For immediate release
March 3, 2004
Research May Eliminate the Incidence of Multiple Pregnancies With Advanced
Fertility Treatments
ENGLEWOOD, COLORADO — Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART) include a
variety of treatment options such as in vitro fertilization (IVF) which
have literally helped thousands of previously infertile couples to conceive.
Of late, many news stories have focused on multiple births. As miraculous
as this may appear for couples trying so hard to conceive, higher order
multiple pregnancies of three or more, and twin pregnancies to a lesser
extent, are associated with an increased risk of premature birth, low
birth weight and infants which can suffer long term disabilities. Women
also face an increased risk of severe complications in pregnancy. Therefore,
any action that can be taken to minimize the incidence of multiple pregnancy
without compromising the likelihood of conceiving would clearly be beneficial
to both mothers and their infants.
As part of the IVF procedure, multiple embryos have traditionally been
transferred to the uterus in an effort to increase the chances of a successful
pregnancy. The Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology (SART) currently
recommends transfer of no more than four embryos for patients aged 35-40
and two embryos for patients younger than age 35. While these recommendations
provide a maximum for clinicians to follow, improved technologies have
enabled increased pregnancy rates while minimizing the risk for multiples.
An exciting study recently completed at the Colorado Center for Reproductive
Medicine under the direction of William B. Schoolcraft, M.D., the Center’s
Medical Director, demonstrated the risk for multiples could be virtually
eliminated in appropriate IVF patients. This research evaluates the efficacy
of transferring a single blastocyst stage embryo in an effort to prevent
multiple pregnancies while maintaining high ongoing pregnancy rates.
In this trial, the first prospective randomized study of its kind, 48
patients undergoing IVF who were candidates for blastocyst embryo transfer
were randomized to transfer of one or two embryos five days after egg
retrieval. After fertilization, embryos were cultured to the blastocyst
stage in the laboratory using advanced culture techniques. A remarkable
60.9% ongoing pregnancy rate was achieved in women undergoing transfer
of only a single embryo with no twins. The ongoing pregnancy rate in those
receiving two embryos was 76%. The research results were presented by
Eric Surrey, M.D. at the 58th annual meeting of the American Society for
Reproductive Medicine.
This latest research employs technology developed at the Center, which
was awarded the prize paper at the American Society for Reproductive Medicine
(ASRM) in 1998. Under the direction of David Gardner, Ph.D., Scientific
Director at the Center, the original research demonstrated an increased
likelihood of embryo implantation and pregnancy with the transfer of embryos
grown in the laboratory for five days rather than the traditional three
days, allowing the embryos to develop to the blastocyst (blast) stage
of development. This enabled clinicians to successfully decrease the number
of embryos required for transfer.
About CCRM: Founded in 1987 by Dr. William Schoolcraft, the Colorado Center
for Reproductive Medicine offers a complete spectrum of infertility treatments
and specializes in IVF and other assisted reproductive technologies. Today,
joined by Drs. Eric Surrey and Debra Minjarez, Dr. Schoolcraft and his staff
achieve some of the highest pregnancy rates in the country. Thanks in part
to extensive research led by CCRM scientific director David K. Gardner, Ph.D.,
the Clinic attracts nearly 40 percent of its patients from other states and
foreign countries. CCRM has four locations in Colorado: Swedish Medical Center
in Englewood, Rose Medical Center in Denver, Sky Ridge Medical Center in
Lone Tree, and Avista Adventist Hospital in Louisville. For additional
information,
visit CCRM’s website at www.colocrm.com or call 303-788-8300.
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