It couldn't happen here...

The story of the American octuplets left most of us who've had fertility treatment wondering why anyone would choose to have eight embryos transferred, and what kind of clinic would agree to such a move. Like me, you'd probably assumed the mother must be in her forties, and the eight embryos had been a last ditch attempt at fertility treatment after many unsuccessful cycles in the past. The fact that she was only 33, and had already had six children by IVF, must surely lead to questions about the lack of regulation of fertility treatment in the US.

The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority often faces criticism from patients in the UK that it regulates too strictly and with an excessively paternalistic attitude, but it is thanks to our regulatory framework that high order multiple pregnancies after fertility treatment are largely a thing of the past in the UK. The case of Mandy Allwood, who lost all her eight babies more than ten years ago, led to many questions about multiple pregnancies and fertility treatment although she had not actually had IVF but had been taking fertility drugs (which does not fall under the HFEA's remit).

Transferring eight embryos is always going to be deeply questionable medical practice, but the clinician who decided to transfer eight embryos for a woman under the age of 35 who'd already had six successful IVF attempts has some difficult questions to answer. An octuplet pregnancy is dangerous for mother and babies and, as Mandy Allwood's experience shows, can so often end in tragedy.