Do you find this insulting?

[{sarah}]

I don't find it insulting as such, but I find it a little crazy to be honest. Why on earth would someone who can naturally conceive a child go through all that IVF involves just to have twins? The injections, the invasive procedures to check the meds are working, for egg collection & for embryo transfer. It's not easy by any stretch of the imagination & I can't begin to fathom why someone would go through all of that without it being an absolute necessity.

I find it a bit insulting that any couple would assume it's as easy as going "ok we'll do IVF to get twins" and then they have their twins. It's not that simple. A lot of the time IVF procedures don't work. Two embryos can be transferred & result in no pregnancy, a singleton, twins or higher order multiples. It's a science yes, but it's not exact & there are no guarantees that it will work exactly as you want it to.

[BellyBelly]

Has anyone considered asking or actually asked their fertility specialist for twins?

[{sarah}]

Has anyone considered asking or actually asked their fertility specialist for twins?

Yep we did & we were denied. We were told that the recommendation in NSW (not sure if it's National) is that they will transfer two embryos if the maternal ge is greater than 35 or there have been repeated IVF attempts with no pregnancy. Seeing as I was 28 at the time & it was our first go we were only allowed to transfer one.

[sushee]

In Australia, I do believe that if you walked into any Fertility Specialist's office, said you were otherwise fertile but wanted IVF just to have twins, you'd be laughed out of the rooms so fast your head would spin. And if you did find one that would do it for you, I honestly think you better check to see if his degree didn't come from the internet.

Can't speak for the US of course!

ETA: LMS, IVF isn't much more likely to give you multiples than trying naturally. You'd be throwing your money away and would likely just have loads of single pregnancies anyway. Also remember that the complications of twin pg can often mean you can't keep falling pregnant one after the other like singleton pgs. You can have a child a year if you wanted, and have a big family that way. Having twins ON PURPOSE puts you and your children at risk for the sake of convenience. I don't think it's necessarily the right way to have a large family.

ETA2: also wonder if anyone who thinks IVF is a good way to have multiples knows exactly the kind of hell IVF really can be? Because I kinda get the impression that it's seen as some sort of minor inconvenience!

[meow]

Has anyone considered asking or actually asked their fertility specialist for twins?

I know someone who is pregnant with twins at her request after multiple failed attempts at IVF. I think her doctor took some convincing though.

I don't find the idea of fertile people using IVF to have twins insulting- but I wonder why on earth you would want to go through that!

[dianeandross]

Has anyone considered asking or actually asked their fertility specialist for twins

Its actually a bit harder than asking for it - I know quite a few IVF women who have had 2 embryos transfered - this does not guarantee a twin pregnancy, it doesn't even guarantee a pregnancy. Nothing with IVF is guaranteed.

Yes we had two embryos transfered - not because we specifically wanted twins - although this would obviously be a dream outcome, but because we wanted to achieve a pregnancy. This was our goal. We are lucky enough that our FS doesn't restrict us to only 1 transfered at a time, because our success of a singleton pregnancy, come from a transfer of 2 embryos.

[Rouge]

Great post griffibo!

[annsam]

IVF is an amazing process that gives us another option with conception. I dont believe in designer making a family but dont find it insulting. I suppose its another progression in our climate of needing to control everything. My concern would be if it were to mean that infertile couples could not access the resources on offer due to fertile couples wanting twins.

I have recently learnt what IVF involves and I too find it odd that someone would opt to go through this being as there are no guarantees for twins but I suppose it does up the chances dramatically.

[briggsy's girl]

Kel, DH and I discussed with out FS the difference with one or two embryo transfer - he was initially reluctant, until he'd talked to us at length about the implications of a twins pregnancy/birth/lifestyle - and now the tag line "bring it on" comes out everytime we discuss transfers. i guess in a way, we've now "asked" for twins - or more for the chance at twins kwim?

[briggsy's girl]

i just read the OP to DH and asked his opinion, and his opinion (and i used Kel's direct question)

his answer

of course it's insulting - it minimises the hell we go through, takes resources away from people that genuinely need help - and who are they kidding? there's no guarantee of twins!!

[Dandi]

Hi there Briggy's girl,
Yes i couldn't agree more with the quote that you posted.I too have been what you have gone through & my heart & hopes are with you. Couldn't believe the ignorance & heartlessness of one post that said "who Bloody Cares". Clearly this person has no idea or respect for other people. If she had of read the question again she would realise that it's not suggesting that non-IVF babies are any less of a human being. The topic relates to peoples feelings on the appropriatness of IVF to gain twins in healthy couples. I actually pity this woman for her shallowness.

[kiya]

Hey Maz.....Kiya here....I so totally agree with what you are saying.....We are going down the IVF path and are wanting 2 put back in to better our chances, and if we have twins, great...We would love them equally and would feel very blessed, because regardless of our they came about they are still very much wanted.....I sadly can't have a TR because the Dr that did it int he first place screwed up my tubes and they are so damaged it would be pointless, plus i also have endometriosis hence also our reason for having IVF....I so can't wait for it all to start, and hopefully at the end of the day be able to hold a beautiful baby/babies and love them and enjoy watching them grow up to wonderful little aussies....cheers kiya

[onthefly]

I find the suggestion (i.e. in those media rumours) that anyone would choose to go through IVF when they didn't need to insulting - it makes AC seem like a lifestyle choice or something. It's a bit absurd anyway; you can't even 'request' one baby, let alone twins.