Preterm Birth in Twins from IVF: What You Need to Know

Ever wondered what causes very early or early preterm births in twin pregnancies after in vitro fertilization (IVF) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI)? A recent study looked into this. Scientists at Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital analyzed 2042 twin pregnancies from 2019 to 2022. They found that around 4% of these pregnancies ended very early (before 28 weeks), 12% early (between 28 and 34 weeks), and the rest continued longer. So, what makes a twin pregnancy end early? Placenta issues were the main cause for very early births. For early births, high blood pressure during pregnancy was the most common cause. Researchers also found some factors that might increase the chance of early birth. These included having a history of late miscarriage, surgery on the cervix, or certain medical conditions like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). What's interesting is that the length of the uterus and whether the twins share a placenta also affected birth timing. Babies with a shorter uterus or shared placenta tended to be born earlier. Being overweight or having certain uterine issues also played a role. These findings are important. IVF and ICSI are becoming more common, and understanding these risks can help doctors better support families. Early identifying and managing these risks can make a big difference.