A notable phenomenon of the IVF process is that you are more likely to have twins or triplets through this technology. As an intended parent, you may wonder, “What are the chances of twins with IVF today, and is there a way to increase or decrease those chances?” In this blog, we answer this question for hopeful parents across the country and provide clarity on why twins are so common with IVF.
How Common Are Twins With IVF?
Approximately 6% of all natural pregnancies are twins. With IVF (in vitro fertilization), the chances of twins increase significantly: around 25 to 30% of IVF pregnancies are twins! The increased risk of multiple pregnancy is largely due to the (now outdated) practice of transferring multiple embryos at the same time during IVF.
Today, thanks to advancements in medical techniques, the risk of multiple pregnancies with IVF has been greatly reduced. Fertility specialists have identified several factors that increase the risk of twin pregnancy:
- Laser-assisted hatching can help prevent fertilization failure, but it may increase the risk of multiple pregnancies when two or more embryos are transferred at a time.
- ICSI also carries the same risk; it improves the chances of implantation, resulting in a higher chance of both embryos implanting in a multiple embryo transfer.
- Women who have a family history of natural twin births also have a higher chance of conceiving twins via IVF.
- Sometimes as women age, they begin to lose two eggs during ovulation instead of one. Thus, women at an advanced maternal age have been observed to have increased chances of twins with IVF.
- Women with a higher BMI may face increased chances of twins
- Transferring embryos that have reached the blastocyst stage can increase the chances of twins via IVF
Types of Twins
Broadly, twins can be categorized as fraternal twins or identical twins.
Monozygotic twins
Monozygotic or identical twins develop from a single embryo that splits into two. Both twins share the same DNA and are usually of the same sex.
Dizygotic twins
Dizygotic or fraternal, twins develop from two different fertilized eggs. They have different DNA and are basically siblings.
Why Does IVF Increase The Chances Of Twins?
When IVF was still a new procedure, transferring four or more embryos to the mother’s womb was the norm. Over time, there was a growing awareness surrounding the risks of multiple pregnancy. Consequentially, doctors began transferring fewer embryos to the mother’s womb during embryo transfer and reduced the chances of having twins with IVF.
However, the practice of transferring three embryos at a time continued until the late 1990s and early 2000s. Today many IVF clinics, including Bloom IVF, transfer only one or two embryos at a time to minimize the risk of multiple births.
Remember what we mentioned earlier? While fraternal twins result from the fertilization of two separate eggs, identical twins occur when a single fertilized egg splits. So although transferring a single embryo reduces the risk of twins, it doesn’t negate it completely.
The Benefits of Having Twins
Twins can feel like a blessing to infertile couples who have struggled for a long time to conceive one child—intended parents can add not one, but two bundles of joy to their family.
Women with advanced maternal age who have a diminished ovarian reserve may see twin pregnancies with IVF as their last chance at having two children. They are able to give birth to two babies without having to go through two separate pregnancies.
The Ivf cost in Chandigarh can be quite expensive, and some couples may require multiple rounds to get pregnant successfully. Delivering twins in a single IVF cycle saves time and money over another IVF cycle. A twin pregnancy is especially beneficial to intended parents who want two children.
Twins can help each other socialize quickly and may provide each other with emotional support, especially in early childhood. They also tend to keep each other occupied and may be easier to raise as a result.
The Risks of Having Twins
To put it simply, having twins is riskier than a regular pregnancy. The female womb can carry one child quite well, but two complicates things to a certain extent. A pregnancy with IVF twins can carry the following risks:
Health Risks for Babies
- Twins can have lower birth weight, which can cause health issues such as breathing problems, infections, jaundice, and developmental delays.
- Over 60% of twins are born premature. Premature birth can increase the risk of infant mortality, physical or mental disabilities, learning disorders, and other health risks.
- Twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS) is a condition in which one of the babies (donor twin) provides more blood to the other (recipient twin). This may cause malnourishment, smaller size, and organ failure in the donor twin and cardiac issues in the recipient twin. TTTS can also cause preterm labor and may sometimes prove fatal for one or both babies.
Health Risks for Mothers
- There is a higher risk of pre-eclampsia with twins, which is a pregnancy complication that causes high blood pressure, organ damage, and protein in the urine. It can cause seizures and even be fatal to the mother and babies.
- The risk of other pregnancy complications like gestational diabetes with twin or multiple pregnancies is significantly higher
- The maternal mortality rate for twin pregnancies is up to four times higher compared to singleton pregnancies.
- Twin births can also result in delivery complications like C-sections, which can be riskier than a regular delivery and cause hemorrhaging or internal bleeding.
Financial Considerations
- In addition to the health risks associated with twin births via IVF, it is important to consider the financial implications too. While you may have to pay for just one IVF cycle instead of two, having twins may end up costing you more money in the long run.
- The costs of food, clothing, childcare, and education increase significantly with twins.
- Twins may have increased medical expenses due to premature birth, including the cost of incubators, NICU care, and continuous monitoring of any long-term health risks they might face.
- It is also worth noting that selective fetal reduction is not allowed for financial reasons in Chandigarh. Choosing a reputable IVF centre that can reduce the chances of twins with IVF helps you avoid the very real and sometimes dangerous possibility of multiple births.
What is Fetal Reduction?
Sometimes one of your fetuses may be diagnosed with genetic conditions or incurable diseases while in the womb. This fetus has little to no chance of surviving after birth or will be born with severe physical or cognitive disabilities. Occasionally, its presence may pose a risk to the mother or the twin’s health.
Selective reduction is a risky procedure that is generally not recommended unless there is a significant health risk to the mother or fetuses, as there is a chance that it could injure the remaining fetus(es) as well.
Fetal reduction is typically considered in high-order multiple pregnancies (three or more fetuses) to improve the chances of a healthy birth. However, it can also be used in twin pregnancies.
How Does Bloom IVF Lower the Risk of Multiple IVF Births?
Multiple IVF births can be life-threatening. Bloom IVF is actively working towards reducing the chances of twins with IVF. We adhere to specific techniques and protocols proven to reduce the risk of multiple pregnancies.
We transfer only one or two embryos at a time to reduce the chances of dizygotic twins. We also monitor the embryos until day 5 (blastocyst stage) instead of day 3, as it allows for better selection of embryos and has a higher rate of implantation.
On your first IVF consultation, always ask your fertility specialist what measures the clinic takes to reduce the risk of multiples. Top clinics like Bloom IVF will always prioritize the health of the mother and child and focus on delivering a single, healthy baby.
Can I Choose To Have Twins With IVF?
While the possibility of having twins may seem exciting at first, remember that it can be medically complicated. Most specialists do not recommend twin pregnancy, as it poses health risks to mother and child.
You still have the option to have twins through IVF. You can discuss this with your fertility specialist, who may suggest certain procedures that increase the chances of twins with IVF. However, it is worth noting that there is no guaranteed way of having twins with IVF.
You could have a single pregnancy even when multiple embryos were transferred. Keeping realistic expectations will help you have a fulfilling IVF procedure, even if you don’t have twins.
IVF and Twins: Final Thoughts
Having twins can feel truly special. But before you choose to have twins with IVF, it’s worth discussing the risks with your fertility care team. We urge intended parents to carefully weigh the medical, emotional, and financial implications of this decision.
Talk to an IVF doctor in Chandigarh about your family’s medical history and your fertility journey, and discuss whether having twins is the right decision for you. At Bloom IVF, we maintain complete transparency about the risks and benefits of multiple pregnancies and ensure that our clients are well-informed before they make their decision.