Annex
HFEA PUBLICATION: THINKING OF GOING ABROAD
FOR FERTILITY TREATMENT OR USING DONOR MATERIAL FROM ABROAD? (ISSUED
12 July 2004)
A small number of fertility clinics in the UK
are advising some of their patients to have their fertility treatment
in other countries. There are a number of things that you should
be aware of if you are thinking about going abroad.
SAFETY
In this country, the HFEA inspects all licensed
fertility clinics and regulates all licensed treatment. We look
at everything from the equipment used to the way staff handle
sperm, eggs and embryos in the laboratory. We set standards for
doctors and embryologists and we know that IVF treatment in the
UK is the safest in the world. No other country has this system
of independent regulation.
Other countries do not have the same rules about
screening and quarantining eggs and sperm for use in treatment.
In the UK the HFEA demands that all samples are screened for HIV,
hepatitis and cytomegalovirus.
COUNSELLING
All clinics in this country have to offer counselling
to everyone who is thinking about having treatment.
AFTERCARE
Fertility treatment can be stressful and patients
sometimes find that they need to talk to their doctor after they
have gone home. Bear in mind that if you have had your treatment
abroad then you may not have someone to turn to if you need to
talk about your treatment.
USING DONOR
MATERIAL FROM
ABROAD
The HFEA is responsible for allowing sperm,
eggs or embryos into the UK for patient's treatment. We have to
check that all arrangements in the country of origin meet our
strict standards for safety and record keeping, and we require
that no more than £15 plus reasonable expenses is paid to
donors. If we find clinics are not meeting these standards we
will not allow the import of the donor material.
Remember, if your treatment is actually taking
place abroad then it is outside the control of HFEA regulation.
This applies even if you have been referred abroad from your clinic
in the UK. The HFEA has recently published a patient guide called
the "Directory of Clinics" which can help you decide
whether or not to go abroad by outlining the questions you should
ask about treatment. For a free copy, please email your name and
address to admin@hfea.gov.uk, heading "Please send Directory
of Clinics".
| 
