Challenges to Patient Choice of Elective Single Embryo Transfer (eSET) Versus Multiple Embryo Transfer (MET)

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Multiple birth significantly increases the risk of serious health disorders to the mother, fetus, and neonate [1]. The estimated annual United States economic burden due to prematurity among ART infants is $1.3 billion [2]. Women who choose eSET comprise less than 9% of all IVF cycles [3]. OBJECTIVE: To identify challenges to the choice of eSET by womenwho are undergoing IVF. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An industryand patient advocacy group-sponsored patient survey was fielded for women who had experienced IVF treatment. Thewomenwere asked to self-select into one of fivemutually exclusive groups at different stages of IVF treatment or having completed an IVF cyclewithout pregnancy or with a singleton or multiple birth. The survey was provided to RESOLVE via an Internet link to be shared through social media for a five-week period in 2014. Responses were collated and analyzed for number of respondents, rates of responses, and statistical significance of different responses.