Another ID question for the Twin Experts

kiwi443

Does IVF increase the chances of ID twins? I've read, from several sources, that fertility treatments only up the likelihood of having fraternal multiples and the rate of identical twin births has stayed constant for many, many years.

But, I see people on here that have IDs as a result of IVF. So, is that just a fluke, as with spontaneous IDs? Clear this up for me, please.

tootlebug

this is kind of off topic but a girl on one of my other boards went back and forth forever about whether or not to transfer two, as she really did not want twins.  they eventually made the decision to just put one back in...and wouldnt you know, it split!

lovemygs

Ours are ID through IVF, so of course I did some reading on the subject (especially after my RE said he hadn't had this happen in several years!)

I found that it's rare to have IDs --- 1% to 3% --- but ICSI and AH do make the embryo more susceptible to splitting. We had both done. 

Another interesting twist --- my DH is an ID twin.  I know it's not hereditary, but it's still pretty bizarre to me. 

kiwi443

Interesting. Thanks, that helps me to understand a bit more.

erinruns

My ID twins are a result of IVF with ICSI.  I was told day 5 embryos split more often, and doing ICSI results in more ID's as well. 

jcath

We did an IVF and transferred one embie that split - my RE said something about the medium they grow them in the lab can encourage the split but still the rate of ID's between 1 and 3% of births has remained steady despite the increase in IVFs.