One in six couples suffer with infertility, which leads many to seek medical treatments, such as in vitro fertilization. Fortunately, new advancements have decreased some of the associated risks with the procedure.
Recently in the U.S., Nadya Suleman caused a media sensation with the birth of her octuplets. It also raised some ethical questions when it comes to in-vitro fertilization.
Such as -- just how many embryos should be transferred into a woman's uterus to increase the odds of pregnancy, while still maintaining safety for both the mother and baby?
Related: Infertility Awareness Week
Dr. Jason Hitkari of the Genesis Fertility Centre said there may be misperceptions among the public about twins, triplets and beyond.
"I think what's happened in the general public is that there's a perception that multiples aren't that risky and maybe a bit convenient," Hitkari said.
But that's not the case. Ninety-eight per cent of children who are part of a multiple birth are more than four weeks early. Many require specialized medical care, and risk potential life-long problems.
New research suggests that a single embryo transfer -- or "eset" -- may be just as successful as transferring multiple embryos.
"Now we're able to get pregnancy rates of over 60 per cent, putting a single embryo in the right patients -- those under 35," Hitarki said.
Those are essentially the same results you would get transferring two embryos -- while the risk for a multiple birth and it's complications drops substantially.
"We've dropped the issue of multiples from 30 per cent down to less than one per cent," Hitarki said.
Still, despite these advancements, for women over age 35 -- implanting more than one embryo is still the norm. Because no matter how healthy a woman is, after age 35, fertility drops off dramatically.
"That is a function of physiology," Hitkari said. "We want to balance the risk of multiples with allowing patients to have the best chance of pregnancy."
