Getting IVF on the NHS is tougher than ever. This blog is a regular critic of the poor provision of IVF services on the NHS. Over 60% of IVF applications are refused by the NHS. So patients pay over the odds for rip-off private treatment. We're now seeing fees of £8,000 and upwards for a single IVF cycle at some UK clinics.
In its recent report on donor conception, the Nuffield Council on Bioethics talks about 'information sharing'. That means when and how to tell your child she was donor conceived. It makes some good points. But ethical arguments don't always take account of the real world. Where, in that 200-page paper, does it actually celebrate the wonderful altruism of donors? In the UK, egg and sperm donors face barriers. Their impulse to donate is knocked back by ethical over-thinking and distrustful attitudes.
Legal protection for IVF patients in Europe is impressive. It's in a different league, for example, to cosmetic surgery, which still attracts some cowboy operators. Not so for IVF. Strict EU laws on fertility treatment, plus well-regulated industry practice, have been evolving for 30 years. If you choose to have an IVF cycle at a licensed fertility clinic in Europe, you'll get fair and safe treatment.
Stress and IVF. We're always told the two don’t mix. Clinics say take it easy, before and after your treatment. Friends keep a respectful distance. But the truth is, stress and anxiety don't seem to affect IVF outcomes that much. But read on.