Britain now has one of the highest rates across Europe for women giving birth over 40, with the number of births in this age bracket trebling, over the last twenty years.
Health on Female First
Such a significant increase in births for women over 40 reflects changing lifestyles that are impacting on women’s decisions to start a family. For some, the delay is based on careers but, for many, the delay is down to not meeting the right partner until later in life.
Fertility issues affect approximately 3.5million people in the UK, with women’s fertility rates declining significantly over 35. Once a woman reaches the age of 42, her chances of conceiving even with IVF are less than 5%. So for many women over 40, it’s not just about making the decision to have a family. It’s about how they are going to achieve their dream.
Some women explore Assisted Reproductive Treatments (ART) such as IVF but often this is not enough to achieve a successful pregnancy. For these women, it’s important that they are aware of the choices available to them, particularly if they decide to explore the possibility of using donor eggs.
In the UK, access to donor eggs has seen a significant decline over recent years following the change in anonymity laws (modified in 2010) which means that donors can be contacted by a child conceived through egg donation once they reach the age of 18. Although April 2012 saw an increase in compensation for egg donors (up to £750), it’s anticipated that the UK anonymity issue will continue to limit donor egg availability.
Fertility regulations differ significantly across Europe, which means that in countries, such as Spain, anonymity laws are in place, significantly increasing the availability of donor eggs. As a result, the UK is seeing a trend towards ‘fertility tourism’ for women who don’t want to have to wait for treatment.
Clare Lewis-Jones, Chief Executive of Infertility Network UK, comments: “Often patients seek fertility treatment in the UK but find they are unable to access treatment for a number of possible reasons, including a lack of funding in their area and a lack of egg donors so they end up seeking fertility treatment abroad. Whilst the charity supports the removal of anonymity in the UK, for some patients, donor anonymity is a key factor. With all fertility treatment, we encourage patients to think very carefully about their choice and get as much information as possible prior to making the decision about the treatment that is right for them.”
To help women understand more about the choices available to them, one of Spain’s leading fertility clinics, Eugin, is opening a new consultation centre in London this summer. Recognising that for many women (and their partners), exploring conception via donor eggs is a very emotional as well as complex decision, the new consultation centre aims to provide women with greater reassurance enabling them to discuss the treatment process ‘face to face’.
Eugin Clinic is one of the foremost centres for Assisted Reproduction in Europe, helping over 10,000 families since 1999. Dr Valérie Vernaeve, Medical Director at the Eugin Clinic, comments: “We are seeing an increasing number of UK women, many of whom have tried for several years to have their family. Once they make the decision to explore donor eggs, limited availability in the UK means they face further delays in treatment – in some cases up to two years. At Eugin there are no waiting lists which means that women can begin fertility treatments as soon as they are ready.”
More information on Eugin Clinic is available at www.eugin.co.uk
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