What Are the Chances of Having Twins Through IVF?

In Vitro Fertilization is a type of Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) used to help people conceive a baby when they are facing difficulty in getting pregnant naturally. Below are the steps on how IVF works:

• Ovulation Stimulation: Here, the woman takes medications to stimulate her ovaries to produce multiple eggs instead of just one;
• Egg Retrieval: Once the eggs are ready, they are collected from the woman’s ovaries using a small needle under ultrasound guidance. This procedure is usually done under sedation;
• Fertilization: The collected eggs are then combined with sperm from the partner or a donor in a laboratory dish, where they are left to fertilize;
• Embryo Development: If the fertilization is successful, the embryo starts to develop over the next few days.
• Embryo Transfer: After a few days of development, one or more embryos are transferred into the woman’s uterus through the cervix using a thin tube. Any extra embryos can be frozen for future use.
• Pregnancy test: As two weeks pass after the embryo transfer, a pregnancy test is done to make sure if the IVF procedure was successful or not.

 

Twin Birth in Context of IVF

Twin birth in the context of in vitro fertilization(IVF) refers to the occurrence of twins due to the process of embryo transfer during the IVF procedure. Here is how twin birth usually takes place in the context of IVF:

• Embryo transfer: During the IVF procedure or cycle, one or more embryos are typically transferred into the woman’s uterus after fertilization in the laboratory. In many cases, more than one embryo is transferred to increase the chance of pregnancy. 
• Multiple Gestation: When more than one embryo successfully implants in the uterine lining and continues to develop, it can lead to multiple gestation pregnancies. Here the woman gets pregnant with twins or more. 
• Factors Influencing Twin Births: Several factors are responsible for a twin pregnancy, such as the number of embryos transferred, the age of the women, the quality of embryos, and the reproductive technique used during the IVF procedure.
• Selective Reduction: In some cases where more embryos are planted than actually desired, through the selective reduction process the number of fetuses in the uterus can be reduced which also lowers the risk associated with a multiple gestation pregnancy.
• Monitoring and Care: After the IVF procedure has been successfully performed and the procedure has resulted in twin pregnancies then it is important to have careful monitoring and management to ensure that there is no negligence with the well-being and health of babies.

 

Factors Affecting Twin Pregnancy Rates in IVF

There are various factors that can influence twin pregnancies, Some are discussed in detail below:

• Age of the Women: Age plays a crucial role in the likelihood of a twin pregnancy. Women in their 30s and early 40s tend to have a higher chance of releasing multiple eggs during ovulation. This increases the likelihood of conceiving twins. 

This happens because older women have higher levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), which stimulates ovaries to release more than one egg during each menstrual cycle. 

Also, the quality of eggs declines as women grow older, resulting in higher chances of multiple embryos being transferred during the IVF procedure to increase the chances of pregnancy. 

• Ovarian Reserve and Response to Stimulation: It refers to the number and quality of a woman’s remaining eggs. Here women with higher ovarian reserve may respond more robustly to ovarian stimulation medication used during IVF which results in the production of multiple eggs, 

As a result, this can increase the chances of having twins, if there is a transfer of more than one embryo. 

On the other hand, women with low ovarian reserve will produce fewer eggs which will reduce the chances of twin pregnancy. 

Before moving forward with the IVF procedure, tests like antral follicle count and anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) levels are taken to assess Ovarian Response through stimulation.

• Number of Embryos Transferred: Another factor influencing the likelihood of twin pregnancy is the number of embryos transferred. Transfer of multiple embryos increases the chance of pregnancy and many a time leads to twin pregnancies. 

This high number of embryo transfers can also lead to multiple gestation where a woman can get pregnant with twins, triplets, or higher-order multiples.

That’s why the best IVF specialists in Lucknow carefully consider the number of embryos to transfer by keeping in mind some factors such as a woman’s age, embryo quality, and previous IVF outcomes.

• Genetic Predisposition: This refers to the process where you are more likely to have certain traits or conditions because they run in your family. It is like inheriting traits from your parents such as height or eye color or some behavioural habits. So, if someone in your family has twins, you might also have a higher chance of having twins yourself because of your genes. 

 

Risks and Benefits Associated with Twin Pregnancies Through IVF

1. Potential Health Risks for Mothers: During or after the IVF procedure some potential risks may arise which can harm the mother’s health. They are:

• Gestational Diabetes: It is a condition characterized by high blood sugar levels during pregnancy, which can increase the level of complication resulting in poor health of both mother and baby. 
• Preeclampsia: It is a condition characterized by high blood pressure and signs of damage to other organs, especially kidneys. Twin pregnancies have an increased risk of developing preeclampsia.
• Preterm Birth: This is the situation where babies are born before completing the 37 weeks of gestation which usually causes health complications for the babies and may require special medical care.
• Placental Complication: Twin pregnancy may lead to placental complications such as placental abruption or placenta previa, which can affect the oxygen supply and nutrients to the babies increasing the risk of complications during the time of delivery.

 

Emotional and Financial Considerations

Couples need to address their emotional and financial consideration when contemplating or undergoing twin pregnancy through IVF. These considerations include:

• Emotional preparation: Females during twin pregnancy can experience high mood swings. The responsibility of the husband and family is to provide excessive emotional support to the mother. The family also needs to prepare the parents-to-be for the challenges and responsibilities required to raise the twins.
• Support System: Family, friends, and doctors need to build a good support system around the mother to provide her emotional support and necessary guidance and assistance through the pregnancy. 
• Financial Planning: It is important to discuss the finances and prepare the financial plan before the babies are born. This will eliminate all the chaos at the time of delivery or after the delivery. Discuss everything with the family and financial advisors about all the expenses related to fertility treatments, prenatal care, childbirth, education, and other associated costs.

 

Conclusion

In conclusion, a twin pregnancy is not common, but if it happens to you then you are blessed. Keep the procedure of IVF in mind and then take consultation with the best infertility specialist in Lucknow, so that you get the best and genuine treatment free from complexities and risks.