NEW YORK, Nov. 5, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — The American Fertility Association (The AFA) recognizes the significance of the report released November 1, 2012, by The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, noting the relationship between Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) and the finding that "…women who undergo ART procedures are more likely to deliver multiple-birth infants than those who conceive naturally."
The report highlights the "significant risks" that multiple births pose to both mothers and infants, and lists "pregnancy complications, pre-term delivery, and low birth-weight infants" as some of the major problems which can occur.
The report notes "the promotion of elective Single Embryo Transfer (eSET),… where feasible, is needed to reduce multiple births and related adverse consequences of ART."
"The AFA has a long-standing commitment to educating patients about eSET in order to reduce twin and high-order multiple births," stated Ken Mosesian, Executive Director. "It's also extremely important to acknowledge that CDC found in mandated states, where insurance coverage is available for in vitro fertilization (IVF), there is not only an increase in access to services, but fewer embryos are transferred within a procedure."
The AFA's website contains articles written by a variety of experts on eSET, as well as two comprehensive videos underwritten by AttainFertility® on the subject, featuring eminent physicians Lowell T. Ku, M.D. and George T. Koulianos, M.D., F.A.C.O.G. , both of whom have a strong focus on patient care and safety.
According to Dr. Koulianos, "The first rule of medicine is to do no harm. Success rates with in vitro fertilization and our ability to culture embryos have improved so much over the past years thus, making it possible for eSET to be the treatment option of choice for patients under 35. These patients can experience high rates of multiple birth without eSET and should be counseled to that effect."
Corey Whelan, AFA Program Director, speaks of her personal experience regarding multiple embryo transfer and states, "As the mother of two survivors of a triplet pregnancy born prematurely, I have often wondered what my family would have been like had my embryos been implanted individually. The American Fertility Association and AttainFertility® have a strong, joint commitment to helping people build healthy families, one baby at a time whenever possible. I am proud of the work we do together and grateful the CDC has acknowledged this issue as a public health policy."
The American Fertility Association is an inclusive organization committed to helping people create their families of choice by providing leading-edge outreach programs and timely educational information. The scope of our work encompasses reproductive and sexual health, infertility prevention and treatment, and family-building options including adoption and third party solutions. The AFA is a national, not-for-profit 501(c)(3) charitable organization headquartered in New York City.
Contact:
Corey Whelan, Program Director
Office – 718.853.1411
Cell – 917.478.7959
Email – Email
Contact:
Ken Mosesian, Executive Director
Cell – 310.717.7000
Email – Email