For many couples struggling with infertility, In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) or test tube baby procedure offer a hopeful path to parenthood. The simple answer is yes—IVF pregnancies do carry a higher chance of twins or even triplets, especially in earlier practices of the procedure.
What Is a Test Tube Baby?
A test tube baby is a child conceived through IVF, where an egg is fertilized by sperm outside the body in a laboratory. The resulting embryo is then transferred into the uterus to develop naturally like any other pregnancy. This method is commonly used when couples face fertility challenges due to age, health conditions, or unexplained infertility.
Why Are Twins More Common in IVF?
There are a few reasons why twin pregnancies are more common with IVF:
1. Multiple Embryo Transfer
In earlier IVF protocols, doctors often transferred two or more embryos to increase the chances of pregnancy. This significantly raised the likelihood of twins or higher-order multiples.
2. Controlled Ovarian Stimulation
During IVF, women take hormone medications to stimulate the ovaries and produce multiple eggs. This increases the number of embryos available, and if more than one is implanted, twins or triplets may result.
3. Higher Fertility Support
With advanced fertility support, even slightly weaker embryos can successfully implant and develop, potentially leading to multiple pregnancies.
How Common Are Twins in IVF?
While twin rates in natural pregnancies are around 1-2%, IVF pregnancies can see twin rates of 20-30%, especially when multiple embryos are transferred. However, this trend is changing.
Modern IVF clinics now follow a single embryo transfer (SET) policy for many patients, particularly younger women with good-quality embryos. This practice significantly reduces the chance of twin pregnancies and the associated health risks.
Are There Risks Associated with Twin Pregnancies?
Yes, twin pregnancies—whether conceived naturally or through IVF carry higher health risks for both the mother and the babies, including:
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Preterm birth
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Low birth weight
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High blood pressure during pregnancy
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Gestational diabetes
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Cesarean delivery
Fertility specialists aim to reduce these risks by limiting the number of embryos transferred during IVF.
Is Having Twins Through IVF Always Intentional?
Not necessarily. While some couples may request the transfer of two embryos in hopes of conceiving twins, others may be surprised to learn both embryos implanted successfully. That’s why careful planning and counseling are essential before embryo transfer.
Advances in IVF: Reducing Multiple Births
To make IVF safer, modern clinics now use:
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Single embryo transfer (SET) techniques
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Genetic screening (PGT-A) to select the healthiest embryo
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Blastocyst transfer on day 5 for better implantation prediction
These practices have significantly lowered twin rates while maintaining high success in pregnancy.
Final Thoughts
Yes, especially when multiple embryos are transferred. However, with today’s medical advancements and personalized care, fertility specialists can now minimize that risk. For most couples, the goal is a healthy, full-term singleton pregnancy and with careful embryo selection and transfer policies, this is very achievable.
For More Details: https://acimc.org/ivf-lahore/
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