Embryo Transfer: One or Two?

Should I Transfer One Embryo or Two?

A recently published study has provided new insights into whether it’s more beneficial to transfer one embryo or two. The authors demonstrated that the live birth rate is as good as or better with two single embryo transfer cycles than with one double embryo transfer cycle. In some patients the live birth rate was up to 20% higher. Other studies have shown that when two or more embryos are transferred, the excess embryos have a negative impact on the one viable embryo contributing to a low birth weight, a higher risk of preterm labor, an elevated risk of miscarriage and/or cognitive or developmental impairment.

Source: Barbara Luke, ScD, MPH, Morton B. Brown, PhD, Ethan Wantman, MBA, Judy E. Stern, PhD, Valerie L. Baker, MD, Eric Widra, MD, Charles C. Coddington III, MD, William E. Gibbons, MD, Bradley J. Van Voorhis, MD, G. David Ball, PhD.  Application of a validated prediction model for in vitro fertilization: comparison of live birth rates and multiple birth rates with 1 embryo transferred over 2 cycles vs 2 embryos in 1 cycle. Presented at the 35th annual meeting of the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine, San Diego, CA, Feb. 2-7, 2015.