Public urged to make sure they have had their say on sperm, egg and embryo donation arrangements
26 January 2005
People across the UK are being urged to help shape the future of the system for managing sperm, egg and embryo donation arrangements before a three-month consultation closes on February 4.
The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) regulates the system for sperm, egg and embryo donation and use in clinics across the UK. It launched a three-month public consultation ‘The Regulation of Donor Assisted Conception' into how the system will work in future, following major changes to the law which come into effect on 1 April 2005. These will allow children born from donated sperm, eggs or embryos to know the name, address, date of birth and appearance of the donor.
The consultation asks for views on a number of important areas including:
- How many children should be allowed to be born from each donor
- How donor's characteristics should be matched with patients,
- How much donors should be compensated and whether egg donors should be compensated at the same level as sperm donors
- How strict regulation should be on allowing sperm, eggs and embryos to be imported into the UK.
People can reply using the special online questionnaire on the HFEA website, by contacting the HFEA at seedreview@hfea.gov.uk or telephoning 020 7291 8200.
Angela McNab, Chief Executive of the HFEA, said:
"We know that donation of eggs, sperm and embryos have helped many people to achieve their dream of having a child, with more than 37,000 children having been born through donor conception.
"Donors of sperm, eggs and embryos play a valuable role in the range of fertility treatment options. Our job is to make sure the system works smoothly, safely and effectively so that donor conception can thrive as a fertility treatment in this country.
"We have already had many responses from patients, professionals and the wider public to help us shape our future guidance for this area. But we are keen to hear from as many people as possible before we compile our final guidance for the future."
Ends
Notes to editors
The HFEA was set up in August 1991 as part of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990. The HFEA's principal tasks are to license and monitor clinics that carry out in vitro fertilisation (IVF), donor insemination (DI) and human embryo research. The HFEA also regulates the storage of gametes (eggs and sperm) and embryos.
Since the HFEA register was set up in 1991 more than 25,000 children have been born as a result of donated sperm, eggs or embryos. The Department of Health estimate that a further 12,000 donor conceived people were born before the HFEA register was set up.
Currently, donors are paid a maximum of £15 per donation plus reasonable expenses. The maximum age for sperm donors is 45 and for egg donors it is 35. A maximum of 10 children plus siblings may be conceived from one donor.
For further information please contact the HFEA press office.
Page last updated: 11 March 2009