IVF reform leads to healthier infants
(wz) A 2003 recommendation by the Israel Obstetrics Society to implant no more than two embryos during in-vitro fertilization (IVF) has significantly reduced the number of triplets and very low birth-weight (VLBW) babies (up to 1.5 kilos) born since then.
The reduction in the number of VLBW babies has saved considerable amounts of money on expensive hospitalization in neonatal intensive care units and minimized the number of disabled infants.
This was disclosed in a Health Ministry report, “Database of VLBW Infants for 2005 and Trends for the Years 1995-2005,” which was released for publication on Sunday.
Previously, fertility experts had implanted many more embryos in the hope that at least one would become successfully implanted and reach maturity in the uterus.
In 1996, the number of VLBW babies born was 1,333, while it rose to 1,648 four years later. A total of 533 were from multiple pregnancies produced by IVF in 1996, compared to 730 in 2000. But with implementation of the society’s recommendation, the number of VLBW babies born declined to 1,497, with only 610 of them in multiple pregnancies. more…
From: »The Jerusalem Post«