Number of Embryos Transferred

How Many Embryos Should You Transfer?

The answer to how many embryos should you transfer depends on which part of the world you live in. Some countries have legislation that limits the maximum number of embryos to be transferred such as United Kingdom, Switzerland and Germany.

Some countries have guidelines that specify limits but without an enforcement mechanism such as Egypt, USA and Japan. Whereas, some countries have neither legislation nor guidelines.

The main difference in opinions seems to be between Europe and the US. While US guidelines promote a more individualized approach, European opinions, at times, seem to advocate mandated practice patterns that might not be appropriate for every patient.

While transferring several embryos increases your chances of getting pregnant, it also increases the odds of having multiples. There are high risks to the babies and mother with multiples. But to most women involved in the IVF process, having multiples is a miracle not a nuisance. It is believed that most women have only 50% healthy eggs; this statistic is the reason why most women go through several IVF cycles before they have a successful pregnancy. But the decision cannot be made easily and should be decided by the patient not the doctor.

ASRM Guidelines on Number of Embryos Transferred