06 September 2021
Marta Jansa Perez, Director of Embryology at BPAS Fertility, said:
“BPAS Fertility welcomes the government’s decision to extend storage limits for eggs, sperm and embryos to a maximum of 55 years. This extension provides greater reproductive choice by bringing the law in line with advances in science and technology.
“This change will allow people to keep embryos and gametes until they are ready to use them, doing away with arbitrary time limits that previously increased pressures to begin family planning – especially during the pandemic. We know women have a more limited timeframe for biological parenthood, and previous storage limits placed undue restrictions on their reproductive choices.
“The government must now move to ensure that once people are ready to become parents and start using stored eggs, sperm and embryos, they have access to comprehensive, NHS-funded fertility care. It is also essential that anyone who wishes to freeze their gametes has access to evidence-based information and that clinics offering fertility treatments are regulated to ensure they are transparent about the costs involved to allow patients to make informed choices.”
ENDS
For more information please contact sam.leimanis@bpas.org or call 07570 707134.
About BPAS
BPAS is a charity that sees over 100,000 women a year for reproductive healthcare services including pregnancy counselling, abortion care, miscarriage management and contraception at clinics across Great Britain. It supports and advocates for reproductive choice. BPAS also runs the Centre for Reproductive Research and Communication, which seeks to develop and deliver a research agenda that furthers women’s access to evidence-based reproductive healthcare, driven by an understanding of women’s perspectives and needs. You can find out more here: https://www.bpas.org/get-involved/centre-for-reproductive-research-communication/
Later in 2021, BPAS will launch England’s first not-for-profit fertility service, to provide ethical, evidence-based, person-centred care that supports patients. We will provide a safe, high-quality, and accessible service, without profiteering from patients. Our service will give those ineligible for NHS funding an affordable option to access the care they need.
