New IVF Guidelines Aim to Reduce Multiple Births

Key provision limits embryo transfers

Posted: October 20, 2009

TUESDAY, Oct. 20 (HealthDay News) -- In an effort to reduce multiple births following fertility treatment, the American Society for Reproductive Medicine has revised its recommendations on the number of embryos that should be transferred during in vitro fertilization procedures.

The society reports that the guidelines are now different in two major ways.

For one, it says that doctors should only use one more embryo than called for in patients whose prognosis is less optimistic. Even in those with poor prognosis, no more than one extra embryo should be transferred.

The society also calls on doctors to advise patients about the risks of a pregnancy with several fetuses and to make notations about extra embryos and counseling in medical records.

The guidelines also make it clear that it doesn't make any difference whether transferred embryos are fresh or frozen. The recommended number remains the same.

The society issued guidelines more than 10 years ago and says they have cut down on births with high numbers of babies by almost 60 percent.

"It is clear that these guidelines have a terrific impact on clinical practice. Over the years we have seen a reduction in the number of high order multiple births while maintaining strong success rates. This latest revision is our most recent effort to help our members provide their patients with the best, safest care possible," said Dr. R. Dale McClure, president of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, in a statement.

More information

Learn more about IVF from the American Pregnancy Association.

Former IVF Patient Thinks This May Hurt More Than Help

I've heard that these new, stricter guidelines will impact women ages 38 and younger. Well, I was 38 when I underwent IVF and had 4 embryos implanted. I managed to get pregnant only from one embryo. Three of the embryos looked good, but because of my age it was decided to put all of them in and not freeze any for later. Thank God! Can you imagine going through IVF 3 more times in order to get pregnant? Who's to say a frozen transfer is going to be better than a fresh transfer? Who's the one suffering emotional ups and downs through this process...ASRM or the patient? I live in California that does not have mandated health insurance for infertility and we have to pay for the whole shebang out of pocket. Why do we have to be penalized? Besides, even if I were to have had twins, I know that twin pregnancies are safe pregnancies thanks the the excellent perinatologists. How many twin IVF pregnancies have been a success...I bet many have and you only hear about the few bad outcomes. I resent the fact that the media has created this atmosphere of fear in the IVF community, whereas the clinics that have been doing IVF for years successfully and ethically have never been profiled.

Helen Ramirez of CA @ Oct 22, 2009 16:38:35 PM

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