The proportion of risky multiple births during IVF treatment is falling according to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA). Multiple birth pregnancies have a higher chance of miscarriage, and of leading to premature birth and of babies with cerebral palsy.
The HFEA said 23.6% of IVF births led to more than one child at the beginning of 2008, which fell to 22% in mid 2009. The Multiple Births Foundation said it was "great news".
Multiple births are a consequence of increasing the odds of IVF working. Implanting more embryos increases the chance of success, but also the chance of twins or triplets. The HFEA has introduced targets for reducing multiple births because of the health concerns for mother and child. It has aimed for fewer than 24% IVF births resulting in more than one child by April 2010, 20% by April 2011 and 15% by April 2012.
Multiple births have health risks for the babies and the mother. The reduction so far has largely been down to increased use of a technique called single embryo transfer. Only one embryo is implanted in women who have the greatest chance of getting pregnant. HFEA figures show this has not affected the success rate.
Professor Lisa Jardine, chair of the HFEA said: "It is excellent news that the number of multiple births is coming down whilst overall success rates for patients are still being maintained. This shows that the policy is proving successful." Susan Seenan, from the Infertility Network UK, said: "With full funding on the NHS - if patients could access three cycles - a lot more women would be willing and able to go for single embryo transfer.
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Showing posts with label single embryo. Show all posts
Showing posts with label single embryo. Show all posts
Saturday, 4 June 2011
Sunday, 26 December 2010
IVF single embryo transfer best for baby
Women who have one embryo transferred during IVF treatment are five times more likely to give birth to a healthy baby than those who receive two embryos, research shows today.
Those who have two embryos are more likely to get pregnant but are at greater risk of delivering a premature or low-weight child, researchers found.
The findings, in the British Medical Journal, will increase the pressure for double embryo transfer (DET), which is already discouraged, to be ended because it risks pregnancies involving twins or triplets. UK fertility clinics should halt the practice as multiple pregnancies put mother and child at risk, the researchers say.
Twin and triplet pregnancies are associated with a higher risk of miscarriage, as well as prematurity and low birthweight. But some fertility experts say the widespread lack of IVF treatment on the NHS, which is meant to offer three free cycles to all, means some women seek two embryos.
An international research team, led by Aberdeen University scientists, studied data on 1,367 women who had taken part in eight previous trials who had either had elective single embryo transfer (eSET) or DET.
A full-term birth, at least 37 weeks, after eSET was nearly five times more likely than with DET, they found. Women were 87% more likely to avoid a premature birth after eSET, while their chance of having a low-weight baby was only a third of those who had DET.
To read more go to http://bit.ly/fXtjiA
Those who have two embryos are more likely to get pregnant but are at greater risk of delivering a premature or low-weight child, researchers found.
The findings, in the British Medical Journal, will increase the pressure for double embryo transfer (DET), which is already discouraged, to be ended because it risks pregnancies involving twins or triplets. UK fertility clinics should halt the practice as multiple pregnancies put mother and child at risk, the researchers say.
Twin and triplet pregnancies are associated with a higher risk of miscarriage, as well as prematurity and low birthweight. But some fertility experts say the widespread lack of IVF treatment on the NHS, which is meant to offer three free cycles to all, means some women seek two embryos.
An international research team, led by Aberdeen University scientists, studied data on 1,367 women who had taken part in eight previous trials who had either had elective single embryo transfer (eSET) or DET.
A full-term birth, at least 37 weeks, after eSET was nearly five times more likely than with DET, they found. Women were 87% more likely to avoid a premature birth after eSET, while their chance of having a low-weight baby was only a third of those who had DET.
To read more go to http://bit.ly/fXtjiA
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