In vitro fertilization patients support a single blastocyst transfer policy

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether patients support a mandatory single blastocyst transfer (mSBT) policy in IVF. DESIGN: Prospective survey study. SETTING: Academic hospital-based infertility center. PATIENT(S): Two hundred sixty-two female patients presenting for fresh or cryopreserved/thawed ET after IVF. INTERVENTION(S): Internet-based in-clinic survey after ET. Follow-up at-home survey after pregnancy test results. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Patient support for an mSBT policy and attitudes regarding patient input into IVF treatment. Logistic regression analyses tested associations among main outcome measures, patient characteristics, and treatment results. RESULT(S): Ninety-four percent of patients endorsed support for our mSBT policy; 95% and 87% felt they had the right amount of input in their IVF treatment and number of embryos transferred, respectively, and these subjects were more likely to support the mSBT policy. Other factors associated with stronger support were concern for multiples, availability of extra cryopreserved embryos, and shorter duration of infertility. Receiving a single blastocyst during treatment did not change the level of support. A negative pregnancy outcome decreased support, however. CONCLUSION(S): Policies restricting the number of embryos transferred may find wide patient acceptance.