Fertility treatment "add-ons" offered to patients in the UK do not always improve their chances of having a baby, according to a new ratings system from the fertility regulator.
It follows concerns clinics are offering unproven treatments costing hundreds or thousands of pounds. Clinics must give clear information on costs and success rates, experts say. Support groups hope the ratings will improve the stressful process of buying private fertility treatment.
Add-ons are optional, non-essential treatments that may be offered in addition to proven fertility treatments, such as IVF (in-vitro fertilisation), in private clinics. Support group Fertility Network UK welcomed the new HFEA ratings system, which uses five colours - ranging from green to red - to indicate the amount of evidence an add-on is effective at improving the chances of having a baby.
Examples include:
- pre-implantation genetic testing for aneuploidy (PGT-A) - where a cell is removed from the embryo and tested for chromosomal abnormalities - rated red
- endometrial scratching - the theory is that this triggers the body to repair the site of the scratch, releasing chemicals and hormones that make the womb lining more receptive to an embryo implanting - rated amber
- immunological tests - rated red
None of those listed on the regulator's website had been rated green, Fertility Network UK pointed out, encouraging patients to look at all the information provided before making decisions.
Read more on BBC News - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-67133882
