THURSDAY, Jan. 12 (HealthDay News) -- The decision to implant one or two embryos in women during in vitro fertilization (IVF) should account for maternal factors, including age, but three or more embryos should never be implanted, regardless of age, according to a study published online Jan. 12 in The Lancet.
Debbie A. Lawlor, Ph.D., of the University of Bristol, and Scott M. Nelson, Ph.D., of the University of Glasgow -- both in the United Kingdom, used data from the U.K. Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority to compare rates of live birth, multiple birth, low birth weight, and preterm birth in women younger than 40 years and those aged 40 years or older. A total of 124,148 IVF cycles, which yielded 33,514 live births, were included.
The researchers found that, compared to the transfer of one embryo, when two embryos were transferred there was an increased likelihood of live birth in women 40 years or older versus those younger than 40 years (odds ratio [OR], 3.12 versus 2.33). The absolute difference in the risk of live birth was smaller but still significant (0.090 versus 0.156, in the older and younger groups, respectively). For multiple birth, preterm birth, and low birth weight, the odds ratios and absolute differences were all smaller in older than younger women. The transfer of three embryos did not increase live birth rates but did increase the risk of adverse perinatal outcomes.
"Transfer of three or more embryos at any age should be avoided. The decision to transfer one or two embryos should be based on prognostic indicators, such as age," write the authors.
Abstract
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