Spare embryos

There's been some controversy over the revelation that more than a million embryos have been created during fertility treatment and destroyed. Figures released by the Department of Health during the debates over the new Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill showed that 1.2 million embryos have been destroyed in the last fourteen years.

This led to calls for more couples to donate any spare embryos to others, which is undoubtedly a good idea for those who feel able to do this, and to some criticism of this "wastage". It is vital to understand that most couples going through IVF would choose to freeze any spare embryos they produce, and that the main reason for the destruction of spare embryos is the simple fact that they are not considered viable.

Perhaps the best way to prevent spare embryos being destroyed is to improve the IVF process.
In the future, more doctors may be interested in "soft" IVF which uses lower doses of drugs to stimulate the ovaries. This produces fewer eggs, and therefore fewer spare embryos, and is not only cheaper but has the added advantage of being safer for women going through fertility treatment.