A hot topic within the IVF community is the risk of high order multiples when utilizing IVF as a means to become pregnant. High order multiples are definitely one of the primary risk factors when doing IVF but these risks can be limited when using good judgement and working with a reputable IVF clinic.
People like “Octomom” are giving IVF a bad name when in fact it’s the only option for some of us. In the Octomom situation, you have to blame both her and the doctor that transfered that many embryos. It was bad judgement and decision making on both parties. A good reproductive endocrinologist will do what is best for the patient while providing the best chance of conceiving without producing high order multiples or other medical risks.
For example, our fertility clinic will only transfer a maximum of two embryos to help prevent high order multiples. This helps keep the environment safe for both the babies and the mother. Our IVF clinic also stated that it is considered a failure if the pregnancy results in triplets or more due to the medical risks associated.
Yes, there is the risk of high order multiples when using IVF or any assisted reproductive technology. But, remember that this can be drastically reduced by using good judgement and working with an IVF clinic that follows best practices so make sure you research various IVF clinics before choosing one.
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