ABSTRACT
Multiple pregnancy represents the biggest medical, psychological and social problem involved in vitro fertilisation (IVF). It carries risks to the health and life of both the woman and her babies. If a couple undergoing the costly and traumatic experience of IVF is to be given the best chance of achieving their much wanted pregnancy, it is likely that the number of eggs recovered and exposed to sperm will exceed the number of embryos that should be replaced in the woman’s uterus. Where a regulatory system is in place, an upper limit of three embryos to be replaced is usually set. Centres with a high success rate often replace only two, especially where the woman is young and does not herself have a fertility problem. If at the time of embryo replacement there are supernumerary embryos, couples have four options. The embryos can be donated for the treatment of another infertile couple.
