pregnancies

Two studies find comparable pregnancy rates, fewer twins compared to two-embryo transfer

FRIDAY, Dec. 16 (HealthDay News) -- The transfer of a single embryo in an in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycle can result in the same pregnancy rates as a two-embryo transfer and significantly reduce the numbers of twins conceived, according to two studies published in the December issue of Fertility and Sterility.

Amy Criniti, M.D., of the University of Washington Fertility and Endocrine Center in Seattle, and colleagues studied 41 patients who underwent elective single-embryo transfer (eSET) and 66 patients who underwent two-embryo transfer (2ET) from 2003 to 2004. They found no significant group differences in the implantation rate (76% versus 66%), nor pregnancy rate (76% versus 79%). But twin pregnancies occurred in only 3.2% of the eSET group compared to 62% in the 2ET group.

Robert Jansen, M.D., of the Sydney IVF clinic in Australia, and colleagues studied IVF patients with three or more usable blastocysts from 2000 to 2004. Of 121 women who underwent eSET, 79 (65.3%) took home a baby, with a twin pregnancy rate of 7%. Of 285 women who underwent 2ET, 184 (64.2%) took home at least one baby, with a twin pregnancy rate of 34% and five perinatal deaths.

"This research shows the continued progress we are making in addressing the problem of multiple births," said William Gibbons, M.D., president of the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology, in a statement. "These studies will help us move to the goal of singleton pregnancies for all our patients."

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