Majority of fertility patients offered treatments they didn’t need

Three -quarters of fertility patients are offered unnecessary additional treatments that “are not proven to increase baby change”.

The fertility regulator said that the new study was “worrying” because almost all of the additional emerging tests, treatments or technologies were in surplus to the success of fertility.

The National Patient Survey 2024 conducted by Human Fertilization and Embryology Authority (HFEA) reports the experiments of 1,500 patients in the United Kingdom.

The report also highlights long expectations for certain patients – especially those looking for NHS care.

It also indicates the number of patients using sperm of donor from the outside of the United Kingdom.

About a quarter of the patients had used donor eggs, sperm or treatment embryos.

Patients who were looking for sperm were slightly more likely to be treated using sperm imported from abroad, with 51% of the foreigner.

Most have cited an increased choice and more information on the donor like the reasons why they chose foreign sperm.

The HFEA said that in the United Kingdom, the sperm of a donor can only be used to create up to 10 families, but the limit of 10 families does not apply abroad.

During complementary treatment, the new report revealed that only half (52%) of patients had the effectiveness explained to them, with less (37%) of all risks linked to complementary care.

The report revealed that the use of endometrial scratching – when the uterus lining is scratched before a embryo is established – decreased last year.

But pre -implantation genetic tests for aneuploidy (PGT -A) – The verification of anomalies of anomalies in the number of chromosomes – increased from 7 percent in 2021 to 13% in 2024, even if the HFEA declared that there are “insufficient evidence” of its effectiveness to the improvement of treatment deadlines.

The report also found that most patients began to treat seven months to a year after seeing their general practitioner for the first time on their fertility problems. But 16% of patients waited for more than two years.

Patients funded by the NHS reported longer waiting times in the start of treatment compared to those who paid privately.

Some 53% of private patients started treatment in one year, compared to 35% of NHS patients.

The regulator said that its data show that the number of processing cycles financed by the NHS dropped and exceeded only 27% in 2022.

Julia Chain, president of the HFEA, said: “It is disappointing to see a large number of patients still use complementary modules and emerging technologies, and particularly disappointing that only half of the patients had explained efficiency, not to mention the risks.

“We regularly remind clinics that, according to our code of practice, they must give patients a clear idea of ​​what any additional treatment module implies, what is the probability of increasing their chances of succeeding pregnancyCost, risks and link with our public rating system.

“We will continue to remind clinics to improve clarity and communication for patients.”

She added: “We are also concerned that patients financed by the NHS expect longer than self -funded patients to start Fertility treatment.

“The delays encountered by NHS patients highlight the current problems relating to the provision of specialized care for women.

“Within the framework of our response to the plan over 10 years of the government, we want to see a much shorter time for patients to start the treatment of fertility once they have received advice or a reference from their general practitioner.”