ESHRE response to The Lancet report on the number of embryos to transfer
12th January 2012 - A prospective analysis of 124,148 IVF cycles (and 33,514 live births) published in The Lancet today provides further evidence on the association between the number of embryos transferred and live birth according to patient age.(1)
As indicated by earlier studies, the transfer of two embryos in patients both older and younger than 40 years led to higher birth rates than with single embryo transfers; however, live birth rates did not increase with the transfer of additional embryos, although the risk of adverse perinatal outcomes did increase. As a result, the investigators conclude that the transfer of three or more embryos should be avoided in IVF. The decision to transfer one or two embryos, they add, should be based on prognostic indicators such as age.
ESHRE's own policy on reducing the incidence of multiple pregnancies in IVF was set out clearly in its position paper on Good Clinical Treatment in Assisted Reproduction in 2008, in which single embryo transfer (SET) in selected groups of patients was advocated as "the only effective means of lowering the rate of twin pregnancies".(2)
However, ESHRE also made it clear that such SET policies can only be applied successfully in combination with high quality embryo selection and a good cryopreservation programme. The latter will ensure that cumulative birth rates with SET are just as high as with two-embryo transfers from a single cycle of oocyte retrieval, with a far lower likelihood of twin pregnancies. Success rates will also depend on the selection of good quality embryos with the potential for implantation; ESHRE's current trial of oocyte screening by comparative genomic hybridisation (CGH) will provide important new evidence.
Meanwhile, ESHRE remains committed to the practice of single embryo transfer as set out in its 2008 Good Clinical Treatment in Assisted Reproduction paper and, as The Lancet editorial also makes clear, to the concept of one healthy baby at a time.
Article in The Lancet
ESHRE position paper on Good Clinical Treatment in Assisted Reproduction
Francoise Shenfield, Coordinator of the ESHRE Task Force 'Cross Border Reproductive Care': We need a code of practice for cross-border reproductive care, BioNews
PGD Campus: Celebrating 20 years of preimplantation genetic diagnosis
Should IVF Be Affordable for All? Read more >
European IVF Monitoring report: Assisted reproductive technology in Europe 2006: results generated from European registers by ESHRE
ESHRE's Annual Meeting topped all records with 9 204 participants Read more >
Ana Chritina Cobo Cabal - On-going pregnancy rates from vitrified eggs as good as those from fresh, finds randomised trial Alicia Armstrong - New non-surgical treatment for uterine fibroids can improve quality of life and maintain fertility
Jacques de Mouzon - European IVF Monitoring Data Karl Nygren - Preliminary global ART data
Peter Sjoblom - Is early development altered in pregnancies after in vitro maturation of oocytes
Maria Lalioti - Researchers discover why some women are sub-fertile and have a poor response to ovarian stimulating hormones
Suzanna Frints - A cheap and simple, non-invasive blood test could replace invasive diagnostic techniques in early pregnancy
Cecilia Host Ramlau-Hansen - Drinking alcohol during pregnancy may damage sperm quality in sons
Noriko Kagawa - Increased longevity of old infertile mice after allo-transplantation of young mice ovaries
Srilatha Gorthi and Julie Nekkebroeck - Studies of women’s attitudes to ‘social egg freezing’ find that young professionals put career ahead of motherhood, while older women are still waiting for Mr. Right
Kelechi Nnoaham - Endometriosis has a significant effect on women’s work productivity, first worldwide study finds
Vivian Rittenberg - Overweight women undertaking ART twice as likely to miscarry as their slimmer counterparts
Paolo Emmanuele Levi Setti - Italian constitutional court modifications of a restrictive ART law significantly improve pregnancy rate Anna Pia Ferraretti - Italian patients amongst the most mobile in crossing borders for ART Filomena Gallo - Italian judges move to protect couples’ rights
Ciara Hughes - Is performing viral screening within 30 days of oocyte collection justified
Filippo Ubaldi/Luca Gianaroli - Women over 40 years have a higher risk of aneuploidy and Poor Ovarian Response (POR)
Joep Geraedts - PGS polar body study results
Fahimeh Ramezani Tehrani: Researchers develop accurate way to predict the age when women will hit the menopause
20 years of PGD to be reviewed in Rome post-congress course
FOR THE MEDIA: Why you should attend this event
ESHRE study on cross border care in six European countries
ESHRE engages publicly in some of the pressing issues society faces today: European demographic challenge and disease
Low-dose HCG may improve pregnancy rates and lower OHSS in antagonist cycles: a meta-analysis, ESHRE poster
Is cross-border reproductive care a problem, and for whom?, ESHRE Annual Meeting
Cheap IVF offers hope to childless millions, NewScientist from Task Force Developing Countries and Infertility
Prof. Robert Edwards: From embryo stem cells to blastema and MRL mice (PODCAST), ivfpodcasts
In Memoriam Yury Verlinsky by Luca Gianaroli, Chairman of ESHRE (PDF)
For more information on Yury Verlinsky
Study finds older moms just as healthy, but they worry more, ESHRE Annual Meeting
New genetic test to detect inherited diseases in embryos Text Genetic test to spot inherited diseases, ESHRE Annual Meeting
New Studies Demonstrate Accuracy Of Novel, Metabolomic Profiling Technology In Predicting Viability Of Frozen And Advanced Stage Embryos, ESHRE Annual Meeting
Will IVF work for a particular patient? The answer may be found in her blood
Women with endometriosis need special care during pregnancy to avoid risk of premature birth
Women with cystic fibrosis can have safe and successful fertility treatment
Single thawed embryo transfer after PGD does not affect pregnancy rates
Polycystic ovarian syndrome: New light on its causes and its effect on brothers
Daily sex helps to reduce sperm DNA damage and improve fertility
ICSI or IVF: Babies born from frozen embryos do just as well
Who goes abroad for fertility treatment and why?
Female human embryos adjust the balance of X chromosomes before implantation
Complications early in pregnancy or in previous pregnancies adversely affect existing or subsequent pregnancies
High levels of cycling training damage triathletes' sperm
Doctors say more ovary transplants possible
Trials for embryo quality test give infertile couples new hope
Increase in IVF Tourism for UK & European Couples Due to U.S. Economy & Progressive Laws, Fertility Centers of Illinois
New IVF Software MedITEX to be Presented at the ESHRE Exhibition, klkntv
CRi Oosight(TM) Instrument Crucial in IVF Breakthrough Demonstrating a Correlation Between Non-Invasive Egg Metrics and Pregnancy, PR Newswire
Recession reducing use of in vitro fertilization, Los Angeles Times
Newborns Need More Care After Assisted Conception, Wall Street Journal
Number of babies born by assisted reproduction rises by 12%, BMJ
250,000 babies born each year through assisted reproduction, Asia One
Test Tube Babies On the Rise Worldwide, US News
Thousands of women leaving UK for fertility treatment, The Guardian
IVF study backs use of single embryo, West Australian
Tackling issues in cross-border reproductive care, BioNews
Risicofactor: vruchtbaarheid, De Volkskrant
Parts of Italy’s law on assisted reproduction are ruled unconstitutional, BMJ
Exíste un nuevo destino turistico "para parejas infértiles", El Mañana
Re-shaping the family: What happens when parents seek siblings of their donor-conceived children, NewsRx
Fishing for microdeletions: now researchers can identify sections of DNA that predispose an embryo to develop cancer syndromes in later life, ObGyn
Anecova's In vivo culture system improves embryo quality in clinical study, BioTech Intelligence
The World's First 'Ice Baby' Grows Up, ObGyn
A look beyond headlines about fertility medicine, Pressdemocrat
Global Scientists Call For Greater Transparency Of Registered Clinical Trials On Endometriosis, Medilexicon
AP: Most fertility clinics break the rules, Komonews
Auge del turismo reproductivo en la Argentina: Fertilización asistida + viajes de placer, Urgente 24
ESHRE response to 'How good a solution is single embryo transfer (SET) for fertility patients? Read more>