Singleton birth at term: an old alarm or a new debate?

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Medicine
• In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)

Background:

• Multiple pregnancies are a rising concern in IVF.
• Clinical pregnancy is the standard outcome measure in IVF.
• The need for a revised approach to IVF outcome assessment was identified.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose a shift in IVF outcome evaluation.
• To accelerate the reduction in embryo transfer numbers.
• To advocate for a focus on healthy singleton birth at term.

Main Methods:

• The study discusses a debate series published in Human Reproduction in 2004.
• It introduces the concept of Birth Emphasizing a Successful Singleton at Term (BESST) as an alternative endpoint.
• The premise involves re-evaluating IVF success metrics.

Main Results:

• The proposed endpoint (BESST) aims to incentivize a move towards fewer embryo transfers.
• This shift focuses on the ultimate goal of a healthy singleton birth.
• The debate highlighted the complexity of balancing risks and benefits in IVF.

Conclusions:

• Adopting BESST as a key consideration can drive necessary changes in IVF practices.
• The focus on healthy singleton births is crucial for patient well-being.
• BESST was proposed specifically for IVF and not for other reproductive treatments.