Out of the 862 In-Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) cycles carried out at Mater Dei Hospital since 2015, only eight cycles made use of embryo freezing, according to Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Health, Chris Fearne.
Replying to a parliamentary question by government whip, Byron Camilleri, Fearne said that up to the 28 October 2019, from the 862 IVF cycles done, 179 babies were born, of which 99 were girls and 80 were boys. Another seven couples are expecting.
The controversial Embryo Protection Act, which allowed for the fertilisation of up to five eggs and embryo freezing only came into force in October last year.
These figures reveal that the success rate of IVF cycles carried out since 2015 in Mater Dei Hospital amounts to approximately 21%.
The law introducing IVF came into force in 2012, however, embryo freezing itself was only allowed in exceptional circumstances. It changed in September 2018, after amendments allowed two fertilised eggs (in some cases three) to be transferred into the woman’s uterus. Maltese law does not allow for the disposal of embryos under any circumstances.
The Authority for the Protection of Embryos started keeping a register in 2013 and since then 322 babies were born from IVF cycles. These include cycles carried out at both Mater Dei Hospital and private hospitals.
The rate of babies born from IVF increased last year, figures from the Embryo Protection Authority’s annual report showed. This report was published earlier this year.
When presenting the report, Fearne said that the absolute majority of couples who performed IVF since October opted to fertilise five eggs. This is expected to improve the take-home baby rate and ensure less discomfort and risk for the prospective mother.
“From the 34 couples who underwent IVF since October, 27 chose to utilise the new legal provisions that allow up to five eggs to be fertilised,” Fearne said.
