Patients Angry That UK Falls Behind Most Of Europe On Provision Of Infertility Treatment And Success Rates

Main Category: Fertility
Article Date: 06 Jul 2007 - 1:00 PDT

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Figures announced on the success of ART treatments in Denmark, leaves patients and patient representatives in the UK sickened at how far behind we are from much of Europe on both success rates and NHS provision of treatment.

The UK continues to have a postcode lottery on infertility treatments.

Looking at the report coming from Danish doctors today Clare Brown, Chief Executive of Infertility Network UK said " The UK pioneered infertility treatment and had the first baby being born from IVF. Sadly, since then we have become among the lowest providers in Europe of NHS treatment for infertility sufferers. The recommendations in the NICE Guideline seem very similar to the provision in Denmark, but have yet to be fully implemented. The question has to be asked that if they were fully implemented and people had access to 3 full cycles of treatment, would we also see success rates improve."

Ms Brown went on to say " We need to look closely at what they are doing in Denmark and how they are doing it. We need to look at how they choose the best embryos, how the treatments are costed in the public health system there, and is it a case of practice makes perfect"

Given that there is a move toward elective single embryo transfer in the UK, Infertility Network UK calls upon the government to ensure that the NICE guideline is fully implemented immediately. In order to ensure that pregnancy rates are not significantly affected, a full cycle of IVF needs to include both a fresh embryo transfer and the subsequent replacement of frozen embryos derived from that cycle.

Finally Ms Brown stated " If three full cycles of treatment can be given to patients in counties like Denmark and if they can achieve success rates in the region of 60%, then the UK must act immediately to ensure that patients here can also access the very best services possible. To be so far behind other countries in Europe in the provision and success of fertility treatment is totally intolerable"

Infertility Network UK
Charter House
43 St. Leonards Road
Bexhill on Sea
East Sussex TN40 1JA
UK

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