Two Newspapers Publish Fertility Treatment-Related Articles

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• New York Times: In response to an increase in multiple births following fertility treatments, some experts are taking steps to reduce the risk of twin and larger multiple pregnancies among women undergoing fertility treatments, the Times reports. Multiple pregnancies carry an increased risk of preterm birth and other complications. The percentage of twin births has increased by 70% to 3.2% of all live births since 1980, when in vitro fertilization first became available in the U.S., according to the Times. As IVF success rates have increased, fertility clinics are focusing on transferring fewer embryos and identifying embryos most likely to result in a live birth. The number of IVF cycles in which four or more embryos are transferred has decreased from 62% in 1996 to 21% in 2004, resulting in a decrease in triplets born through IVF. The rate of twin births has remained constant because few women are willing to undergo a single embryo transfer during IVF. The American Society of Reproductive Medicine recommends that women younger than age 35 undergoing IVF who have a good prognosis have only one embryo transferred and that women older than age 37 have three to five embryos implanted. According to the Times, the "main obstacle" to SET is the procedure's lower success rate compared with multiple embryo transfer, but physicians are developing tests aimed at identifying embryos with genetic abnormalities in an effort to increase the success of SET (Tarkan, New York Times, 2/19).
  
  
• Wall Street Journal: An increasing number of U.S. couples are traveling abroad to undergo IVF because of the procedure's lower cost in countries such as Canada, the Czech Republic, Israel and Thailand. According to the Journal, IVF in foreign countries often costs a "fraction" of what it does in the U.S., even after accounting for travel costs. In addition, some women are seeking IVF abroad because they have been turned away by U.S. clinics because of their age. According to U.S. fertility experts, IVF is a low-risk procedure but patients seeking IVF abroad should consider the reputation and success and complication rates of fertility clinics, as well as their liability and right to pursue legal action if necessary. The Web site http://www.ivfvacation.com/ charges couples between $1,500 and $2,500 to arrange appointments at a Czech fertility clinic and to provide translation and other services. Another Web site, http://www.ivfthailand.com/, helps couples arrange treatments at fertility clinics in Thailand, and the CHEN Patient Fertility Association in Israel helps couples arrange for fertility treatments and sightseeing tours in the country (Tesoriero, Wall Street Journal, 2/19).