Watchdog denies 'IVF cut' claims

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The fertility treatment regulator has denied reports that it is introducing new rules to ration IVF treatment.

The Human Fertility and Embryology Authority (HFEA) rejected claims that it was about to limit the number of embryo implants.

Two newspapers said the HFEA was reacting to fears that multiple births from fertility treatment were putting babies' and mothers' health at risk.

But the HFEA insisted that no decision had yet been taken.

Judgement

The Observer and the Independent on Sunday say the watchdog is due to announce the restrictions within a week.

According to the reports, most of the 30,000 women each year who receive IVF treatment would be allowed to only have one embryo implanted rather than two.

It is claimed that doctors would still be able to use their clinical judgement to decide if a woman should get two embryos, but that clinics would be told to reduce the number of multiple births through IVF from 25% to 5-10%.

It is believed that half of the 10,000 multiple births each year in the UK are due to assisted conception.

HFEA says it will launch a public consultation to decide what action needs to be taken, and no decision had been made.