Birth rates for twins and triplets have been tipped to rise as increasing numbers of Australian women undertaking IVF ask their doctors to implant multiple embryos, to lower the cost of treament.

Specialists have said that patient costs have increased by around $1500 per cycle of IVF as a result of cuts to a government rebate, with many couples deciding to delay or abandon attempts at conception. But some couples implant multiple embryos, seeking to increase the likelihood of conception in one IVF cycle. The increased risks of death, prematurity and other complications associated with multiple births has not discouraged them.

The president of the Fertility Society of Australia and medical director of IVF Australia, Peter Illingworth, told the Sydney Morning Herald that the health system would be affected by this trend.

“There can be long-term health complications for twins born as a result of IVF,” he said. “Ideally, we would like to put one embryo in at a time because of those risks but we are getting more pressure from patients to do two.”

Federal Health Minister Nicola Roxon placed a cap on Medicare safety net payments in January, after a review discovered that some specialists were charging patients excessively. Ms Roxon’s claim was that patients would not suffer if specialists charged $6000, the typical cost of a cycle of IVF. According to doctors, however, the average cost of a cycle was $7500, or greater if further treatment was necessary. Sandra Dill, of the infertility group Access Australia, says that she receives 30 to 40 calls every week from patients who complain that they are suffering from increased financial stress. ~ Sydney Morning Herald May 2