Should I Try to Have Twins So I Only Have to Do One IVF cycle?

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(Text on screen): Fertility Authority: Your Most Trusted Source

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Ask the Experts

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Shouldn't I try to have twins, so I only have to do one IVF cycle?

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Dr. Vishvanath Karande, InVia Fertility Specialists: A lot of my patients would like to have twins,

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but I tell them that may be better off if they have their twins one at a time,

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where they have one baby with a fresh IVF cycle and they can always freeze the extra embryos

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and then subsequently transfer the frozen embryos with a very good pregnancy rate.

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And a frozen embryo transfer is relatively inexpensive compared to a fresh IVF cycle.

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The reason being is although most twin pregnancies will do well, compared to singleton pregnancies,

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the chances of having a problem is higher with twins.

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These problems would include: premature labor, prematurity, and its risks,

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which includes babies that are low birth weight and having problems such as cerebral palsy.

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In addition, with multiple pregnancies there are the social and economic issues which need to be considered.

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Twins are expensive. Putting two children through college at the same time, too, is expensive.

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So, it's not just short term but then long term issues involved, which have to be kept in mind.

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There are more visits to the doctor. You quite often will be under the care of a high-risk pregnancy specialist.

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There are medical issues such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and, again, premature labor.

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You will be in and out of the hospital.

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There's increased incidence of Cesarean section, and even after the babies are delivered there are issues with bleeding.

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So, multiple pregnancy is an increased risk for not just the babies, but also for the mother.

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