Hey friends! Let’s chat about something interesting happening in the world of fertility treatments: the decline in twins from procedures like IVF. You might think that having twins is a given when going through fertility treatment, but that’s not really the case anymore.
Back in the day, the number of twin births in the U.S. actually rose quite a bit—between 1998 and 2009, the rate of twins and higher-order multiples doubled. A big reason for this spike was more couples opting for fertility treatments. But nowadays, thanks to some pretty cool advancements in technology, the trend is shifting.
Insights from a Fertility Expert
I caught up with Dr. Emily Hart, a fertility expert, who explained that in the past, doctors had limited ways to evaluate embryos created during IVF. They typically looked at how quickly they developed and their physical traits over just a couple of days. This often led to transferring multiple embryos at once, which increased the chances of twins or more. They just wanted to give women a better shot at a healthy baby because it was hard to tell which embryo would implant successfully.
Advancements in Technology
These days, though, things have changed! With improved embryo culture techniques and genetic testing, doctors can now select the best embryo to transfer with way more confidence. At At Home Insemination, they focus on elective single embryo transfer (eSET). They wait until the embryos reach the blastocyst stage, where it’s easier to identify which one has the highest chance of leading to a successful pregnancy. This means fewer multiple births while still keeping success rates high. It’s all about having one healthy baby at a time, which is better for both mom and baby.
Additional Resources
So, if you’re curious about the ins and outs of the journey to parenthood, check out our other blog post about positive pregnancy tests here. And if you’re looking for tools to enhance fertility, you might want to explore some fertility boosters available here. Plus, if you’re just starting out on this path, an excellent resource is available here to help you navigate the IUI process.
Conclusion
In summary, the decline in twin births from fertility treatments is largely due to advancements in technology that allow for better embryo selection. The focus has shifted to ensuring healthier pregnancies for both mothers and babies, moving away from the assumption that fertility treatments automatically lead to twins.