Pacific Fertility Center Staff to Present Abstract on Single Embryo Transfer (SET) at ASRM's 2014 Annual Meeting

Staff at Pacific Fertility Center (PFC) have been invited to present an abstract on elective Single Embryo Transfer (eSET) at the 2014 Annual Meeting of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) in Honolulu on October 14, 2014. eSET is the practice of transferring a single embryo after in vitro fertilization, thereby reducing the risk of multiple births and potential complications.

“Toward a program of single embryo transfer: Reducing multiple gestation risk using CCS” is the title of the abstract co-authored by Philip Chenette, MD, Isabelle Ryan, MD, Carolyn Givens, MD, Erin Fisher, MS, and Joe Conaghan, PhD—all staff at PFC.

Multiple gestation was a consequence of older methods of fertility treatment, with fertility medications and the transfer of multiple embryos after IVF increasing the risk of twins and triplets, and occasionally quadruplets or more. National guidelines permit the transfer of up to 5 embryos after IVF, depending on patient age and prognosis. The risks to mother and baby associated with multiple gestation are unpredictable and can be severe.

No longer is it necessary to transfer multiple embryos to secure good pregnancy rates. Comprehensive Chromosome Screening (CCS) allows selection of a single embryo with a very high probability of pregnancy. Extra embryos are stored for future use. One at a time, transferring a healthy single embryo after IVF maintains high pregnancy rates while minimizing the risk of multiple gestation.

In the study, the researchers analyzed 1,034 frozen embryo transfers (FETs) from 2012 and 2013. Without CCS, the pregnancy rate was 52 percent with an average of 1.35 embryos transferred. With CCS, the average number of embryos transferred declined, yet the pregnancy rate pre transfer was significantly higher. Multiple gestation risk declined by over 40% after CCS. Given these benefits, over the study period, the use of CCS increased by 260%.

“Comprehensive chromosome screening allows us to identify the highest quality embryos,” said Dr. Chenette. “A single embryo can be transferred, while maintaining excellent pregnancy rates.”

Dr. Chenette is director of PFC’s Fertility Preservation Program. Dr. Ryan is medical director of PFC’s Donor Egg Bank. Dr. Givens directs PFC’s Pre-implantation Genetic Diagnosis and Pre-implantation Genetic Screening (PGD/PGS) Program. Ms. Fischer is a PFC embryologist and Dr. Conaghan is PFC’s laboratory director.

About ASRM
ASRM is a multidisciplinary organization dedicated to the advancement of the science and practice of reproductive medicine. The Society accomplishes its mission through the pursuit of excellence in education and research and through advocacy on behalf of patients, physicians, and affiliated health care providers. The Society is committed to facilitating and sponsoring educational activities for the lay public and continuing medical education activities for professionals who are engaged in the practice of and research in reproductive medicine.

About Pacific Fertility Center
Pacific Fertility Center is an international destination for male and female fertility treatment and care. It provides an extensive array of fertility treatment options ranging from intrauterine insemination (IUI), intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) and in vitro fertilization (IVF) to cutting-edge technology such as vitrification and genetic testing of embryos. For more information: www.pacificfertilitycenter.com.

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Media Contact
Renee H. Scudder, MS
415-249-3662
scudder@pacificfertility.com

Pacific Fertility Center
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San Francisco, CA 94133

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