First babies born from safe new IVF technique

"We took part because we wanted to pay it forward in return for the people who made it possible for us to have a child through IVF," said his mother Alison Harper, 31, of Hertfordshire.

"I went through several cycles of IVF previously but the one in the trial was the least uncomfortable - it was less painful and I felt less swollen.

One in six couples in the UK experiences infertility, and 48,147 women underwent IVF treatment in 2011.

Scientists tested the new method in 53 healthy volunteers at Hammersmith Hospital in London last year.

Kisspeptin is a naturally occurring hormone that stimulates the release of other reproductive hormones inside the body.

Unlike HCG, which remains in the blood for a long time after an injection, kisspeptin is broken down more quickly, meaning the risk of overstimulation is lower.

The women in the study had a single injection of kisspeptin to induce ovulation. Mature eggs developed in 51 out of 53 participants.

Forty-nine women had one or two fertilised embryos transferred to the uterus, and 12 became pregnant, which is a good outcome compared to standard conventional IVF therapy. Professor Waljit Dhillo, from the Department of Medicine, said: It's been a joy to see 12 healthy babies born using this approach.

OHSS is a major medical problem. It can be fatal in severe cases and it occurs in women undergoing IVF treatment who are otherwise very healthy.

"We really need more effective natural triggers for egg maturation during IVF treatment, and the results of this trial are very promising.

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First babies born from safe new IVF technique