Multiple Pregnancy

The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority has advised the Fertility Centre’s in the UK to develop a multiple birth reduction strategy which took effect from 1 January 2009.

Thanks to our well establisehed and extremely successful Blastocyst programme, we are able to reuce the number of embryos replaced to just one in a select group of patients, without reducing the pregnancy rate.

Since January 2009 our policy is to transfer just one embryo for the following groups of patients having a Blastocyst Transer:

Patients 35 – 37 yrs on their first attempt
Patients less than 35 yrs regardless of attempt number

With data modeling we are able to demonstrate that this group of patients have very good success rates with Blastocyst transfer and exceptionally high multiple birth rates as well.  So by reducing the number of embryos transferred we are confident that we will not detrimentally reduce the pregnancy rate for our patients.

The table overleaf shows the high success rate obtained by carefully selecting the right embryo to be replaced for patients under the age of 38 years. (all these patients had a single embryo replaced).

For further information relating to the risks of multiple birth please visit www.onetatatime.org.uk