Issue 165 (08 July 2002)

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IVF licence fees could hit patients

08 July 2002 - by Juliet Tizzard

As this week's BioNews reports, IVF clinics in the UK could face a huge increase in the cost of being licensed to offer services to the general public. The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) is set to reorganise its fee structure in order to raise an extra £2.5 million...[Read More]

Couples should not 'rush' into fertility treatments

08 July 2002 - by BioNews

Research presented at last week's annual conference of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) suggests that many couples may begin treatment for perceived fertility problems too soon. Fertility expert Dr David Dunson and his colleagues from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, US, say that despite...[Read More]

IVF prices set to rise

08 July 2002 - by BioNews

The UK's Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) has issued a consultation document in which it proposes a modernisation of its system of regulation and a new fee strategy for IVF clinics. In accordance with government policy, the authority says that it needs to generate increased funding to the tune...[Read More]

PGD could reduce miscarriages

08 July 2002 - by BioNews

Preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) could help some women who suffer from repeated unexplained miscarriages. Carmen Rubio, co-ordinator of a PGD programme in Spain, told the annual conference of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) last week that her research showed that chromosomal abnormalities could be partly to...[Read More]

Multiple pregnancy problem could be solved 'overnight'

08 July 2002 - by BioNews

A Swedish fertility specialist has told press at the annual conference of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) that the problem of multiple pregnancies following fertility treatments could be easily solved if doctors were not hesitant to act. Dr Karl Nygren, professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at...[Read More]

Sperm damaged by environment

08 July 2002 - by BioNews

Researchers have found that everyday chemicals present in the environment can reduce male fertility. Some substances affect the ability of sperm to penetrate an egg, because they cause the sperm to prematurely release chemicals that help it to break down the egg's outer layer. A study has shown that chemicals...[Read More]