 News
9th October 2006
Concerns over high doses of IVF drugs
Fertility experts are calling for drugs used in IVF treatment in the
UK to be regulated after warnings that some clinics are prescribing dangerously
high doses.
Women who are desperate for a baby can pay thousands of
pounds to fertility clinics and for dangerous and unnecessary doses of
IVF drugs, including hormones and steroids.
But the experts have warned that many of these drugs are
not needed and can in some instances be dangerous to both mother and baby.
Dr Geeta Nargund, head of reproductive medicine at St George's
Hospital in London, said at the weekend, "There is currently no regulation
for drugs used in IVF treatment and that is both worrying and wrong."
She added that whilst there are guidelines, they are not
binding and some clinics are exceeding the recommended limits.
"We need to be regulated, for example, on the doses of the
drugs we should use, how often we use them, and for how many cycles.
"Women are going around from clinic to clinic and receiving
different doses of these drugs but there is no sound scientific evidence
to show that it will help improve their chances of conceiving.
"There is also no evidence to show how these drugs will
affect the long-term health of the mother or the baby.
"When we are in the situation where there are a lot of couples
out there who are financially, emotionally and physically broke from undergoing
repeated IVF, it is our obligation to regulate this."
When undergoing IVF, women are given hormones to help stimulate
the ovaries to produce eggs which are then collected for fertilisation.
However, up to six per cent of women suffer from ovarian
hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) which can cause nausea, abdominal discomfort
and bloating and difficulty breathing.
Although extremely rare, death can also occur from IVF treatment.
Dr Nargund called for more research into the long-term health
risks of undergoing IVF, saying "There are concerns stimulating ovaries
to produce more eggs.
"There may be consequences for a woman's reproductive organs
later in life, in particular uterine cancer and we urgently need to fund
studies to test these suspicions."
Her concerns were backed by the pro-life campaign group
Comment On Reproductive Ethics.
However, Dr Mark Hamilton, chair of the British Fertility
Society, rejected calls for regulation of IVF drugs saying that doctors
and clinics were well aware of the potential hazards.
"There is no evidence to show that people are using the
drugs too much. Bringing in regulation would lead to unnecessary bureaucracy.
"The reason we use these drugs is to increase the chances
of the treatment working.
"If a patient is anxious they should discuss the matter
with their doctor.
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