Test-tube limits call
Thursday January 12th, 2012
Women undergoing IVF treatment for pregnancy should never receive more than two embryos, according to the findings of a major analysis published today.
The study of more than 33,000 IVF births sets out the high risk to babies of being part of a multiple-pregnancy created by implantation of several embryos.
This includes extreme prematurity of birth and low birth weight.
Writing in The Lancet, the researchers say giving an older mother, over the age of 40, two embryos - to improve the chances of pregnancy - is justifiable. This is largely because it is much less likely to result in twins than with a younger women.
Professor Debbie Lawlor, of Bristol University, UK, worked with colleagues in Glasgow to analysis figures collected by the UK's Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority.
In the early years of "test-tube" treatment it was common to implant large numbers of embryos to improve the chances of pregnancy. This also frequently led to multiple births.
They write: "In view of these findings and previous findings, we conclude that no more than two embryos should be transferred into women of any age, but greater freedom should be given to clinicians and patients to decide whether to transfer one or two embryos, according to prognostic indicators, such as maternal age.
"Our results further highlight the importance of age with respect to the likely success of IVF. Couples need to understand that delaying childbirth until older ages of the mother may make it difficult to conceive and harder for IVF to be successful. For doctors seeing a new couple with infertility, moving to IVF sooner rather than later is key when for example the woman is 36 years of age than for example 26 years."
Writing in the journal, Dr Liv Bente Romundstad, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway, says further steps can be taken to prevent multiple births after conception has taken place.
She says: "The final decision of whether to transfer one or two embryos should be based on a cooperative approach between embryologists and clinicians."
Tags: Childbirth and Pregnancy | Europe | UK News | Women’s Health & Gynaecology
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