Fertility watchdog seeks to reduce twin births
British fertility clinics may be forced to limit the number of multiple births to one in 10 women because of the dangers posed to mothers and babies, the nation's fertility watchdog said this week.The Human Fertility and Embryology Authority (HFEA)...
British fertility clinics may be forced to limit the number of multiple births to one in 10 women because of the dangers posed to mothers and babies, the nation's fertility watchdog said this week.
The Human Fertility and Embryology Authority (HFEA) wants to reduce the chances of women having more than one baby after receiving IVF treatment.
A quarter of births after IVF in Britain result in twins or triplets, compared to one in 80 following natural conception, the watchdog said.
HFEA Chairman Shirley Harrison said multiple births put mothers and babies at greater risk of death and serious illness. "We know that multiple birth is the single biggest risk of IVF," she said in a statement. "It is our primary job as a regulator to make sure that IVF treatment is safe and appropriate."
The HFEA has launched a three-month public consultation of ways to reduce multiple births while still giving women a good chance of conceiving.
Among the proposals are a maximum 10 per cent twin rate for clinics and a move away from implanting more than one embryo in a woman during each IVF cycle.
Twins are five times more likely to die in the first week of life than a single baby and four times more at risk of having cerebral palsy, the HFEA said.
Mothers of twins are more at risk from diabetes, heart disease and pre-eclampsia, a life-threatening condition that causes high blood pressure.
Liberal Democrat science spokesman Evan Harris said the use of single embryos would reduce the chance of pregnancy for some women.
"Moving to single embryo transfer will prevent a number of multiple births - however, it will mean that many women will now need extra cycles of NHS IVF in order to get pregnant," he said.
Fertility specialist Yacoub Khalaf, a consultant at Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust in London, said single embryo transfer was advised "where it is possible, and clinically appropriate to do so."
"In the last year our overall pregnancy rate has risen and our multiple pregnancy rate has been reduced," he said.
"This is a result of our programme to extend the amount of time the embryo is incubated - from three days to five - before being implanted."
The Human Fertility and Embryology Authority (HFEA) wants to reduce the chances of women having more than one baby after receiving IVF treatment.
A quarter of births after IVF in Britain result in twins or triplets, compared to one in 80 following natural conception, the watchdog said.
HFEA Chairman Shirley Harrison said multiple births put mothers and babies at greater risk of death and serious illness. "We know that multiple birth is the single biggest risk of IVF," she said in a statement. "It is our primary job as a regulator to make sure that IVF treatment is safe and appropriate."
The HFEA has launched a three-month public consultation of ways to reduce multiple births while still giving women a good chance of conceiving.
Among the proposals are a maximum 10 per cent twin rate for clinics and a move away from implanting more than one embryo in a woman during each IVF cycle.
Twins are five times more likely to die in the first week of life than a single baby and four times more at risk of having cerebral palsy, the HFEA said.
Mothers of twins are more at risk from diabetes, heart disease and pre-eclampsia, a life-threatening condition that causes high blood pressure.
Liberal Democrat science spokesman Evan Harris said the use of single embryos would reduce the chance of pregnancy for some women.
"Moving to single embryo transfer will prevent a number of multiple births - however, it will mean that many women will now need extra cycles of NHS IVF in order to get pregnant," he said.
Fertility specialist Yacoub Khalaf, a consultant at Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust in London, said single embryo transfer was advised "where it is possible, and clinically appropriate to do so."
"In the last year our overall pregnancy rate has risen and our multiple pregnancy rate has been reduced," he said.
"This is a result of our programme to extend the amount of time the embryo is incubated - from three days to five - before being implanted."