Fertility tourism risk for NHS

Wednesday July 15th, 2009

British women are increasingly seeking risky fertility treatment overseas, doctors warned today.

Women return from "fertility tourism" trips with multiple pregnancies that place themselves and their babies at risk, experts said.

Researchers analysed the records of 109 women with multiple pregnancies - more than two viable embryos - between February 1996 and July 2007. The women were seen at University College Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in London, UK.

Most of the women (86 per cent) had received fertility treatment. A quarter of this group were treated outside the UK, in countries such as Israel, Germany, Algeria, Cyprus and South Africa. Reasons for seeking treatment abroad included cheaper treatment, the chance of multiple implantations, and faster treatment.

Full details appear in BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology.

Lead researcher, Dr Alastair McKelvey, said: "We have seen an increase in the numbers of high order multiple pregnancies in women who have received fertility treatment overseas. In a lot of cases, treatment was sought in countries where the practice is more loosely regulated than the UK, or has no regulation at all.

"We are concerned because these pregnancies are often very high-risk and present the NHS with considerable challenges in the care of mother and babies.

"Couples are understandably desperate to have children and may think that these treatments are a quick-fix or a good bargain, without considering the potential adverse outcomes. In fact they may not be properly counselled about the risks both to them and the babies. These risks are real and potentially serious.

"There are genuine concerns about complications such as cerebral palsy and even maternal death."

He added: "We need international protocols on this urgently, to be agreed by the professionals performing the fertility treatment and those caring for the women."

McKelvey, A. et al. The impact of cross-border reproductive care or 'fertility tourism' on NHS maternity services. BJOG, published online July 15, 2009.

Tags: Childbirth and Pregnancy | NHS | Nursing & Midwifery | UK News | Women’s Health & Gynaecology

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