When undergoing IVF procedures, many couples give birth to twins. However, a new scientific study asserts that the risk of having twins or triplets can be significantly reduced. This study was conducted in seven fertility clinics in Australia and covered 18,396 women.
Analysis of Study Data
The analysis focused on women who underwent IVF for the first time between 2012 and 2021. The study found that using blastocyst and vitrification technologies within IVF is beneficial. Applying these methods helps lower the probability of having twins or triplets.
Results of Applying New Methods
According to the study data, when these modern techniques are used, about 68% of women successfully carried a child through three IVF cycles. Furthermore, the rate of having more than one child was only 2.9%. These figures indicate that the risk of having twins during IVF is substantially reduced thanks to these technologies.
How IVF Works Using These Technologies
Previously, the effectiveness of IVF was lower. To increase the chances of conception, doctors often transferred two or more embryos into the uterus simultaneously, which led to the birth of twins in some cases. Such pregnancies could cause premature labor, low birth weight, and an increased risk of various health problems associated with pregnancy. However, blastocyst and vitrification technologies can minimize the risk of having twins if IVF centers begin to widely apply these methods.
Description of Blastocyst and Vitrification Technologies
The study conducted in Australia utilized blastocyst and vitrification technologies. The blastocyst technology involves more careful development of the embryo in the laboratory. Instead of transferring the embryo immediately, as was done previously, it is developed for five to six days using blastocyst technique before transfer. Additionally, vitrification technology is applied—this is a modern freezing method that ensures embryo preservation. The advantage of these methods is that only one embryo is transferred to the mother's womb.
Increasing Procedure Success
The most important finding of the new work is that in approximately 95% of cases, only one embryo was transferred, while the success rate remained higher than before. This showed that women do not require the transfer of two embryos to achieve a positive result with IVF, which also significantly reduces the probability of having twins.
Expert Opinion
Dr. Sneha Mishra, a consultant at the IVF and infertility department at Joshaada Medicity Hospital in Ghaziabad, commented on these technologies. She noted that these methods indeed reduce the likelihood of having twins. Although this technology has existed for a long time and is used in India, many couples prefer the standard IVF procedure to have two children. Nevertheless, for couples wishing to have one child, the application of blastocyst and vitrification technologies is highly advantageous.