Skip to main content Accessibility help

We use cookies to distinguish you from other users and to provide you with a better experience on our websites. Close this message to accept cookies or find out how to manage your cookie settings.

Close cookie message
×
Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-dzt6s Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-27T12:44:56.216Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Chapter 25 - Vanishing twin syndrome and long-term outcome

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 October 2010

By
Anja Pinborg
Edited by
Roy G. Farquharson  and
Mary D. Stephenson
Roy G. Farquharson
Affiliation:
University of Liverpool
Mary D. Stephenson
Affiliation:
University of Chicago
Get access

Summary

This chapter addresses the prevalence of vanishing twins with considerations of the early implantation process including possible pathological mechanisms of the vanishing twin and the vanishing embryo syndrome. The precise pathophysiological mechanism of the vanishing twin is still unknown, but early pregnancy disappearance seems to involve resorption and/or formation of a blighted ovum or fetus papyraceus and several explanations are offered. Early vanishing twins including incipient twins following the transfer of two or more embryos may increase the incidence of first-trimester bleeding in assisted reproductive technologies (ART) pregnancies. Studies have shown that children after intrauterine insemination with ovarian stimulation and in-vitro fertilization (IVF) children have similar neonatal outcome indicating that the ovarian stimulation significantly influences the outcome. In a clinical frame with a double-embryo transfer policy, vanishing twin pregnancies account for about 10% of all singleton births.

Keywords

adhesion moleculescytokinesfertilizationimplantation eventspre-eclampsiahypertensiongestationgrowth factorsproteinuriarecurrent pregnancy loss
Type
Chapter
Information
Early Pregnancy , pp. 267 - 276
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2010

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Save book to Kindle

To save this book to your Kindle, first ensure no-reply@cambridge.org is added to your Approved Personal Document E-mail List under your Personal Document Settings on the Manage Your Content and Devices page of your Amazon account. Then enter the ‘name’ part of your Kindle email address below. Find out more about saving to your Kindle.

Note you can select to save to either the @free.kindle.com or @kindle.com variations. ‘@free.kindle.com’ emails are free but can only be saved to your device when it is connected to wi-fi. ‘@kindle.com’ emails can be delivered even when you are not connected to wi-fi, but note that service fees apply.

Find out more about the Kindle Personal Document Service.

Available formats
×

Save book to Dropbox

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Dropbox.

Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

Available formats
×