The annual conference organised by the European Society of Human
Reproduction & Embryology is taking place this week in Prague.
Through the week, various discussions and presentations will look at the areas of interest in assisted conception and embryo research,
including extending tests for genetic predispositions before a woman is given IVF treatment. This is good news for
couples who fear they have genetic make-up which might cause their children to have serious inherited conditions.
At the conference in Prague, Professor Bill Ledger from Sheffield University called on the British government to increase the number of IVF cycles
paid for by the NHS to couples seeking treatment.
Ledger and his study group have looked at the cost of IVF treatment against the amount of money a child - born to a couple who otherwise would not be able
to have children - would go on to earn and pay back into the economy over his or her lifetime. Based on a child being in education until 19 and then
in full-time employment, Ledger argued that a child would have 'paid back' the NHS cost for IVF treatment by the time he or she was 31.
The ongoing issue of an ageing population means that it is important the birth rate does not drop to a point where, in the future, there are not
enough young working people to support the needs of the rest of UK society. It is estimated that the desired birth rate to keep the population
economically balanced, is 2.1 children per family. In the UK, whilst the birth rate has increased slightly, it is still only at 1.8 children per family.
Fertility bodies argue that it is favourable to the UK economy for eligible couples to be offered three cycles of IVF treatment. However, they are
currently usually offered only one cycle and in some parts of the UK there is no NHS facility for this at all. The cost of IVF then becomes impossible
for some couples to follow this therapy through privately.
The UK currently provides the lowest number of IVF cycles to eligible couples, in Europe: just 600 cycles provided by the NHS per one million
women.
For more about infertility treatments and options, check out the website of Infertility Network UK.
