UK authority sets limit on number of embryos transferred
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《英国医生杂志》
London
A maximum of two eggs or embryos may be transferred during a single cycle of infertility treatment in women aged under 40 years, with no exceptions, and no more than three in women over this age, rules the latest code of practice from the government's regulatory body on embryo research and treatment.
Published by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority this week, the sixth edition of the Code of Practice aims to reduce the risk of multiple births in women undergoing infertility treatment, while maximising women's chances of having a healthy baby.
The new code was based on data from the United States showing that it was better to transfer two embryos rather than three for women in their 20s and 30s to achieve a healthy singleton birth. As the success of infertility treatment falls with age, the new code permits the transfer of a maximum of three eggs or embryos in women aged 40 or over.
The latest figures show that half the babies born after infertility treatment in the United Kingdom come from multiple births, contributing to a major rise in the number of twins and triplets being born. Suzi Leather, chairwoman of the authority, said: "Multiple births are the greatest single risk associated with infertility treatment. The aim is to prevent triplet gestations and to reduce the number of twin gestations associated with infertility treatment, which impose an unnecessary burden on the babies, the parents, and on the NHS."
The previous code of practice had allowed three embryos but only in exceptional circumstances. This ambiguous advice meant that some treatment centres generally transferred only two eggs or embryos while others continued to transfer three in many women.
In Belgium and Sweden state funding of in vitro fertilisation is dependent on single embryo transfer. However, in other countries, including the United States, many infertility treatment centres routinely transfer higher numbers of eggs or embryos and allow the total number of babies in each pregnancy to be reduced through loss of fetuses.(Susan Mayor)
A maximum of two eggs or embryos may be transferred during a single cycle of infertility treatment in women aged under 40 years, with no exceptions, and no more than three in women over this age, rules the latest code of practice from the government's regulatory body on embryo research and treatment.
Published by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority this week, the sixth edition of the Code of Practice aims to reduce the risk of multiple births in women undergoing infertility treatment, while maximising women's chances of having a healthy baby.
The new code was based on data from the United States showing that it was better to transfer two embryos rather than three for women in their 20s and 30s to achieve a healthy singleton birth. As the success of infertility treatment falls with age, the new code permits the transfer of a maximum of three eggs or embryos in women aged 40 or over.
The latest figures show that half the babies born after infertility treatment in the United Kingdom come from multiple births, contributing to a major rise in the number of twins and triplets being born. Suzi Leather, chairwoman of the authority, said: "Multiple births are the greatest single risk associated with infertility treatment. The aim is to prevent triplet gestations and to reduce the number of twin gestations associated with infertility treatment, which impose an unnecessary burden on the babies, the parents, and on the NHS."
The previous code of practice had allowed three embryos but only in exceptional circumstances. This ambiguous advice meant that some treatment centres generally transferred only two eggs or embryos while others continued to transfer three in many women.
In Belgium and Sweden state funding of in vitro fertilisation is dependent on single embryo transfer. However, in other countries, including the United States, many infertility treatment centres routinely transfer higher numbers of eggs or embryos and allow the total number of babies in each pregnancy to be reduced through loss of fetuses.(Susan Mayor)