Warning over multiple births

Warning over multiple births

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Friday, 02, Jun 2006 11:01

British couples undergoing IVF treatment are still too likely to give birth to twins or triplets, the country's fertility watchdog has warned.

The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) believes that the current rate of one in four IVF births being multiple is too high.

Statistics released by the HFEA today show that 23.6 per cent of IVF births resulted in either twins or triplets, while the watchdog has also produced an online 'league table' of fertility clinics.

The Guide to Infertility includes a searchable database of clinics with information on every licensed fertility clinic in the UK and the services they offer.

The list is based on research from 38,264 treatment cycles given to 29,688 women between April 1st 2003 and March 31st 2004 and HFEA chair Dame Suzi Leather believes it will enable patients to be better informed.

"We have developed a powerful interactive internet search facility to ensure people get information about clinics tailored to their individual circumstances rather than generalisations which could, at worst, be misleading," she said.

"With patients telling us that they typically put aside between £4,000 and £8,000 for each IVF attempt, this guide enables them to make better informed choices about how and where they seek treatment."

But the HFEA remains concerned about the chance of people undergoing IVF treatment giving birth to more than one child at a time - and the associated health problems this can cause.

"We are still concerned about the levels of twin and triplet pregnancies, which provide the single biggest risk to mothers and their children from IVF treatment," HFEA chief executive Angela McNab said.

"Multiple births risk endangering the health of both mother and the children they are carrying and can lead to problems which can last a child’s lifetime."

The latest statistics also reveal that IVF treatment is becoming more successful in, with the overall live birth rate from fertility treatment going up from 20.4 per cent in 2002/03 to 21.6 per cent a year later.