Fertility treatment slammed by experts

It was claimed it offered hope to those who were least likely to be successful with IVF - women who were over 35, who'd had repeatedly unsuccessful attempts at treatment or recurrent miscarriages. By screening embryos, some experts believed they could select the best ones to replace, and increase the chances of success. The treatment is called PGS, or preimplantation genetic screening, and although it was costly, many couples felt it was worth paying for anything that might increase their chances of success.

Now, a group of leading experts from the British Fertility Society have issued new guidelines on the use of PGS, as they say research suggests women who use it are LESS likely to get pregnant. PGS involves taking a sample cell from embryos and testing for chromosomal abnormalities. Only embryos that appear to be normal are replaced. However, in their early stages embryos can contain a mixture of normal and abnormal cells, so results may not be accurate.

There is controversy over the existing research in the field, with doctors who practice PGS claiming the studies that show it may lead to a reduced pregnancy rate are flawed. Now, the British Fertility Society says new research should be carried out as a matter of urgency to find out the truth for once and for all. That may come too late for anyone who is going through treatment, and considering PGS, but you may want to talk it through with your doctor before going ahead. You can see the British Fertility Society press release here