As a paediatrician I have serious concerns about the practice of fertility treatment in Malta. Apparently the transfer of three embryos during IVF is still common practice, which results in the birth of triplets, as has happened in the past weeks.

Multiple births are the single greatest health risk associated with fertility treatment. The risk of pre-term delivery and low birth weight is 50 per cent in twins, and as much as 90 per cent in triplets.

The risk of death before birth or in the first week of life is four times more in twins when compared with a singleton, and sevenfold in triplets. Moreover, the risk of developing long-term neurological problems like cerebral palsy is five times higher in twins, and 18 times higher in triplets.

For this reason the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority of the United Kingdom has restricted the number of embryos that can be transferred in IVF to a maximum of two, with some exceptions. It is time for the local health authorities to enforce similar regulations.

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