Call to relax limits on accessing fertility treatment
Of Ireland Was 12 European This Changes Fertility Treatment 40 Previously To Standing Policies Out The Boosted Atlas 49 Ranked Of 2024 Countries, Have Shows Recent While
Limits on accessing fertility treatment should be relaxed to continue the progress begun in Ireland, the National Infertility Support and Information Group has urged.
The call comes as a survey of GPs working in Ireland shows many also feel some criteria are unfair.
The criteria currently exclude same-sex couples, those who require the use of donor gametes, people who have one child already, as well as limits linked to residence, age and weight, among others.
The European Atlas of Fertility Treatment Policies 2024 shows while Ireland was previously ranked 40 out of 49 countries, recent changes have boosted this standing to 12.
National Infertility Support and Information Group chairwoman Caitriona Fitzpatrick said of the new Irish ranking: “This is a hugely positive step for Ireland and deserves to be recognised”.
Infertility affects one in six couples worldwide. Fertility Europe has called for all lines of fertility treatment to be publicly funded.
Ireland has moved from being “a complete outlier" among European countries to a far better position, the group said.
It linked this to the Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Act 2024 and introduction of the first phase of public funding for IVF treatment.
However, concerns remain about the number of women and couples eligible for this.
“Further progress still needs to be made, including the widening of the criteria for access to public funding for IVF to ensure that treatment options are available for everyone in open and equal manner, the setting-up of a new regulator, and multi-annual funding for these measures,” Ms Fitzpatrick said.
Under the act, a new regulator — Assisted Human Reproduction Regulatory Authority — will grant licences in this area.
Among GPs, some 23.4% of those surveyed said the upper age limit of 41 for women was unfair, while just under half said the male limit of 60 was unfair.
Only 56% agreed the BMI restriction on the woman’s weight was set at a fair level.
Also, 64% said exempting couples where at least one person already had a child was unfair.
One GP said: “I think having one living child should not be a barrier. Secondary infertility is as devastating as primary infertility."
However, another said: "Controversial issue. Limited resources make cut-offs necessary. Resources should be targeted at those most likely to benefit.”
This survey of 154 GPs working in Ireland is published in the October issue of the .
This week sees European Fertility Week 2024 marked across the region.