The chances of a woman who conceives naturally expecting more than one baby are, on average, one in 80. However, the chances of a woman being pregnant with more than one baby if she has had IVF treatment, are just one in four.
Being Pregnant with Twins or with more than two babies is usually perfectly safe with the right maternity care, but it is the single largest risk to the health of the mother and of any babies she is carrying. Therefore, the HFEA (Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority) decided some time ago, to undergo a major review on how embryos were implanted.
The HFEA's Multiple births and single embryo transfer review
With the aim of reducing the number of multiple births which come about as a result of IVF treatment (whilst ensuring that as many women as possible still had the best chance of conceiving through the process), the HFEA commissioned a detailed review.
This not only consisted of looking at medical research and advice, but also going through a public consultation to address the needs and experiences of patients.
Although in the past, clinics have often implanted several embryos in order to increase a woman's chances of successful pregnancy, The Expert Group came back with a report advising a 'One Child at a Time' policy: transferring just one embryo at a time to IVF patients who in theory should have the least difficulty successfully getting pregnant through the treatment.
HFEA conclusions
You can read the detailed reports and conclusions of this review online at www.hfea.gov.uk but these are the key points:
To reduce the instance of multiple birth to around 10 per cent over a staged period of about three years.
A set of interim targets will be set by the HFEA aimed at gradually reducing to the 10 per cent rate. These targets will be the upper limit applying to all clinics after January 2009.
All clinics will have to draw up a 'multiple pregnancy minimisation protocol' in order to meet the targets they are set.
The HFEA recognise that some countries, like Sweden and Belgium have managed to achieve even lower multiple birth rates after persuing a similar policy.
