PREDICTIVE FACTORS FOR MULTIPLE PREGNANCY IN IN-VITRO FERTILIZATION

OBJECTIVE: To study predictive factors influencing the multiple pregna ncy rate in in vitro fertilization (IVF). STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective study. RESULTS: In 1,736 IVF cycles, 453 pregnancies occurred. The rat e of singleton, twin and triplet pregnancies was 44%, 22% and 4.5%, re spectively Eighty-one per cent of these clinical pregnancies ended wit h a delivery, giving a ''take-home baby'' rate of 23.8%/oocyte retriev al. As expected, a statistically significant positive correlation was found between the number and quality of embryos replaced and the occur rence of multiple pregnancies. A statistically significant correlation was also found when parameters such as age, stimulation parameters an d embryo characteristics were incorporated into the analysis. This cor relation was different for singleton, twin and triplet pregnancies. CO NCLUSION: Based on the findings of this study, in patients with a good prognosis for IVF outcome, only two embryos of good quality should be replaced regardless of the maternal age or number of IVF attempts.