Latest developments
In the news
Read the latest headlines on single embryo transfer and multiple birth from around the world.
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Press releases and updates
22-02-2013 NICE Fertility guideline published
Since the 2004 Fertility guideline, there have been advancements in the management of infertility and our understanding of the risks associated with fertility treatment. This knowledge underpins the new guideline, translating into better clinical care for patients.
31-05-2012 Rachel Cutting wins Healthcare Scientist of the Year
Rachel Cutting has been awarded Healthcare Scientist of the Year for her work in developing national guidelines for the implementation of elective single embryo transfer.
18-01-2012 Effect of age on decisions about the number of embryos to transfer in assisted conception
Peter Braude, Emeritus Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, comments on a recent study into multiple embryo transfer published in The Lancet.
07-12-2011 'One at a time' best practice workshops
‘One at a time’ is running a series of workshops for clinic staff in early 2012. The workshops are designed to help and support clinics in achieving the target maximum multiple birth rate, which is currently 15%.
13-05-2011 Latest figures show multiple births continue to fall
New figures released today show that multiple births from IVF continue to fall. This follows the HFEA’s initiative to reduce multiple births – the single biggest risk of fertility treatment, and is supported by leading professional bodies in the sector.
01-04-2010 - Single embryo transfer now demonstrated to have important, positive effects on health outcomes for IVF children and their mothers in Sweden
In a recently published article in Human Reproduction, Swedish researchers have demonstrated that Sweden’s dramatic increase in single embryo transfer (SET) over the last 5 years, to 70% SET, has resulted not only in the expected decrease of multiple births and associated pre-maturity, but also in measurable, better health outcomes for IVF children and their mothers.
21-05-2009 - Study finds higher risk of problems for twins born after assisted reproduction (Human Reproduction) - ESHRE website
According to research published the journal Human Reproduction, twins born as a result of assisted reproductive technology (ART) are more likely to be admitted to neonatal intensive care and to be hospitalised in their first three years of life than spontaneously conceived twins.
Read the press release on the ESHRE website.
Read the full research paper:
25-03-2009 - Single embryo transfer is the cheapest and most effective strategy for assisted reproduction ESHRE website
Transferring single embryos to women’s wombs over several assisted reproduction cycles that use both fresh and frozen embryos is more effective and cheaper than transferring two or more embryos at one time, according to data from the world’s longest running series of patients who choose to have only one embryo implanted per cycle – elective single embryo transfer (eSET). Read more on the ESHRE website.
Read the relating full research papers:
Elective single embryo transfer with cryopreservation improves the outcome and diminishes the costs of IVF/ICSI. Human Reproduction, Vol.1, No.1 pp. 1–8, 2009 (206 Kb)
Cost-effectiveness of seven IVF strategies: results of a Markov decision-analytic model.
Human Reproduction, Vol.1, No.1 pp. 1–8, 2009 (257 Kb)
04-02-09 - HFEA has written to NHS Directors of Public Health about multiple births and commissioning IVF services HFEA website
In February 2009, the HFEA's Interim Chief Executive, Alan Doran wrote to the NHS Directors of Public Health to outline the importance of ensuring that commissioning strategies are consistent with the HFEA's new multiple births policy.
09-07-08 - Women unaware of increased health risks associated with multiple pregnancy
Women are unaware of the increased health risks that are associated with multiple pregnancy, a new survey has found. The survey, which was conducted to support the One at a Time national strategy, was carried out amongst the general public to establish women’s attitudes to fertility treatment and multiple pregnancy.
08-07-08 - Fertility experts criticise new twins research
Experts in fertility treatment have criticised new research which claims that women are being misled over the risks of having twins. The research undertaken by Dr Norbert Gleicher from the Centre of Human Reproduction in New York claims that giving birth to twins is no more risky than singleton births.
27-06-08 - Professionals come together to reduce risk of multiple pregnancy
Doctors, embryologists, nurses, other clinical staff, patient groups and the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) have come together to launch a new national strategy to reduce the number of multiple pregnancies – the single biggest health risk of fertility treatment.