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Objective: To determine whether the psychosocial risks associated with multiple births are increased as a consequence of the use of assisted reproductive technology (ART) in comparison with those not resulting from ART., Design: Cross-sectional study., Setting: Fertility units of a university hospital and a private hospital., Patient(s): Parents of single children and multiples (twins and triplets) between 6 months and 4 years of age (n = 636) were divided into two groups: those who conceived through ART (n = 265) and those who conceived through non-ART (n = 371)., Intervention(s): Administration of six scales, in office or by mail., Main Outcome Measure(s): Measurement scales of material necessities, social stigma, marital satisfaction, perceived stress, depression, quality of life, and their subscales., Result(s): The analysis of variance, Student's t-test, and χ(2)-test were applied. No effect was observed based on the use of ART in the psychosocial variables studied. Significant differences were obtained between the groups of single (SB) and multiple births (MB) with respect to material necessities, social stigma, marital satisfaction, depression, and quality of life., Conclusion(s): Having more than one child per birth, whether resulting from the use of ART or not, increases psychosocial risks for the parents. Assisted reproduction centers should include this information with the obstetric and neonatal risks, stressing the advantages of having one child per birth. Psychosocial risks are not increased as a result of having used ART, but the goal of avoiding the repeated use of ART does influence the desire to transfer the maximum number of embryos possible. Psychological counseling should be included before initiating ART, as well as when a multiple pregnancy is confirmed., (Copyright © 2011. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Objective: To determine the psychosocial risks associated with multiple births (twins or triplets) resulting from assisted reproductive technology (ART)., Design: Transverse study., Setting: Infertility units of a university hospital and a private hospital., Patient(s): Mothers and fathers of children between 6 months and 4 years conceived by ART (n = 123). The sample was divided into three groups: parents of singletons (n = 77), twins (n = 37), and triplets (n = 9)., Intervention(s): The questionnaire was self-administered by patients. It was either completed at the hospital or mailed to participants' homes., Main Outcome Measure(s): Scales measured material needs, quality of life, social stigma, depression, stress, and marital satisfaction., Result(s): Logistic regression models were applied. Significant odds ratios were obtained for the number of children, material needs, social stigma, quality of life, and marital satisfaction. The results were more significant for data provided by mothers than by fathers., Conclusion(s): The informed consent form handed out at the beginning of ART should include information on the high risk of conceiving twins and triplets and on the possible psychosocial consequences of multiple births. As soon as a multiple pregnancy is confirmed, it would be useful to provide information on support groups and institutions. Psychological advice should also be given to the parents.