Sweden
August, 2004Dear friends, The relatively recent legislation in ART in Sweden concerning oocyte donation and sperm donation in connection with IVF is now showing effect in that the first children have been born after oocyte donation treatments in Sweden. In addition, the treatment of HIV-discordant couples is now possible. Regulations regarding PGD are under revision and the ART community hopes for wider indications for PGD as a result. The treatment of single women and lesbian couples is also up for discussion. In Stockholm, the two ART-units run by the local health care system, at Karolinska University Hospital in Solna and in Huddinge, will merge on the 1.st of September 2004. The new unit will be located in Huddinge. The aim of the merger is to increase the efficiency and reduce costs without any reduction in the total number of treatments. All Swedish ART clinics have adopted the single embryo transfer policy, with a majority of all embryo transfers being performed with one embryo. This has dramatically reduced the incidence of twin pregnancies. The concomitant demand for consistent high quality in the treatments has allowed this change to be effected with a marginal effect on the overall results. |