HFEA launches new Directory of Clinics for patients
05 March 2004
The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) has today published its new Directory of Clinics - Your guide to infertility. This is the first comprehensive, clear and easy to understand guide which answers patient questions about fertility treatment.
Over a quarter of all couples who embark on fertility treatment will drop out because they find it too stressful. There is evidence to suggest that the more information and support patients have the more likely they are to be able to cope with their fertility treatment.
The directory has real case histories to help people anticipate and plan for the sort of emotional difficulties they might face. It also has detailed medical explanations of what each different type of fertility treatment involves. There is a section which has profiles of all clinics licensed by the HFEA showing the treatments they offer, eligibility criteria and details of support services like counselling. The Directory is the first half of a patient pack available by April 2005 which will include a new Patients' Guide with clinic success rates audited by the HFEA.
Suzi Leather, HFEA Chair said:
"It is extremely important that anyone seeking advice and help for fertility treatment has as much information and support as possible. This Directory of Clinics has step by step explanations of each type of fertility treatment and will assist patients in asking their GPs and fertility doctors the right questions to make informed decisions [about their treatment]."
Clare Brown, Chief Executive, Infertility Network UK and HFEA member said:
"We carried out a patient survey asking what information patients needed in trying to make decisions about fertility treatment. The HFEA have taken the survey results and made them into an easy to read question and answer guide freely available to anyone who needs it."
The Directory of Clinics is available free of charge from the HFEA.
A copy of the Directory can be downloaded from the website.
To request a hard copy please e-mail: admin@hfea.gov.uk or telephone: 020 7377 5077.
Ends
Notes to editors
The Directory of Clinics will be available from the HFEA website or in hard copy from 5th March 2004.
The Directory of Clinics is a new publication and not intended to replace the Patients' Guide or patients' leaflets.
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.
The HFEA has a duty to publicise the services provided in pursuance of licences and to provide advice and information to patients.
For further information please contact the HFEA press office.
Page last updated: 12 March 2009