Dr. Marjorie Greenfield
Specializing in pregnancy and birth.
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 Ask Dr. Greenfield
Using Fertility Drugs to have Twins | | | QUESTION | | | Dear Dr. Greenfield,
I have a four-year-old daughter and would like to get pregnant again, with twins. This is the last month of my birth control pills and I am looking for information on fertility drugs. Thanks.— Anxious in Tampa, FL | | | ANSWER |
December 4, 2001 | | | Dear Anxious,
If I understand you correctly, you are saying that you want to go on fertility drugs in order to try to have a twin pregnancy. While I can imagine this might be tempting, it is definitely not recommended.
For one, all fertility drugs, particularly the ones with a high rate of multiple pregnancy, carry a chance of serious medical complications, including ovarian cysts and ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome or OHSS. And there is a possibility that they increase the chance of ovarian cancer later in life. While women with infertility may feel that they don't have much of a choice, these drugs should not be taken lightly.
In addition, while most twins do quite well, twin pregnancies do have more complications than singletons, including severe discomforts of pregnancy, premature labor, preterm birth, low birth-weight, cesarean delivery and postpartum depression.
So, as much as you may want twins, I hope that you can see the downsides to taking fertility drugs for the sole purpose of having a multiple pregnancy. Take care, and good luck.— by Marjorie Greenfield, M.D. |
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