• Mitochondria public consultation 2012
• National Donation Strategy Group
• Multiple births after IVF
• Past reviews
  • Genetic testing
  • Embryo research
  • Fees and regulation
    • Are you ready?
      • New arrangements for the storage of gametes & embryos
      • Get ready - 8th Code of Practice, consent forms and Directions
      • New parenthood laws
      • Compliance cycle
      • Information access for donor-conceived people donors
      • Use of embryos for training
      • Embryo testing
      • Using patient data to help improve fertility treatment
      • Choose a Fertility Clinic
      • Clinic staff portal
      • Persons Responsible Entry Program (PREP)
      • New licences for clinics
    • 7th Code of Practice
    • Standards for Assisted Conception Centres
    • Modernisation of regulation and the new fee strategy
    • Annual fees for licensed centres (EUTCD)
    • Research fees
    • Public attitudes to regulation
  • Risks of treatment
  • Clinical safety
  • Donation

All eggs, sperm or embryos placed in storage on or after 1 October 2009 can be stored for 10 years (provided that consent is in place).

The Human Fertilisation and Embryology (Statutory Storage Period for Embryos and Gametes) Regulations 2009 make it possible to extend sperm or egg storage up to a maximum of 55 years, providing that every 10 years the centre obtains a written opinion from a registered medical practitioner that the person to be treated (or one of the people who provided the eggs or sperm) is or is likely to become prematurely infertile. This written opinion can be obtained at any point during the initial or any extended 10-year storage period. The embryos can then be stored for a further 10 years from the date opinion was obtained.

Gamete providers will need to provide written consent to the storage of embryos for the extended period. Consent should be given for the extended period for which the eggs or sperm will be in storage ie, if the eggs or sperm have already been in storage for 10 years and a patient wishes for them to remain in storage for a further 12 years they would need to consent to 12 year’s storage.

Consent forms
When sperm, eggs or embryos are placed in storage on or after 1 October 2009 gamete providers should complete the new MT and WT forms, MD and WD forms or MSG and WSG forms. Patients just placing sperm or eggs in storage (and not having any other treatment) should complete the GS form.

If gamete providers then consent to extension of sperm, egg or embryo storage beyond the 10-year statutory period (or any other period they initially consented to) they should complete the ES form (for embryos) or LGS form (for sperm or eggs).

• Consent forms

Medical practitioner’s statement
A registered medical practitioner’s written opinion on whether or not the medical criteria for storing eggs, sperm or embryos for more than 10 years have been met can be recorded on the new HFEA ‘Medical Practitioner’s Statement form’.

 

Back to new arrangements for storage home

Page last updated: 11 September 2009

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