Further IVF Improvements: Single Embryo Transfer

IVF has dramatically improved in many ways.  Pharmaceutical agents are more pure and numerous.  Our understanding of how to improve the number and quality of oocytes has been revolutionized.  Laboratory protocols have also advanced, as well as ultrasound technology. Single Embryo Transfer (SET) is another new protocol, used to reduce the likelihood of twins or triplets. Although most parents are happy to be pregnant with multiples, medically speaking, a single baby is associated with much fewer complications: in utero, during birth, and developmentally as an infant.

The last decade has been focused on reduction of high order multiple pregnancies such as triplets.  This decade we are focusing on reduction of twins.  It is well established that the best obstetrical outcome is with a singleton pregnancy.  We are now able to offer some patients single embryo blastocyst transfer.  Typically this will be an individual who is less than 35 years of age with high quality blastocysts who will have  additional embryos to freeze in case pregnancy does not occur immediately.  Those patients are expected to have a clinical pregnancy rate per embryo transfer of at least 50%.  Many of these patients are enrolled in our money back IVF guarantee program which lets them continue treatment without financial risk till live birth.  These program participants can do up to 3 fresh and 3 frozen cycles at no extra program cost.  The end point of this program is live birth or a 70% refund of all fees.   Twin rates with single embryo transfer are less than 1% vs. 25% with a 2 embryo transfer.

We are delighted that single embryo transfer is a reality!  It has taken decades of our work and your patience.  We expect this effort will continue for another decade as technology continues to evolve.

Ovulation-Inducing Drugs & Cancer Risk

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, which often sparks concern for reproductive cancers as well. There has been some debate about the use of ovulation-inducing drugs and any significant correlation with ovarian cancer. Fortunately, recent data has been very reassuring.

Below is a summary of 10 studies, with the most recent study done in 2009. The data concludes that fertility drugs, even when used for prolonged periods, are not associated with an increase in ovarian cancer. For additional studies and information, visit our website: http://www.cincinnatifertility.com/infertility-treatment/ovulation-drugs/cancer-risks.

54,362 women with infertility problems referred to all Danish fertility clinics during 1963-98. The median age at first evaluation of infertility was 30 years (range 16-55 years), and the median age at the end of follow-up was 47 (range 18-81) years. Included in the analysis were 156 women with invasive epithelial ovarian cancer (cases) and 1241 sub-cohort members identified in the cohort during follow-up in 2006.

Analyses within cohort showed no overall increased risk of ovarian cancer after any use of gonadotrophins, clomifene, human chorionic gonadotrophin, or gonadotrophin releasing hormone. Furthermore, no associations were found between all four groups of fertility drugs and number of cycles of use, length of follow-up, or parity.

Conclusion: No convincing association was found between use of fertility drugs and an increased risk of ovarian cancer.