Chelsea Lee
Medical Research Editor
WhereismyDoctor.com

Twin Births to be Cut Down

April 5th, 2012

If one is good then two is better, right? If you're talking about donuts or paid-days off then absolutely. But when considering the health of a mother-to-be as well as her unborn children, one is actually better.

One embryo transfer that is, during IVF. Fertility treatments and specifically In Vitro Fertilization makes it possible for couples struggling with infertility to have a child. However, IVF very often results in multiple births.

Up until a few years ago, there was no reason to not implant at least two embryos during In Vitro Fertilization.

As Chairman of the Association of Clinical Embryologists, Ms. Rachel Cutting put it, "it is hard to convince them (the patients) to have just one embryo put back, because they automatically think two will give them a better chance."

But in 2007, the Human Fertility and Embryology Authority (HFEA) got on board with a policy set up to reduce the number of multiple births that so often result from fertility treatments.

By January of 2009 each clinic in the UK was required to have plan to reduce the multiple births rate to 24 percent or lower. Each year since the clinics have had to meet an even lower multiple births percentage, with the final goal being 10 percent by October of 2012.

Elective single embryo transfer, also known as eSET, is the national strategy set to help clinicians accomplish the 10 percent goal. Clinicians are encouraged to offer eSET to fertility patients who are most likely to get pregnant, and therefore also most likely to get pregnant with multiples.

Alan Doran, who is the CEO of HFEA, proudly reports on the progress so far saying that "the proportion of eSET has increased, the multiple pregnancy rate has decreased and the overall pregnancy rate has remained steady."

Many couples are prepared for and even expecting multiple births when the seek out fertility treatments. And while this recent regulation may make some couples unhappy, it certainly will do wonders in decreasing the health risks to both mother and baby.

To discuss this further speak to an infertility specialists near you.