Infertility - what the future holds

At the moment this technique is reserved for couples who have had several failed attempts in the past, or for those who can only contemplate becoming pregnant with one baby and therefore want a single embryo transfer. Further studies are needed before this technique can be introduced more widely.

In January 2000 the HFEA decided to allow the use of frozen eggs in fertility treatment in the UK. A world wide report commissioned by the authority confirmed the increase in the number of healthy babies recently born from frozen eggs. At the moment this technology is mainly used in this country to help young women who have cancer and need chemotherapy or radiotherapy, which will probably render them sterile. Freezing their eggs allows them to ‘bank’ them for later use, so that they have a chance of giving birth to their own genetic children.

In the future – who knows? – this same technology could be used to allow young women who want to postpone starting a family, to store their eggs for later use. Clearly the ethical implications of these techniques have to be considered and legislated for but future generations might well see this as a solution to the career women’s dilemma about when to start a family.

For more information see other related articles:

The cost of IVF
IVF - what you need to know.
Age and fertility.