International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics

People undergoing fertility treatment need full counselling about all of the risks involved, it has been claimed.

Sarah Montagu, administrative secretary for the UK Association of Radical Midwives, said obstetricians must ensure that all potential parents making the decision to pursue IVF are fully aware of the relevant facts.

She was commenting after the journal Human Reproduction reported that twins born via IVF treatment are more likely to require hospital treatment than those born naturally.

Ms Montagu noted: "I think in particular there's that balance which needs to be struck between the desire to achieve a successful pregnancy but also the health of the baby and of the mother."

She explained that there is now a limit on how many embryos should be transplanted in any kind of surgical procedure.

"The push is for fewer to be transplanted because it is better for the health of the pregnancy," she said.

However, Ms Montagu added that the desire to ensure at least one embryo develops encourages many multiple births.