Date Published: 9 December 2009

Statement regarding HFEA decision to review sperm, egg and embryo donation policies

The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority agreed at its open Authority meeting today to review a range of its sperm, egg and embryo donation polices over the course of the next year.

The policies to be reviewed include:

• the upper age limit of male donors and whether to bring it into line with professional guidelines and the lower age limit for female donors due to potential health risks relating to egg donation
• the 10 family limit
• the reimbursement of donors for expenses and loss of earnings
• egg sharing which will be reviewed together with the reimbursement of donors

The Authority agreed that further consideration should be given to:

• intra-familial and inter-generational donation
• cross border treatment
• whether donors should be allowed to restrict donation to certain patient groups

Professor Lisa Jardine, Chair of the HFEA said:

" The Authority had a rewarding and well informed debate across a wide range of important issues and arrived at some significant decisions. I welcome the fact that we are now beyond the implementation of the new legislation and can address issues which have implications for all of our stakeholders.

There was a general view that the HFEA's policy with regard to reimbursement for donors. which has now been in place for two years since the introduction of the European Tissue and Cell Directive, was one that could usefully be revisited in light of what we have learned over those two years. We will not prejudge the outcome of the review that will now take place.?

Note about the source of this item: The HFEA is the UK government's independent regulator for IVF treatment and embryo research. Their role is to protect patients and the public interest, to drive improvement in the treatment and research sectors and to provide information to the public and policymakers about treatment and research. The HFEA was set up in August 1991 as part of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act (UK Law), 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.

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