Summary
New guidelines from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) advise fertility clinics to stop using unproven treatments that don't help with conception. The guidelines also recommend expanding fertility preservation services, like egg freezing, to more people beyond those with cancer. Clinics are encouraged to focus on treatments that have been proven effective.
Key Facts
- NICE advises against using unproven fertility treatments known as "add-ons."
- These add-ons can include procedures like endometrial scratches and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) for men with healthy semen.
- A survey found nearly three-quarters of fertility patients used additional tests or technologies that aren't proven to work.
- Only 37% of fertility patients had the risks of add-ons explained to them.
- The draft guidelines suggest offering fertility preservation services to people with conditions like recurrent endometriosis.
- NICE recommends three full cycles of IVF for women under 40 and one full cycle for women aged 40 and 41, if they meet certain criteria.
- Funding decisions for IVF cycles are made by local integrated care boards.
- The guidance is part of efforts to ensure patients only receive treatments that are proven to work.
