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Introduction
Hello, I am Dr. Vaishali Chaudhary, Head of the Fertility and IVF Department at Momstory by Sahyadri Hospital, Pune. Today, I want to address a common misconception about IVF: that undergoing IVF always results in twin pregnancies.
Understanding the Myths
I remember a patient who once told me that they did not want an IVF pregnancy because it would result in twins, and everyone in their village would know they had undergone IVF. This is a misunderstanding. Not every IVF pregnancy results in twins. Let’s delve into why this misconception exists.
The IVF Process and Embryo Selection
During IVF, we create embryos and then select the best ones. Sometimes we create four embryos, sometimes three, five, or two. At our unit, we predominantly use day-five embryos, known as blastocyst embryos. If we transfer two embryos, sometimes only one implants, and the other does not grow. If I transfer two embryos, not all patients will have twins. In about 25-30% of cases, both embryos will attach and result in twins.
Risks of Twin Pregnancies
Managing twin pregnancies is high-risk for any woman. It increases the chances of high blood pressure, diabetes, and puts more load on the heart. Normal delivery is often not possible, and a cesarean section is required. This is why we aim to avoid twin pregnancies and prefer single embryo transfers.
Single Embryo Transfers and Success Rates
Recently, we have seen that even single embryo transfers are successful. Our success rate for voluntarily single embryo transfers is around the same percentage as transferring two. This gives us confidence in our laboratory’s ability to create high-quality embryos, reducing the need to transfer multiple embryos.
Advancements in IVF Technology
I have been working in this field for almost 30 years and as an IVF specialist for 20 years. Twenty years ago, we could not create day-five embryos and often transferred embryos on day three or even day two. As techniques and equipment improved, so did our ability to create better embryos and select the best ones for transfer. Today, nearly 50% of my patients have a single embryo transferred.
Managing Patient Expectations
Sometimes, we still transfer two embryos, especially if the patient is over 35 or has had previous IVF failures. However, we explain to patients, especially excited husbands who think having twins would be fun, that twin pregnancies are high-risk.
Do Twins Look Alike?
Another common question is whether twins will look exactly the same. When we create embryos through IVF, each embryo is made from different sperm, so they will be similar, like siblings, but not identical.
Freezing Embryos
Today, we often create and freeze multiple embryos. Patients can return years later to use these frozen embryos for a second child. Technically, these embryos are like twins, created on the same day but born years apart.
Conclusion
If you need more information or have any doubts about IVF and twin pregnancies, please contact us. We are happy to help.
