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Div. of Media Relations
1600 Clifton Road
MS D-14
Atlanta, GA 30333
(404) 639-3286
Fax (404) 639-7394 |
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June 23, 2000
Contact: Kathy Harben
CDC, National Center for Chronic Disease
Prevention & Health Promotion
(770) 488–5131
Facts about triplet and higher-order births
- Assisted reproductive technology (ART) accounts for a significant number of triplet and
higher-order births in the United States. More than a third (38.7% for 1996 and 43.3% for
1997) of triplet and higher-order multiple births are attributed to ART, in comparison to
the estimated 18% for naturally occurring pregnancies. This represents a substantial
increase from the 22% of triplet and higher-order multiple births that were attributable
to ART in 1990 and 1991.
- Following the introduction of ART in 1978, the ratio of triplet and higher-order
multiple births has more than quadrupled from 37 to 173.6 per 100,000 live births from
1980 to 1997 respectively.
- Pregnancies associated with ART or ovulation inducing drugs are more likely than
spontaneously conceived pregnancies to result in multiple births (twins or more). In 1996,
38% of all ART births were multiple births, compared with 3% of births in the general
population.
- Compared to singleton births, multiple births–in particular, triplet and higher-order
multiple–are associated with greater health risks for the mother and the babies. Risks
for the mother include cesarean section and hemorrhage, and risks for the babies include
low birth weight (LBW), preterm delivery, and death.
- Preterm and LBW infants often require costly neonatal care and long-term developmental
follow-up.
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