HFEA limits embryo transfer to two

Patients undergoing IVF treatment in the United Kingdom will be allowed to have no more than two embryos transferred to the womb, following an announcement by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA). The authority is concerned about the high rate of twins and triplets births following IVF, a rate which should start to fall with the introduction of the new embryo transfer limit.

The decision has been broadly welcomed by fertility professionals, most of whom agree that two embryo transfers do not affect success rates. 'Reducing the embryos to two will avoid the risk of triplets in most women without affecting their chance of becoming pregnant', said Professor Allan Templeton.

However, some fertility doctors resent the rule. Mohammad Taranissi said it should be decided on a case by case basis. 'To try to nanny clinicians into [making decisions] assumes that we are not responsible people.' But patient advocate Clare Brown said that part of the problem is the high cost of treatment, making patients keen to avoid repeated cycles of IVF. 'If IVF were available to all those needing it, this would no longer be an issue for patients.'