Single Blastocyst Achieves High Conception Rate for Older Women
(sz) Women older than 35 seeking in vitro fertilization may not need multiple embryo transfers to optimize pregnancy, according to investigators here.
More than half of a group of women (mean age 37.3) became pregnant or had successful live-born delivery after single blastocyst transfer, Amin Milki, M.D., of Stanford, and colleagues, reported in the October issue of Fertility and Sterility. According to the CDC, more than half of all in vitro fertilization cycles using fresh non-donor eggs involve women older than 35. For that age group, the American Society of Reproductive Medicine recommends transfer of two to three embryos to enhance pregnancy rates.
But transfer of multiple embryos increases the likelihood of multiple gestations, the authors noted. Among women older than 35, almost a third of transfers result in multiple gestations. Multiple-gestation pregnancies increase the risks for both the mother and fetus, and those risks are further increased in older mothers, the authors continued.
The benefits of single-blastocyst transfer have been demonstrated previously, but primarily in younger women. Reviewed their experience with single-blastocyst transfer in women older than 35, Dr. Milki and colleagues identified 45 who underwent elective single-blastocyst transfer when multiple blastocysts were available. more…
From: »MedPage Today«