IVF Clinics Told to Cut Multiple Births to 10%

IVF clinics have been told that no more than 10% of births should be twins or triplets by regulators.

The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) set the target in order to cut the number of multiple pregnancies from fertility treatment.

Such pregnancies carry significant risks to mother and babies, and a policy of single embryo transfer was introduced in January 2009.

The new rules come into effect in October this year.

Multiple-birth pregnancies have a higher chance of miscarriage, and of leading to premature birth and of babies with cerebral palsy.

Single embryo transfer (SET) is particularly recommended for women having IVF who are under 37, having their first cycle of treatment, and have "excellent quality" embryos.

Currently, clinics offering fertility treatment have a target of no more than 15%.

Embryologists say clinics are generally achieving that rate, or somewhere near it.

That is down from 23.6% at the beginning of 2008.

Best Chance?

Writing to clinics to announce the latest change, Alan Doran, chief executive of the HFEA, said: "The sector as a whole has responded very...