The number of women having successful IVF treatment in the UK topped 10,000 for the first time in 2006, according to new figures released today.

There were 10,242 births resulting in 12,596 babies, a 13% rise on the number of births in 2005.

Success rates rose in every age group, according to the data from the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA).

The live birth rate rose in 2006, with 23.1% of treatment cycles resulting in a live birth, up 1.5% for on the previous year.

In 1992, the first year the HFEA started collecting data, the live birth rate was 13%.

The number of patients and the number of treatments being undertaken in the UK also rose.

A total of 34,855 women were treated at UK clinics in 2006 - up 6.8% on the previous year. In total, they underwent 44,275 cycles of IVF treatment, up 5.6% on the previous year.

Overall success rates increased in every age group.

For women under 35 using their own fresh eggs, the live birth rate was 31% compared with 29.6% in 2005.

For women over 40 using their own fresh eggs, the rate increased from 0.8% in 2005 to 4% in 2006.

The HFEA has been urging clinics to cut the number of multiple births as a result of fertility treatment.

Multiple births carry risks for both mothers and babies.

The multiple birth rate fell from 24% of births in 2005 to 22.7% in 2006.

Donor insemination treatments were down 28%, with 4,225 treatments carried out in 2006 compared with 5,865 in 2005.

A change in the law in 2005, which removed the sperm donors' right to anonymity, has been largely blamed for a drop in the number of donors coming forward.

The latest figures show there were 307 donors in 2006, up from 259 in 2005 and 247 in 2004.

Nevertheless, fertility experts believe it is too early to say if this rise will continue and acknowledge there is a need to recruit more donors.

Today's figures showed that success rates for donor insemination were up slightly - 10.8% of treatments resulted in a live birth compared with 10.3% in 2005.

Professor Lisa Jardine, chairwoman of the HFEA, said: "In the year that we celebrated the 30th anniversary of the birth of the world's first IVF baby, these latest figures show just how far we've come.

"IVF is now commonplace, with the number of treatment cycles and births rising yet again."

She said the drop in the number of donor insemination cycles was of "great concern" to patients needing donor sperm.

"The HFEA is supportive of clinics that are actively recruiting donors and we welcome the British Fertility Society working party proposals to introduce a national system for donor recruitment."

The top six IVF clinics in the UK in 2006, broken down by age group.

They refer to live birth rate for treatment cycles using own fresh eggs

Women under 35

Assisted Reproduction and Gynaecology Centre, London (61%)

Reproductive Genetics Institute London (50%). Not currently licensed.

UCH London (44%), joint with: Lister Fertility Clinic (44%)

Chelsea and Westminster London (42%)

Nurture, Nottingham (41%)

Shropshire and Mid Wales Fertility Centre (39%)

Women aged 35 to 37

Assisted Reproduction and Gynaecology Centre, London (51%)

Nurture, Nottingham (40%)

Reproductive Genetics Institute London (39%). Not currently licensed.

Lister Fertility Clinic (38%)

UCH London (36%)

Chelsea and Westminster London (35%)

Women aged 38 to 39

Assisted Reproduction and Gynaecology Centre, London (41%)

UCH London (37%)

Lister Fertility Clinic (29%)

Bath Fertility Centre (27%)

Cromwell IVF and Fertility Centre, London (26%)

Ninewells Dundee (25%)

Women aged 40 to 42

Assisted Reproduction and Gynaecology Centre, London (23%)

UCH London (22%)

Reproductive Genetics Institute London (21%). Not currently licensed.

Edinburgh Assisted Conception Unit (18%), joint with: Bourn Hall Clinic Cambridgeshire (18%)

Lister Fertility Clinic (16%), joint with: Ninewells Dundee (16%), joint with: Assisted Conception Unit, King's College Hospital (16%)

Guy's Hospital, London (14%)