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02 June 2000

To: All Persons Responsible

Dear Colleague,

IN VITRO MATURATION AND FERTILISATION OF OOCYTES

It has recently come to the HFEA's attention that there may be some confusion as to whether a HFEA treatment licence is required before a centre can offer in vitro maturation and fertilisation of oocytes as a clinical treatment. This letter is being circulated to centres specifically to clarify the position.

Any centre wishing to use this technique in clinical treatment would need first to apply to the HFEA for a licence. As recipients of this letter will know, in vitro maturation and fertilisation of oocytes is a novel procedure with limited live birth rates worldwide. The HFEA is currently reviewing this technique. Sufficient evidence of the technique's safety and efficacy would need to be produced before the HFEA would be prepared to licence this technique in clinical practice.

If you have any further questions please contact Dr Chris O'Toole (020 7539 3324) at the HFEA.

Yours sincerely,

Suzanne McCarthy
Chief Executive

Page last updated: 24 August 2012

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