BMJ  2007;335:62 (14 July), doi:10.1136/bmj.39272.373634.DB

News

Restrictive law on reproduction increases multiple pregnancies

Fabio Turone

Milan

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

The first official data on the effects of the restrictive Italian law on assisted reproduction, approved in 2004, have been made public by health minister Livia Turco, of the centre left coalition government led by the former president of the European Union Romano Prodi.

According to Ms Turco's report to parliament, the law has resulted in a decrease in the success rate of the procedures and more multiple pregnancies and adverse outcomes.

The law was approved during the previous centre right government by a cross party majority. It prohibits the use of donated eggs and sperm; limits to three the number of embryos that can be created in each cycle; and bans embryo freezing, making it mandatory to put all fertilised eggs back into the womb. Preimplantation genetic testing is also forbidden.

Attempts to modify the law included a referendum in 2005, which did not reach the necessary quorum (. . . [Full text of this article]


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