Why are twins more common in IVF? - Pregnancy and Par...

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Why are twins more common in IVF?

Clariee profile image
4 Replies

just got curious

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Clariee
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4 Replies

Because they sometimes put two embryos back in and if they both take will lead to twin pregnancy or more

Clariee profile image
Clariee in reply to

Oh, thank you

sweetpepper profile image
sweetpepper

Because it is very common practice to replace two or more embryos into the uterus, to increase the odds of at least one surviving.

In natural conception, most women produce just one viable egg per cycle, so are most likely to have a single baby. If they happen to produce two or more viable eggs, fraternal twins are a possibility. If a fertilized embryo splits, they can end up with identical twins.

IVF is hugely stressful and expensive to go through, so many women and couples prefer to increase the risk of having twins (by putting back two or more embryos instead of one) in order to decrease the risk of a failed cycle (which might be their last ever chance to conceive at all).

In some countries, there are strict limits on how many embryos can be replaced in an IVF cycle. In Ukraine, for example, you can have 3 embryos implanted according to their law.

emmab178 profile image
emmab178

As well advice putting two embryos in some evidence to suggest maternal age increases chance of twins and it’s more ‘older’ women who get ivf.

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