Reducing multiple births in assisted reproduction technology.
Multiple pregnancy, a complication of assisted reproduction technology, is associated with poorer maternal and perinatal outcomes. The primary reason behind this is the strategy of replacing more than one embryo during an assisted reproduction technology cycle to maximise pregnancy rates. The solution to this problem is to reduce the number of embryos transferred during in-vitro fertilisation. The transition from triple- to double-embryo transfer, which decreased the risk of triplets without compromising pregnancy rates, was easily implemented. The adoption of a single embryo transfer policy has been slow because of concerns about impaired pregnancy rates in a fresh assisted reproduction technology cycle. Widespread availability of effective cryopreservation programmes means that elective single embryo transfer, along with subsequent frozen embryo transfers, could provide a way forward. Any such strategy will need to consider couples' preferences and existing funding policies, both of which have a profound influence on decision making around embryo transfer.
['Bhattacharya|Siladitya|S|', 'Kamath|Mohan S|MS|']
D015925:Cryopreservation D005260:Female D005307:Fertilization in Vitro D006801:Humans D007231:Infant, Newborn D009099:Multiple Birth Offspring D011247:Pregnancy D027724:Reproductive Techniques, Assisted D018570:Risk Assessment D012307:Risk Factors D056826:Single Embryo Transfer
assisted reproduction technology multiple pregnancy in-vitro fertilisation elective single embryo transfer