Get SET for healthier babies

There have been reports of the increased success of single embryo transfer and now the online version of the British Medical Journal confirms it as well. Women who go for single embryo transfer (SET) as part of an in vitro fertilization treatment are five times more likely to have a successful pregnancy.

The BMJ strongly recommends that clinicians should recommend SET rather than double embryo transfer because the success rate is so high. This could be a hard sell to families who are trying to hedge their bets with a second egg. Additionally, success rates are increasing with DET. However, with that success comes all the risks of a multiple birth including increased maternal and perinatal illness and even death not to mention much increased medical costs.

Results of the research showed that the chances of a full term single birth following single embryo transfer were almost five times higher than those utilizing double embryo transfer. Women were also 87% more likely to avoid a premature birth with SET. The chance of a low birth weight baby was also reduced by a third. The chance of a healthier baby is significantly higher with SET.

“Our review should be used in informing decision making regarding the number of embryos to transfer in IVF. Given the opportunity for replacing a single frozen thawed embryo in subsequent cycle, elective single embryo transfer should thus be the default position,” the researchers concluded.

Source: British Medical Journal, Medical News Today