202 IVF cycles were performed at Mater Dei Hospital in 2016. In total, 273 cycles were performed in Malta. The information comes from the annual report of the Authority for the Protection of Embryos, which was tabled in Parliament this evening.

Health Minister Chris Fearne also tabled the audited accounts for 2016, the estimates for 2017 and 2018.

He said that the cycles resulted in 64 pregnancies which, in turn, led to 14 births, seven miscarriages and 43 expectant mothers.

Mr Fearne said that 228 couples made use of the service. 43 couples made use of two cycles, and one couple used three. In 2016 there were ten patients who had their gametes transferred between clinics in Malta, while one couple had its eggs transferred abroad.

There were 23 couples who did not have an embryo to transfer, 150 couples had two embryos, 46 had one embryo and 53 had three.

Also last year, 58 IVF babies were born, 44 of whom - 23 girls and 21 boys, through cycles carried out in 2015. Fourteen - nine boys and five girls, were born through cycles in the beginning of last year.