title: Elective transfer of two embryos: reduction of multiple gestations while maintaining high pregnancy rates.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine if the elective transfer of two embryos reduced the incidence of multiple gestations while maintaining high pregnancy rates.
  
  
  METHODS
  IVF patients and recipients of oocyte donation with an elective day-3 transfer of 2 or 3 embryos were studied.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In IVF, the elective transfer of 2 embryos resulted in similar pregnancy rate but significantly reduced the overall incidence of multiple gestations (20% versus 39%) when compared to the elective transfer of 3 embryos. Twin gestations decreased from 28% to 19%, and triplets significantly decreased from 9% to 1%. In oocyte donation, the elective transfer of 2 embryos resulted in similar pregnancy rate but also significantly reduced the overall incidence of multiple gestations (26% versus 48%), with twins decreasing from 34% to 24%, and with a significant reduction of triplets (13% versus 2%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In IVF and oocyte donation, the elective transfer of 2 embryos resulted in similar pregnancy rates and significantly reduced multiple gestation rates when compared to the elective transfer of 3 embryos.
authors.affiliation: The Jones Institute for Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Eastern Virginia Medical School, 601 Colley Avenue, Norfolk, Virginia, 23507, USA.
authors.forename: Donna
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dowling-Lacey
authors.forename: Estella
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: Jacob
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mayer
authors.forename: Silvina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bocca
authors.forename: Laurel
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Stadtmauer
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Oehninger
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004624:Embryo Transfer; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D006801:Humans; D018587:Oocyte Donation; D011247:Pregnancy; D018873:Pregnancy Rate; D011272:Pregnancy, Multiple / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*