Effect of the new legislation and single-embryo transfer policy in Turkey on assisted reproduction outcomes: preliminary results

Abstract New legislation concerning assisted reproduction treatments was introduced in Turkey in March 2010 in order to reduce the number of multiple pregnancies. This new legislation limits the number of embryos to be transferred to one under 35years of age in the first or second treatment cycles and to two in the third or further cycles or for 35 and older ages. The aim of this multicentre study was to investigate the effect of this new law on clinical pregnancy and multiple pregnancy rates. Outcomes were compared in equal periods of 2.5months before and after the new law, and further investigation was conducted for two different age groups: P 0.001) for the overall population. The outcomes of the Lay summary Multiple pregnancies are common and undesirable outcomes of assisted reproduction treatments. Single-embryo transfer policy is a successful way to reduce the number of multiple pregnancies, thus it is increasingly gaining acceptance throughout the world. Turkish government had an attempt to promote single-embryo transfer on 6 March 2010 via a new legislation. According to this new regulation, only one embryo transfer is permitted in the first and second treatment cycles of patients under 35, a maximum of two embryos can be transferred in the third or further cycles, and a maximum of two embryos can be transferred to patients aged ⩾35years. The aim of our multicentre study was to investigate the effect of this new law on clinical pregnancy and multiple pregnancy rates. Outcomes were compared in equal periods of 2.5months before and after the new law, and further investigation was conducted for two different age groups: P