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Caution!

Caution! most couples assume that whenever they want to have children, all they need to do is stop using birth control measures. For many, it really is that simple. But for millions of others, it is not that easy. An estimated 10-15 per cent of couples are infertile, which is defined as the inability to become pregnant after one year of frequent sexual intercourse. Many such couples resort to infertility treatments. But one problem with them is that they result in multiple pregnancies. As a rule, the greater the number of foetuses, the higher is the risk of premature labour. And premature babies are more prone to develop health problems. A first-of-its-kind study from the us suggests that infertile couples should think hard and try to avoid multiple-embryo pregnancy before opting for treatment.

Infertility is not the same as sterility, which is the inability to conceive a child under any circumstance. Often, infertility simply means that becoming pregnant is a challenge. For many

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