People across the UK will have more choice over when to
start a family as the government sets out plans to increase the
storage limits for eggs, sperm and embryos.
Following a public consultation earlier this year,
proposals will be introduced to increase the statutory storage
limits for everyone from the current 10 years, to a 10 year
renewable storage period up to a maximum of 55 years.
Under the new system, prospective parents will be given the
option at 10 year intervals to keep or dispose of frozen eggs,
sperm and embryos.
This update not only ensures greater reproductive choice
and less pressured decision-making for parents thinking about
when to start a family, it will ensures greater equality as the
same rules will apply to everyone and storage limits will not be
dictated by medical need.
Health and Social Care Secretary, ,
said:
“The current storage arrangements can be severely
restrictive for those making the important decision about when to
start a family, and this new legislation will help turn off the
ticking clock in the back of people’s minds.
“There are any number of reasons why someone
may choose to preserve their fertility, and it is one of the most
personal decisions any of us can make. Technological
breakthroughs – including in egg freezing – have changed the
equation in recent years and its only right that this progress
puts more power into the hands of potential parents.
“By making these changes, we are going to take a huge step
forwards– not just for giving people greater freedom over their
fertility, but for equality too.”
The proposed changes are made possible by
using the latest freezing methods. Evidence shows frozen eggs can
be stored indefinitely without deterioration, due to a new
freezing technique called vitrification, and changes reflect the
increasing success of using frozen embryos in routine IVF
treatment.
It would be inappropriate for the limit to apply to all
cases so there will be additional conditions around third party
donors and posthumous use. This will be consulted upon
separately.
Julia Chain, Human Fertilisation and Embryology
Authority (HFEA) Chair, said:
"We welcome the government’s plans to extend the storage
limit for frozen eggs, sperm and embryos, bringing the law in
line with advances in science, changes in modern society and
individuals’ reproductive choices.
"This is great news for patients, giving them more time to
make important decisions about family planning.
“Any decision to store or preserve eggs, sperm or embryos
is a serious one and anyone considering this must be given full
information on the procedures involved, including the best time
to freeze and likelihood of successfully using them to have a
baby in future.
"It is important that the new rules are clear and that
fertility clinics are given adequate time to update their
procedures to ensure they can both implement the changes
effectively and give patients sufficient information so that they
are fully informed about their options."
Minister for Innovation, said:
“People across the UK are starting families
later in life and it is increasingly commonplace for people to
choose to freeze their eggs, sperm and embryos to preserve
fertility. There are myriad reasons for this, such as not being
ready or able to start a family or having a medical condition
that can lead to premature infertility.
“Prospective parents should not have to
wrestle with time limits on their fertility choices, and this
important change to storage timescales will give people more
control over their future and eliminate the pressure that comes
with knowing a decision has to be made within 10 years.”
ENDS
Supportive
quotes:
Raj Mathur, Chair of the British Fertility Society
(BFA) said:
“The British Fertility Society welcomes the
Government’s changes to the statutory maximum storage period for
eggs, sperm and embryos. Technological advances mean that storage
of reproductive material is a safe and effective way of
protecting fertility for many individuals.
“This change ensures that UK regulation is compliant with
the scientific evidence about the safety of storage, and protects
the ability of all our patients to make reproductive choices for
themselves as individuals and couples.
“As professionals delivering care in this field, we are
delighted that our advocacy has resulted in a change for the
better for our patients, reducing unintended discrimination and
protecting autonomy.
“We look forward to working with the Human Fertilisation
and Embryology Authority to ensure clinics are supported to
implement this change. We also call upon NHS commissioners to
ensure that the required improvements to services are implemented
fairly and all patients are able to benefit from this welcome
change.”
Jason Kasarie, Chair of ARCS said:
“The proposed changes are a welcome improvement for the
sector and most importantly our patients.
“The current storage limits have in some cases negatively
impacted upon reproductive choice for couples by placing an
artificial deadline, which would not be faced by those attempting
to conceive naturally, on treatment.
“The proposed, fairer, storage limits will help to
alleviate unnecessary stress for our patients and streamline the
process of storage for assisted conception clinics.”
Notes to
editors:
.
-
The legislation will be introduced when parliamentary
time allows.
