Unraveling the mystery of why fewer parents are having twin and triplet births

Have you heard? Twin and triplet births are on the decline in the United States. Recent research from Northwell Health has found that the number of twins and triplets born has steadily decreased since 2004. This is true even though more babies are born from IVF today. A big reason for this decrease in pregnancies with multiples is single embryo transfer. Allow our Las Vegas fertility clinic to explain why.

What is single embryo transfer, and why is it important?

Single embryo transfer occurs as part of an IVF cycle. During the embryo transfer stage, one of our doctors uses a catheter to deposit one embryo into the patient’s uterus. Tools like preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) help our team select the best embryo to transfer.

In the earlier days of IVF, the world of reproductive medicine was very different. Genetic testing options were limited, so it was common to transfer several embryos to the uterus at the same time. The hope was that at least one would implant and grow into a baby. However, this practice could sometimes lead to twin and triplet births, or even pregnancies with higher-order multiples.

If you’ve been struggling to have a baby, the thought of having twins or triplets might sound like a dream come true. However, a pregnancy with multiples is riskier than a pregnancy with just one baby for several reasons.

• More risks for babies: The risk of being born premature or at a low birth weight is higher for twins and triplets. These babies are also more likely to need time in the NICU.
• More risks for the mother: Mothers who have twins or triplets are more likely to need a C-section and experience pregnancy and birth complications.
• More expensive: Healthcare costs are five times higher for twins than singletons, and 20 times higher for triplets.

These risks show that it’s actually a good thing that we’re seeing fewer twin and triplet births in the United States.

Offering the benefits of single embryo transfer to our patients

At The Fertility Center of Las Vegas, we always strive to maximize success rates and minimize risks for our patients. One of the ways we do this is by relying on single embryo transfer, which is something we have done for years.

In 2021, the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) recommended transferring just one embryo at a time in most situations. We are proud to say FCLV started performing single embryo transfers before this guidance even came out. In fact, we implemented this practice as soon as our implantation rates supported it, which was years earlier.

Our Las Vegas fertility clinic continues to help patients become parents using single embryo transfer. After all, we’re here to help you have all the babies you want, one at a time.

If you’re interested in learning more about how our team can help you have a baby, contact us to schedule an appointment today. We can help you explore the safest and best family-building options for you.