Impact of the Spanish Fertility Society guidelines on the number of embryos to transfer

The multiple pregnancy rate in assisted reproduction treatment cycles depends, fundamentally, on the number of embryos transferred. It is essential that patients and professionals should have good practical guidelines on the best number of embryos to be transferred in each cycle in order to obtain high pregnancy rates with minimal risk of multiple pregnancies. This study analysed the impact made by the Spanish Fertility Society (SEF) guidelines on the number of embryos to be transferred, as regards the policies adopted at clinics in Spain and the resulting financial repercussions. Data were collected from the assisted reproduction treatment register of the SEF and compared over three periods of time: 2002–2003, with no legal regulation and no SEF guidelines; 2004, with only legal regulation; and 2005–2006, with legal regulation and SEF guidelines. The acceptance of SEF guidelines varies according to the IVF technique. The guidelines have led to a reduction in multiple pregnancy rates, especially concerning triplets, in patients’ own-egg and with donor-egg cycles. Even without full implantation, these results validate the clinical utility of the SEF guidelines. They constitute a useful tool to reduce the incidence of the principal adverse effect of treatment cycles: multiple pregnancies.