IVF Twin Pregnancy: Chances, Symptoms, and Risk Factors

In vitro fertilization (IVF) could blame for the recent increase in twin pregnancies. With IVF, the likelihood of conceiving twins increases to 25% from the typical pregnancy chance of around 6%.

Several couples want to be sure they have the best possible chance of becoming pregnant the first time because IVF therapy may be rather expensive. 

It may lead to them asking to have more than one embryo placed in the uterus, which raises the possibility of producing twins, which boosts the possibility of carrying twins.

Stay tuned to this article to learn more about this circumstance, where we will share possibilities, symptoms, and risk factors linked to IVF twin pregnancy. 

How Does IVF (In-Vitro Fertilization) Work?

IVF is a technique in assisted reproduction where a group of eggs from your ovaries are fertilized with sperm outside your body in a clinic.

The embryos constructed after fertilization are permitted to develop in the lab for a few days before being transmitted to your womb.

There are two distinct phases when the embryos can place into your womb – the cleavage phase and the blastocyst state. 

After three to four days from fertilization, the embryos achieve the cleavage state, and a week later, when they have attained their peak growth, they reach the blastocyst stage. Within six to twelve days, the embryo implants in the uterine lining, resulting in a successful pregnancy.

What are the Odds of Having Twins with IVF Fertilization?

Multiple factors can influence your chances of having twins with IVF, including your age, whether the embryos are newly frozen, whether you’re utilizing your eggs or donor eggs, etc. 

According to studies, one out of five pregnancies might result in multiple births with IVF. It usually happens because, during IVF, various embryos might be placed into your uterus to augment the likelihood of pregnancy. It sometimes directs to the implantation of more than one embryo on the uterine lining, generating a twin gestation.

However, it is probable to have twins even with one embryo, where one egg can divide to construct two zygotes. These are known as monozygotic twins. 

In contrast, Dizygotic twins are an outcome of two distinct eggs. It can ensue when two or more embryos are transmitted into your uterus.

Hence we can say that IVF increases the possibility of having Twins. It is accurate if your embryos are transferred after the blastocyst phase. 

Symptoms of IVF Twin Pregnancy 

Women pregnant with twins can anticipate encountering particular pregnancy symptoms earlier than women with single gestations. Some of them are:

Elevated hCG Levels

Increased hCG levels might be an early signal of a twin pregnancy.

Premature Positive Result

If your pregnancy test comes positive even before you skip your period, it might be a symptom of a twin pregnancy. A pregnancy test estimates the level of hCG, which usually gets elevated in the case of twin pregnancies, as it is fundamental for maintaining the pregnancy.

Weight Growth

If you have gained surplus weight, which is more than the average gain in weight during gestation, you might be carrying twins.

Round Ligaments Ache

Round ligament discomfort is the throbbing pain in the lower abdomen and is usually encountered in the third trimester. Nevertheless, if you are on your path to carrying twins, you might have this ache as earlier as the second trimester.

Fast Growth of the Uterus

Your uterus may be making space for more than one baby if your abdomen size increases more than is typical.

AFP Test Outcomes

An AFP test estimates the level of fetal proteins. If your AFP test's outcome is increased, it might be one of the earliest signs of a twin gestation. Extreme exhaustion, mood swings, and nausea can also be symptoms of twin pregnancies.

Risks Linked with IVF Twin Pregnancy

Doctors generally do not suggest IVF twin pregnancy since it might pose many threats to both the mom and the baby. Some of the hazards of a twin or multiple gestations to a mother are explained below:

Pre-eclampsia

Twin pregnancies can advance the hazard of pre-eclampsia. It is an assortment of high blood pressure, normal swelling in the body, and raised protein in the urine. These can form severe concerns for both the mother and the infant.

Gestational Diabetes

Diabetes that grows during pregnancy can induce your child to be bigger than average in size. The threat of injury is ample to you and the infant during vaginal delivery, along with problems like breathing problems in infants, attacks, jaundice, and even conduct feeding difficulties.

Cesarean or C-Section

Twin pregnancies can also boost the demand for a C-section during delivery. It, in turn, might generate a higher probability of hemorrhaging during and after delivery. C-sections even have a more prolonged recovery period compared to vaginal childbirth.

Preterm Birth of Baby

Approximately 60% of the twins are born prematurely, and 12 % are delivered before 32 weeks. It can expand medical difficulties for the baby and might even be fatal in the poorest cases.

Low Weight of a Baby

Twins delivered before 32 weeks have an average birth weight of less than 1.6 kg, and more than half of twins weigh less than 2.5 kg. There could be respiration, heart health, vision, hearing, cerebral palsy, and breathing issues.

Twin-Twin Transfusion Syndrome (TTTS)

Similar twins that share a placenta might have TTTS, which renders one twin to have surplus blood flow and the other experiencing the absence of it. This circumstance appears in nearly 10 % of twin gestations.

Conclusion

Thus, the whole article concludes that twin pregnancy frequently has enhanced symptoms like acute fatigue, severe nausea, rapid weight increase, etc., twin signs are similar to a singleton pregnancy.

Aside from some dangers or issues similar to those in a singleton pregnancy, IVF twin proportion can aid in a successful birth with a healthy baby and mother with proper care. So don’t lose hope and talk to your physician regarding safe IVF pregnancy. 

If you have any specific questions, contact Antenate and ask to talk with our gynecologist and fertility specialist, Dr. Shesha Sinha.