IVF patients' attitudes toward multifetal pregnancy reduction
Munks, E.B.; Edelman, A.B.; Jensen, J.T.; Nichols, M.D.; Burry, K.; Patton, P.
Journal of Reproductive Medicine 52(7): 635-638
2007
ISSN/ISBN: 0024-7758 PMID: 17847763 Document Number: 605218
OBJECTIVE: To determine attitudes of in vitro fertilization (IVF) patients toward multifetal pregnancy reduction before and after embryo transfer.STUDY DESIGN: Women seeking IVF consultation were surveyed before and after embryo transfer regarding their attitudes toward multifetal pregnancy reduction.RESULTS: Thirty-one of 36 subjects completed the initial survey. The mean age was 32.9 years, 93% of subjects were Caucasian, and 61.3% were nulliparous. Most subjects described themselves as "pro-choice" (20 of 31, 64.5%). Overall, 22.6% (7 of 31) stated that they would never consider fetal reduction in a multifetal pregnancy and 77.4% (24 of 31) stated that they would consider multifetal pregnancy reduction. The threshold to consider fetal reduction was triplets, Pro-choice subjects were significantly more likely to consider multifetal pregnancy reduction when compared to "prolife" subjects (p < 0.01). Twelve of the 31 subjects underwent embryo transfer and completed the second survey. Patient attitude did not change significantly from the time of initial IVF consultation to after embryo transfer.CONCLUSION: Overall, women undergoing IVF would consider multifetal pregnancy reduction, and this view did not change after embryo transfer, Pro-choice subjects were more likely to consider multifetal pregnancy reduction.