title: Embryo transfer practices in the United States: a survey of clinics registered with the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To gain a better understanding of factors influencing clinicians' embryo transfer practices.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional survey.
  
  
  METHODS
  Web-based survey conducted in December 2008 of individuals practicing IVF in centers registered with the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology (SART).
  
  
  METHODS
  None.
  
  
  METHODS
  None.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prevalence of clinicians reporting following embryo transfer guidelines recommended by the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM), prevalence among these clinicians to deviate from ASRM guidelines in commonly encountered clinical scenarios, and practice patterns related to single embryo transfer.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Six percent of respondents reported following their own, independent guidelines for the number of embryos to transfer after IVF. Of the 94% of respondents who reported routinely following ASRM embryo transfer guidelines, 52% would deviate from these guidelines for patient request, 51% for cycles involving the transfer of frozen embryos, and 70% for patients with previously failed IVF cycles. All respondents reported routinely discussing the risks of multiple gestations associated with standard embryo transfer practices, whereas only 34% reported routinely discussing single embryo transfer with all patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although the majority of clinicians responding to our survey reported following ASRM embryo transfer guidelines, at least half would deviate from these guidelines in a number of different situations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri. Electronic address: jungheime@wudosis.wustl.edu.
authors.forename: Emily S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Jungheim
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa.
authors.forename: Ginny L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Ryan
authors.affiliation: Program in Reproductive and Adult Endocrinology, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, Maryland.
authors.forename: Eric D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Levens
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri.
authors.forename: Alexandra F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Cunningham
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri.
authors.forename: George A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Macones
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri.
authors.forename: Kenneth R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Carson
authors.affiliation: Fertility Centers of Illinois, Chicago, Illinois.
authors.forename: Angeline N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Beltsos
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri.
authors.forename: Randall R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Odem
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003376:Counseling; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004624:Embryo Transfer / Q000941:ethics / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D019983:Guideline Adherence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent; D011247:Pregnancy; D011364:Professional Practice / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012042:Registries; D027724:Reproductive Techniques, Assisted / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012955:Societies, Medical / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000458:organization & administration; D014481:United States