UK fertility clinics offering egg freezing services to women are misleading them about their chances of having a successful pregnancy, according to the Fertility Network. An analysis conducted by the BBC found that 41% of private clinics advertising the service could be in breach of advertising guidance, including clinics which claimed they could offer successful thaw rates of 80-95% without making it clear that the chances of a successful pregnancy were considerably lower. The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority also expressed concern over the information provided to women considering egg freezing.
Freezing eggs for social or non-medical reasons has become increasingly popular in the UK. However, although over 4,000 egg-freezing procedures took place in 2021 compared to the 400 in 2011, the procedure is not available on the NHS except for people seeking medical treatment which could damage fertility. It does not guarantee a successful pregnancy, with success rates slightly lower than those for IVF using fresh eggs.
The BBC analysed websites from 78 fertility clinics offering the procedure and found that 32 did not make clear a patient’s chance of achieving a successful pregnancy. Many of these providers advertised thaw rates of 90% or more, without making it clear that the process of achieving a successful pregnancy involved various stages. According to Dr Catherine Hill of the Fertility Network, patients were being “misled by this level of information”.
A spokesperson from the British Fertility Society warned that the use of “unusually high” defrost rates could create unrealistic expectations among patients, who were entitled to transparent information. The HFEA also called for greater powers enabling them to fine clinics for providing incomplete or misleading information to patients
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