Private MD News

Researchers predict risk of multiple births in fertilization treatments

Category: Infertitlity Hormone Testing

After receiving FSH test results indicating low levels of fertility, couples have many options. One of the most common is to undergo in vitro fertilization. However, even this procedure carries some risk, as many people end up delivering twins, which can result in complications.

Now, researchers have developed a method for predicting a woman's risk of giving birth to twins following fertilization treatment. The team said the finding could help make in vitro fertilization safer and more effective.

In this type of treatment, doctors often transfer multiple fertilized eggs to increase the chances that one will implant. However, two or more sometimes implant, which leads to multiple births.

In the present study, researchers from Stanford University developed a mathematical model that would predict a woman's risk of having multiple eggs implant based on her unique characteristics. They applied the method records from more than 2,000 double-embryo transfers and found that it accurately predicted most cases of twin birth.

The researchers said the predictive model could significantly improve the safety of in vitro fertilization treatments and will come as a major benefit to couples who have received unhealthy FSH test results.