{"id":24732,"date":"2025-03-26T09:25:25","date_gmt":"2025-03-26T10:25:25","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/medexperts.pro\/?p=24732"},"modified":"2025-03-26T11:34:18","modified_gmt":"2025-03-26T11:34:18","slug":"fertility-patients-sold-unproven-add-ons-hfea-says","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/medexperts.pro\/?p=24732","title":{"rendered":"Fertility patients sold unproven add-ons, HFEA says"},"content":{"rendered":"<div data-component=\"byline-block\" class=\"sc-18fde0d6-0 dlWCEZ\">\n<div data-testid=\"byline-new\" class=\"sc-b42e7a8f-0 haItSe\">\n<div class=\"sc-b42e7a8f-1 cjDa-dM\">1 hour ago<\/p>\n<p><!--$!--><button disabled type=\"button\" aria-label=\"Share\" class=\"sc-48d6da7e-2 sc-48d6da7e-5 sc-48d6da7e-6 oYtVL dRvUPz dXDmtS\"><span data-testid=\"button-icon-wrapper\" class=\"sc-48d6da7e-0 dMpdqo\"><\/span><span data-testid=\"button-text\" aria-hidden=\"false\" class=\"sc-48d6da7e-1 eihkAj\">Share<\/span><\/button><button disabled type=\"button\" aria-label=\"Save\" class=\"sc-48d6da7e-2 sc-48d6da7e-5 sc-48d6da7e-6 iQJDhl cCYQUA kItbpD\"><span data-testid=\"button-icon-wrapper\" class=\"sc-48d6da7e-0 dMpdqo\"><\/span><span data-testid=\"button-text\" aria-hidden=\"false\" class=\"sc-48d6da7e-1 eihkAj\">Save<\/span><\/button><!--\/$--><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div data-testid=\"byline-new-contributors\" class=\"sc-b42e7a8f-12 fcCDwR\">\n<div class=\"sc-b42e7a8f-5 evAEAB\">\n<div><span class=\"sc-b42e7a8f-7 kItaYD\">Michelle Roberts<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Digital health editor, BBC News<!-- --><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><!--$!--><button disabled type=\"button\" aria-label=\"Share\" class=\"sc-48d6da7e-2 sc-48d6da7e-5 sc-48d6da7e-6 oYtVL dRvUPz dXDmtS\"><span data-testid=\"button-icon-wrapper\" class=\"sc-48d6da7e-0 dMpdqo\"><\/span><span data-testid=\"button-text\" aria-hidden=\"false\" class=\"sc-48d6da7e-1 eihkAj\">Share<\/span><\/button><button disabled type=\"button\" aria-label=\"Save\" class=\"sc-48d6da7e-2 sc-48d6da7e-5 sc-48d6da7e-6 iQJDhl cCYQUA kItbpD\"><span data-testid=\"button-icon-wrapper\" class=\"sc-48d6da7e-0 dMpdqo\"><\/span><span data-testid=\"button-text\" aria-hidden=\"false\" class=\"sc-48d6da7e-1 eihkAj\">Save<\/span><\/button><!--\/$--><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<figure>\n<div data-component=\"image-block\" class=\"sc-18fde0d6-0 EXUng\">\n<div data-testid=\"hero-image\" class=\"sc-a34861b-1 jxzoZC\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/medexperts.pro\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/9b8e65f0-0a1f-11f0-8d47-cd2a5fa76f5c.jpg.webp\" loading=\"eager\" alt=\"Getty Images A parent touches the hand of their newborn baby\" class=\"sc-a34861b-0 efFcac\" \/><span class=\"sc-a34861b-2 hesJxn\">Getty Images<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<div data-component=\"text-block\" class=\"sc-18fde0d6-0 dlWCEZ\">\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fezwLZ\">Many fertility patients in the UK are being offered unnecessary add-on treatments that have little or no proof of improving the likelihood of pregnancy, a report suggests. <!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fezwLZ\">Add-ons are optional, non-essential treatments some private clinics offer in addition to proven treatments, such in-vitro fertilisation (IVF).<!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fezwLZ\">According to the regulator, the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) , 73% of 1,500 patients surveyed between September and October 2024 said they had used an add-on in their latest round of treatment.<!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fezwLZ\">Most said they had done so based on the clinic&#8217;s recommendation.<!-- --><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div data-component=\"text-block\" class=\"sc-18fde0d6-0 dlWCEZ\">\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fezwLZ\">And only about one in every three said the possible risks had been explained to them.<!-- --><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<h2 class=\"sc-518485e5-0 DkKTF\">Spending money<!-- --><\/h2>\n<div data-component=\"text-block\" class=\"sc-18fde0d6-0 dlWCEZ\">\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fezwLZ\">HFEA director Clare Ettinghausen told BBC Radio 4&#8217;s Today programme: &#8220;This is people themselves reporting on whether they took perhaps an additional supplement, like a vitamin tablet, or had a test or perhaps something like acupuncture. <!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fezwLZ\">&#8220;We have looked at the evidence&#8230; they are not necessarily going to increase the chance of having a baby. <!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fezwLZ\">&#8220;So we are worried that people are spending money unnecessarily.&#8221;<!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fezwLZ\">Some of the add-ons can cost thousands of pounds.<!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fezwLZ\">And while the HFEA has no power to stop or fine clinics, it is reminding them they must give patients a clear idea of what add-ons involve, how likely they are to help and how much they cost.<!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fezwLZ\">The regulator also has its own <!-- --><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.hfea.gov.uk\/treatments\/treatment-add-ons\/\" class=\"sc-c9299ecf-0 beIoQm\">traffic-light rating tool<!-- --><\/a> to help patients decide. <!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fezwLZ\">Examples include:<!-- --><\/p>\n<ul class=\"sc-5c9c90b0-0 ggNdZQ\">\n<li class=\"sc-8d73edac-0 ezcCTE\">Genetic tests<!-- --><\/li>\n<li class=\"sc-8d73edac-0 ezcCTE\">Endometrial scratching &#8211; where a small area of the womb lining is scraped to trigger processes in the hope it will help the embryo implant<!-- --><\/li>\n<li class=\"sc-8d73edac-0 ezcCTE\">Assist hatching &#8211; where a small crack is created in the embryo&#8217;s outer layer<!-- --><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div data-component=\"text-block\" class=\"sc-18fde0d6-0 dlWCEZ\">\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fezwLZ\">Overall, patients were satisfied with the care they were receiving, Ms Ettinghausen said.<!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fezwLZ\">But the HFEA is concerned NHS patients are waiting longer than those going private.<!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fezwLZ\">Just over one out of every two private patients started treatment within a year, compared with one out of every three NHS patients.<!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fezwLZ\">A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: &#8220;It is unacceptable fertility patients are being offered unnecessary treatments that will not help them in their goal of becoming parents.<!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fezwLZ\">&#8220;We are working to improve access to NHS fertility services for all who need it.<!-- --><\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-eb7bd5f6-0 fezwLZ\">&#8220;We are also currently considering advice from the HFEA about priorities for law reform covering their regulatory powers, including their potential role in digital clinics.&#8221;<!-- --><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>1 hour ago<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":24693,"comment_status":"close","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[33],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-24732","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-health"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/medexperts.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24732","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/medexperts.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/medexperts.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/medexperts.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/medexperts.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=24732"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/medexperts.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24732\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":24736,"href":"https:\/\/medexperts.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24732\/revisions\/24736"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/medexperts.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/24693"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/medexperts.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=24732"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/medexperts.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=24732"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/medexperts.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=24732"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}