The mother isn't always certain: Irish surrogacy case leads the way

Once upon a time, motherhood was certain. It was proved by giving birth. The Latin maxim 'mater semper certa est' that told us so was irrefutable. Whether or not that was ever actually true, it has for a long while been biologically, as well as socially, questionable.... [Read More]

Goodbye BioNews, and thanks

It feels very strange to no longer be a BioNews editor, having been doing this for the best part of the last ten years and having been associated with Progress Educational Trust (PET) for even longer than that. For one thing, I'm not entirely sure yet what I'm going to do with my Mondays.... [Read More]

CORRECTION: 'My Daddy's Name is Donor': Read with caution!

On 9 July 2010 we published a commentary written by Eric Blyth, Professor of Social Work at the University of Huddersfield, UK and Visiting Professor in the Department of Applied Social Sciences, Hong Kong Polytechnic University and Wendy Kramer, co-founder of the US Donor Sibling Registry. The commentary was about a recent report co-authored by Elizabeth Marquardt, director of the Institute for American Values (IAV)'s Center for Marriage and Families, Norval D. Glenn, of the University of Te... [Read More]

BioNews and PET need your help

Next week, BioNews will publish its 450th issue. We have been working hard for the last nine years to keep interested parties informed and up to date with news developments, issues and debates surrounding assisted reproduction, embryo research and human genetics. This year, being both the 30th anniversary of the... [Read More]

The HFEA's father figures: Lies, damn lies and statistics?

The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA)'s recent publication of the results of its review of sperm, egg and embryo donation in the UK was accompanied by a press release detailing the profile of current donors. 'Who are the UK's sperm donors?' it asked, answering that the 'stereotype of... [Read More]

Italian referendum result undermines choice, safety and progress

The outcome of Italy's referendum on its fertility law means that Italy retains its position as one of the world's most restrictive nations on fertility treatments and related research. It is - and will now continue to be - wholly out of line with most of the rest of Europe on these... [Read More]

Science, religion and a 'culture of life'

As we report in BioNews this week, President George Bush has pledged support for a 'culture of life' in American science. In his view, this means pursuing his policy on embryonic stem (ES) cell funding, and refusing to allow federal funds for researchers working to create ES cell lines. It... [Read More]

When is an embryo not an embryo?

Recent news reports have highlighted the fact that scientists are searching for a way to create human embryonic stem (ES) cells without destroying human embryos. Normally, the derivation of ES cells requires that the embryo they came from be destroyed in the process. Many people have no ethical problem with... [Read More]

California and stem cells: not all news from the US is bad

Last week, US voters handed George W Bush a second term as president. Exit polls showed that one of the reasons he was re-elected - although the result was close, Kerry winning 49 per cent of votes - was his commitment to 'moral values'. This, presumably, includes not only abortion and gay... [Read More]

Superman actor advanced the stem cell cause

People across the world will be saddened by the death of Christopher Reeve, the American actor best known for his role as Superman. Indeed, looking at some of the websites where people can send their tribute messages, many people have been shocked about the news of his death at such... [Read More]

UK's HFEA updates single embryo transfer fee proposal

The UK's Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) has updated its position on the way clinics should be charged for performing IVF with a single embryo transfer (SET)... [Read More]

Lifestyle is a factor in pregnancy after IVF, says fertility scientist

BioNews reporting from ESHRE conference, Barcelona:By Dr Kirsty Horsey: Scientists looking at pregnancy rates in women who have previously had IVF treatment say that lifestyle factors play a large part in whether a woman will go on to achieve a natural pregnancy or not. Speaking at the annual meeting... [Read More]

Attitudes to surrogacy are improving, say researchers

BioNews reporting from ESHRE conference, Barcelona:By Dr Kirsty Horsey: Delegates at the annual meeting of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) in Barcelona have been told that attitudes towards surrogacy in the UK are still 'broadly negative'. In a poster presentation, Professor Olga van den Akker... [Read More]

Single pregnancies should be the goal of fertility doctors

BioNews reporting from ESHRE conference, Barcelona:By Dr Kirsty Horsey: Delegates at the annual meeting of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology have been told that more mental health problems are faced by parents of twins than of singletons, no matter how the children were conceived. Dr Leila... [Read More]

Donor-conceived children should be told at an early age

BioNews reporting from ESHRE conference, Barcelona:By Dr Kirsty Horsey: Researchers from the Centre for Family Research at Cambridge University in the UK have told the annual meeting of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology that children born following the use of donor insemination should be told sooner... [Read More]

ART families without genetic or gestational links are still doing well

BioNews reporting from ESHRE conference, Barcelona:By Dr Kirsty Horsey: Researchers from the Centre for Family Research at Cambridge University in the UK say that families created by the use of sperm donation, egg donation and surrogacy are doing well, particularly in terms of their psychological well-being. The data, presented... [Read More]

'One at a Time' embryo campaign launched in UK

A campaign led by fertility professionals and patient groups in the UK has been launched to reduce the number of multiple births that follow IVF by introducing a general policy of single embryo transfer (SET). However, experts have warned that the impetus behind the 'One at... [Read More]

Lack of sperm means some UK couples can't get treatment

The number of recorded sperm donations in the UK has fallen to the lowest level since anonymity was removed from donors in April 2005, say officials. Figures published in the Times newspaper show that there was a decline of about 20 per cent in the number... [Read More]

Access to IVF in UK barred to smokers

A British MP has raised more concerns about access to National Heath Service-funded IVF in the UK. It transpires that a number of IVF clinics in the UK are denying free treatment to women who smoke. Labour MP Sally Keeble identified the latest barrier to accessing... [Read More]

Older fathers may increase chance of dying before adulthood

A new study has shown that becoming a father after the age of 45 increases the likelihood that the resulting child will die before reaching adulthood. The researchers, based at the University of Aarhus in Denmark, who published their findings in the European Journal of Epidemiology... [Read More]