IVF: Are they scaremongering about twin pregnancy risks?

[EasterBunny7]

I have to make a decision by tonight whether I agree to 2 embryo transfers instead of 1, as I have to submit my consent. I've had two failed rounds, hence the option given for 2.

What I am concerned about are the risks of disability, cerebral palsy, birth defects, death.... but all around us, women have healthy twins all the time? Is the likelihood of these incidences really that high?

Hi @EasterBunny7 to be honest I was quite shocked at how they present the risks of a twin pregnancy, considering twins are fairly common.

I understand that there would be a higher risk in a twin pregnancy than a single pregnancy, but I think when it comes to a very high risk pregnancy it's more about 3 or more fetuses.

Clinics need to try and reduce the number of multiple pregnancies so I think this plays a part in how they present the risks. But given that IVF with a single transfer has a higher chance of a twin pregnancy than natural conception, it has the negative impact of scaring women who have read the information leaflets and are then extremely concerned about their risk.

I guess whether you think a double transfer is the best option for you depends on your circumstances. If you are in a category where euploid rates are low then a double would be a good idea. If you are younger then there isn't much point. In my situation, I have had my embryos tested and only have euploids now, there wouldn't be any point in me having a double transfer as the chance of success with a double is only slightly higher than a single. So to give each embryo the best chance I would have better success rates cumulatively with 2 single transfers than 1 double.

I can only give my experience as an IVF twin mummy

• pregnancy was brutal. I didn't have morning sickness or anything so was lucky in that respect but it was physically hard and I was on bed rest from 18 weeks. I could barely walk or stand towards the end of my pregnancy whereas I was fit and healthy pre pregnancy.

• my resting heart rate went from 67 to 110 so it was a huge strain on my body

• I almost lost my twins at 28 weeks, 30 weeks and at 34 weeks when they were born - all 3 of us nearly died due to placental abruption and haemorrhage

• twins spent 3 weeks in NICU and SCBU they are healthy now though

I would say I know about 12 other twin mums - both naturally conceived and IVF ones. Other than me one other had a bad experience and her heart gave out during the c section but thankfully they revived her and her and the twins are perfectly fine now - all the others had very few issues and made it to about 36/37 weeks pregnancy

Having twins is amazing and i would totally put our last two frozen embryos back in one day but I know physically and medically I couldn't do it a second time

Only do it though if you are prepared to have twins (and can afford them) or triplets - I know lots of ladies who put 2 back in and had triplets! 😬

I forgot to say that out of about a dozen women I met at the hospital during my pregnancy I was the only ivf one - I was very surprised as thought ivf twins were more common. I also met 2 triplet mums to be and they were Naturally conceived too so I don't think the rate of ivf multiples is anywhere near the rate of natural ones x

I only know of the infertile midwife on Instagram who was pregnant with twins and lost them both 🥲 for me I wouldn’t take the chance if you haven’t been pregnant before as you don’t know how you will get on. My sister in law got pregnant at 29, first month of trying, perfectly healthy person, no issues at all. She ended up having an extremely high risk pregnancy and her little girl was born at 24 weeks and passed away soon afterwards. She is now on medication for life and has since had a little girl but she was born at 32 weeks with weekly monitoring during her second pregnancy. She had to go to every appointment with a suitcase in case she had to be kept in.

@Gardenlady543

I feel the same! When IVF clinics constantly talk of the risk of multiples, I do feel it is because they themselves have a target to get that rate down.

@ivfgottwins

I took your experience seriously and it really made me pause yesterday night. Strangely enough, bed rest is something I really do not want, I suppose because I want nothing to make my job insecure as I'd like to go back after kids.

I was sad to hear about your near losses but so glad everyone made it through!

Then, you gave me stats of 2/12 twin pregnancies being difficult and that swayed me again!

@ForeverAintEnough3
Didn't read your comment till just now but of course it's been a dash of reality. I've been pregnant twice but there must be some genetic issue with my embryos so I decided to go with two. I'm sorry to hear about your sister as well. It does highlight that things can go wrong even with a singleton pregnancy. I hope she and your niece get stronger and better!

I've got 4 embryos frozen in 2s and my clinic (abroad) is all for multiple embryo transfers. So I totally get where you're coming from. I think about this a lot! I will be putting 2 back in and risking the risks (it was a donor cycle so the eggs were from a 20 year old, so pretty likely to "stick" compared to my 37 year old eggs). It does scare me. The miscarriage risks and having children with additional needs due to early birth. But I'm choosing to have 2 put back because I don't want to go through 4 transfers. I can't afford it either! And I do think that the UK are massively ott partly because twins can cost the nhs a lot of money in nicu care.
I think twins would be incredibly hard work but also amazing and I'm willing to risk it.

What did you end up going for OP?

@AliceAbsolum

We've gone with 2 embryos this time round. We're at a point where we would just love to have any child, and my embryos aren't 'sticking' so who's to say either one of these will? We've obviously taken into consideration that we may end up with two, which is hugely nerve wracking but we're ready to start a family! My mind can't quite comprehend how it will be with two babies but we're financially stable, have a good support system etc.

When does yours go ahead? Are you able to fly out with the current situation?

Good luck in your TWW @EasterBunny7 fingers crossed for you. You might be interested in this thread - a good few doubles led to a singleton pregnancy.

rollercoaster.ie/community/fertility-issues/previous-successes-how-many-babies-after-double-embryo-transfer/

@AliceAbsolum I was on the TMI April thread with you many ions ago - I’ve name changed since. Sorry to hear you’ve also still not had success. Hope you’re doing ok. Did you get travelling in the end?

@EasterBunny7 Good news on the transfer. Hope you have success with 1 or 2 babies in 9 months
I was ttc for 5 years, 3rd cycle finally worked but then miscarriage at 8 weeks. It finished me off tbh. Then covid hit. So DH and I are traveling for a year or two. It's lovely to be having nothing to do with ivf!

@foreveraintenough3 Hey. Yes we did. We vlog it if you're interested/bored
youtube.com/c/RunningOffGrid

@AliceAbsolum great you did it. I hope you’re enjoying an ivf free zone! I’m going on holidays on two weeks and o can’t wait to even be free of it for that! I’m not taking any vitamins with me ha.

Great news! Wishing you lots of luck! And don't stress about symptoms in the 2ww - I didn't have anything - literally nothing and I had twins!

Ive always had a feeling that my 2 embryos needed each other to stick

I had one embryo put back in and ended up with twins. It was enough of a rarity that the midwife doing my early scan called through for a sonographer and then a doctor to double check what she was seeing before they gave me the news.

It was a high risk pregnancy and I was monitored every fortnight, and then every week for the last few weeks. They were recommended to be delivered early at 32 weeks and spent a month in NICU before coming home.

@AliceAbsolum loving your vlog. You both have great presenters voices!

Ha ha. Not sure about that. It's so unnatural talking to camera

@EasterBunny7 how'd it go? Bfp? Xx

@AliceAbsolum

Hi Alice, thanks for remembering me. When I got in touch, I was at the consent stage. I was supposed to start Buserelin injections about two weeks ago but they decided that my cycles were too irregular and they'd rather I start a new cycle, afresh. So, I'm currently waiting for my period, and even then they've given me a September date for the actual transfer . The waiting game never ends.