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Truth Be Told

Common Infertility Myths

By Michele St. Martin

Most successful infertility treatments result in the birth of a single baby; however, one possible side effect of some infertility treatments is multiple births, with twins being the most common.

The discussion about multiple births is one that should take place early in infertility treatment. The risk of multiple births varies according to the treatment option, and doctors are ethically bound to discuss these risks (and how to minimize them) with their patients. As technology develops and individual doctors become more experienced with various treatments, they are increasingly able to perform the treatments that are most likely to lead to multiple births, such as intrauterine insemination (IUI) and in vitro fertilization (IVF), in such a way that limits chances of multiple births occurring without decreasing a woman's chance of conceiving.

In fact, according to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, "high tech" treatments such as in vitro fertilization (IVF) are far outnumbered by more traditional measures such as medication, artificial insemination or surgery to correct a medical problem that affects fertility.

Women who undergo IVF enjoy a far greater chance of success than in the early days of this procedure. Some leading U.S. clinics have success rates approaching 50 percent when the woman is younger than age 35.

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