Move to reduce multiple pregnancies

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The aim is to encourage a policy of only transferring single embryos to the wombs of women undergoing In-Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) treatment whenever possible.

Currently, most assisted conception in the UK involves transferring two fertilised embryos into the womb. This is intended to raise the chances of a successful pregnancy, but it also heightens the risk of multiple pregnancies.

Becoming pregnant with twins or triplets significantly increases the likelihood of miscarriage, stillbirth, premature birth and low birth weight.

It can also lead to long-term health problems in children, such as cerebral palsy. Mothers bearing multiple pregnancies face dangers too, including the potentially life-threatening pregnancy condition pre-eclampsia, diabetes and heart disease.

The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA), the fertility regulatory body, is asking clinics to reduce general multiple pregnancy rates from an average of 24% to 10% over the next three years.

The British Fertility Society (BFS), which represents clinics, and the Association of Clinical Embryologists (ACE), responded to the call by issuing new guidelines.

The proposals, published in the journal Human Fertility, set out ways in which IVF clinics can introduce an elective single embryo transfer (eSET) policy.

A key recommendation was for clinics to institute a system of carefully assessing patients to see if they are suitable for single embryo transfer.

Most of these patients will be relatively young. In the UK, 87% of multiple pregnancies occur in the first cycle of treatment in women under the age of 37. Under the guidelines, eSET is considered appropriate for women younger than 37 who have several high quality embryos.