Recent statistics released in New Zealand have indicated a significant increase in the incidence of multiple births. The Office of National Statistics reported that in 2010 there were 15.7 multiple births per 1000 women. This is an increase of 6.8% compared to the same statistics from 2000.
The increase in multiple births has been attributed to increased use of IVF therapy. During 2010, a surprising one in four IVF pregnancies in New Zealand resulted in either twins or triplets. This is significantly greater than the rate of natural multiple births in New Zealand. Naturally conceived pregnancies were reported to have a one in 80 chance of resulting in a multiple birth.
