Single Embryo Transfers: Safer IVF and Happier Couples
At New Hope, we promote single embryo transfers as a part of in vitro fertilization, or IVF, treatment. For years, couples have been told that transferring multiple embryos will provide them with the best chance of becoming pregnant. New research disputes this, with research showing that success rates with single embryo transfers rival that of multiple embryo transfers. What does increase with multiple embryo transfers is the likelihood of conceiving twins, triplets or high order multiples.
Risks For Expectant Mothers
There are some serious risks associated with multiple births for both mother and babies. Transferring a single embryo significantly reduces the chance of multiple pregnancy and the associated risks.
For mothers who carry multiple babies, risks include:
- Being more likely to develop preeclampsia
- A greater chance of developing high blood pressure
- Higher frequency of gestational diabetes
- Increased risk for developing complications that result in hospitalization or bed rest
- Becoming more susceptible to postpartum depression
Potential Risks To Babies
Risks are not solely an issue for the expectant mother. Risks to babies of multiple pregnancies include:
- Premature birth – 60 percent of twins and 90 percent of triplets are born prematurely. On average, twin pregnancies last 35 weeks. Triplet pregnancies average only 29 weeks in duration.
- Low birth weight – The weight of an average twin baby is 5.5 pounds, a pound and a half lighter than their singleton counterparts. Triplets on average weigh four pounds. If a baby weighs less than 5.5 pounds at birth, they are considered to have a low birth weight.
Increasing The Odds for Success
We offer Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD) as an option to determine which embryo is healthiest and most likely to result in a healthy pregnancy by determining if an embryo has any genetic abnormalities. This step is ideal for couples who have a history of genetic abnormalities or who want an added level of security. During PGD:
- Eggs are harvested as a part of IVF treatment and fertilized.
- The resulting embryos are monitored. When the embryo has developed between four and ten cells one cell is gently removed from the embryo using microsurgery.
- The removed cell is analyzed for genetic abnormalities.
The PGD process does not harm the embryo and can increase the chance of success as only the healthiest embryo will be implanted in the mother. Any surplus embryos can be frozen and stored for future cycles with confidence as they are known to be free of genetic defects. Testing makes IVF safer, reduces the likelihood of miscarriage and increases the success rate of IVF cycles.
Less Is More
Transferring multiple embryos can be stressful on couples and their babies. We have a “One Good Egg” approach. It takes just one good egg to result in a healthy pregnancy. The same is true for embryos
Single pregnancies are less likely to have complications and are less stressful for both parents. By reducing the chance of complications, single embryo transfers are safer and result in happier couples.
Find out how single embryo transfers can give you the family you’ve been waiting for, contact us today. Please click the link below to enter your information and New Hope will contact you, or simply call 212-517-7676. Thank You.
