Date Published: 18 October 2007

HFEA Statement on the current Authority discussion on multiple births after IVF

News release/statement from the UK Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA).

Many patients, doctors and experts have contributed their views to the HFEA's recent public consultation on reducing the incidence of multiple births after IVF.

The aim was to hear and understand the range of views about the best way to reduce the incidence of multiple births after IVF, which raise risks for mothers and babies.

A number of possible ways to do this were discussed, ranging from better information for patients on the risks, through to introducing criteria for the groups of patients who might be suitable to have single embryo transfer.

The Authority began to discuss the outcome of the consultation in their meeting on 17 October, but have decided that as it is such a complex and sensitive issue that further discussion is needed during their meeting in November before a decision can be made.

Any decision made by the HFEA will be announced publicly and made available on its website.

Note about the source of this item: The HFEA is the UK government's independent regulator for IVF treatment and embryo research. Their role is to protect patients and the public interest, to drive improvement in the treatment and research sectors and to provide information to the public and policymakers about treatment and research. The HFEA was set up in August 1991 as part of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act (UK Law), 1990. The HFEA's principal tasks are to license and monitor clinics that carry out in vitro fertilisation (IVF), donor insemination (DI) and human embryo research. The HFEA also regulates the storage of gametes (eggs and sperm) and embryos.

News is included on the IvyRose website to inform visitors about current health issues, but not to endorse any particular view or activity. The views stated in the article above are not necessarily those of IvyRose Ltd.. Material in this news item was released by the UK Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) on 18 October 2007 and may have been edited (e.g. in style, length, and/or for ease of understanding by our international readers) for inclusion here. For further information, please visit their website using the link below.