Bay IVF Specialists To Restrict Number Of Embryos Transferred

Main Category: Fertility
Article Date: 10 Nov 2009 - 1:00 PDT

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As part of a nationwide effort to reduce unnecessary multiple births resulting from fertility treatment, the Reproductive Science Center of the San Francisco Bay Area (RSC) has embraced revised guidelines issued this October by the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) intended to limit the number of embryos that should be transferred during in vitro fertilization (IVF) procedures.

"In the past 30 years that IVF has been available, the public gradually accepted the idea that multiple births are a normal part of fertility medicine. But today, thanks to improvements in medical technology, a single healthy baby is not only the ideal outcome, it is achievable," said Dr. Mary Hinckley of RSC.

The topic of multiple embryo implantation gained national attention when Nadya Suleman gave birth to eight babies last winter. The ASRM recently expelled her doctor, calling his decorum "detrimental to our field."

"While the course of treatment ultimately depends on an individual's age and health, we adhere to ASRM guidelines. We strongly advise patients to consider the higher chance of complications associated with twins and to aim for one healthy child at a time," said Hinckley.

"Many patients have endured long and difficult struggles with infertility and become enamored with the idea of twins. But they haven't seen the preemies born with lifelong medical ailments due to multiple gestation," she added. The new guidelines regarding number of embryos transferred are for:

-- Women under 35: no more than two embryos

-- Women 35 to 37 who have a favorable prognosis: no more than two

-- Women 38 to 40 who have a favorable prognosis, no more than three; all others no more than four

-- Women 41 to 42: five maximum

-- Women 43 and older: data were insufficient to recommend limits

About RSC

Established in 1983, RSC was among the first in the nation to report a successful pregnancy from donated egg, and was also responsible for the nation's second successful frozen embryo transfer.

Source: Reproductive Science Center of the San Francisco Bay Area

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