Clinics facing multiple births cap

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The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) is considering sanctions for clinics that produce too many multiple births as part of its drive to cut the number of twin pregnancies.

A 10% cap on the rate of twins, from the total number of live births each year, could be introduced for UK centres.

Possible sanctions include clinics having their "non-compliance" with the target brought up at licence renewal meetings.

Options being examined over a three-month period by the HFEA focus on the use of "single embryo transfers", where one embryo is transferred per IVF cycle.

At present, doctors have more of a free rein over the numbers transferred but women are not usually given more than two embryos per cycle.

Some women over 40, who have less chance of conceiving with their own eggs, can currently be offered a transfer of three embryos per cycle.

Under the new proposals, most women would receive only one embryo at a time. However, older women or those with particularly poor chances of conceiving could still receive two.

At present, 40% of babies born after IVF are twins, according to the HFEA. In the general population, the twin birth rate is 1 to 2%.