Controlling the high order multiple birth rate: the European perspective.
The dramatic increase in the incidence of high order multiple pregnancies that has occurred since the mid-1970s is due to three main factors: increasing female age at conception; increasing use of ovulation induction agents and the introduction of sophisticated assisted reproduction techniques. High order multiple pregnancies are at significantly higher risk of complications than singleton pregnancies, for the fetuses, babies and the mothers. The aim of all fertility treatments is to achieve a healthy live child for each couple seeking treatment. Treatment of infertility by IVF and related techniques provides an ideal opportunity to limit the number of high order multiple pregnancies by reducing the number of embryos transferred to the woman. The realization that high order multiple pregnancy can and should be avoided has increasingly led, in most European countries, to a restriction of the number of embryos for transfer to two or even one, without a significant decrease in a couples' chance of achieving a pregnancy. The experience of European countries in reducing the number of embryos transferred is reviewed and a recommendation made that a responsible attitude to embryo transfer is adopted by all practitioners of assisted reproduction.
Medical Director, Bourn Hall Clinic, Cambridge, UK. brinsdenp@aol.com
Peter R
PR
Brinsden
D004624:Embryo Transfer; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D009099:Multiple Birth Offspring; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D018873:Pregnancy Rate; D018607:Pregnancy Reduction, Multifetal; D011272:Pregnancy, Multiple