CREATE NEWS

Toxic drugs used in IVF 'risk health of mothers and babies'

Professor Geeta Nargund, head of reproductive medicine at St George’s Hospital in London, said that high-dose stimulation led to side-effects, including ovarian hyper-stimulation syndrome (OHSS), a potentially fatal illness. Daily Mail 14/05/12

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Women and babies 'put at risk by aggressive IVF'

Aggressive fertility treatments practised at IVF clinics in the UK are putting women and babies at risk, experts say.

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IVF… Women's Health Must Come First

Lead article in the Independent 14/05/12 read article

Professor Geeta Nargund to appear on Channel 4's 4thought on Sunday 13th May 2012.

Watch the video

Professor Geeta Nargund speaks out in the Daily Mail against targeting students for donor eggs.

Fertility firm offers Cambridge University girls £750 for eggs as critics blast program for targeting 'financially vulnerable' students

Leaflets were stuck in their university pigeonholes, making an emotional plea to help a couple unable to have children. Read more

News update from the British Fertility Society

IVF linked to ovarian tumours (BBC News Online, 27 October 2011)

Researchers from The Netherlands publishing in Human Reproduction have found that ovarian stimulation, used in fertility treatments to increase the number of eggs that can be harvested, may be linked to an increased risk of developing ovarian cancer.

Full Article

The British Fertility Society has released a response to the research.

"This research shows the importance of long term follow up of patients who have fertility treatments as the impact of these therapies may not be fully appreciated or known for a considerable period of time afterwards.  The research suggests that the risk of borderline ovarian tumours is increased compared to other infertile women who do not have IVF.  However, it is essential that this increased risk is kept in perspective, as the overall risk still remains extremely small.  The cumulative life time risk for borderline ovarian cancer up to the age of 55 was 0.45% in the general population compared to 0.71% in those having IVF treatment.  The data in this study are not powerful enough to show a link between the number of cycles and this increased risk.  In the UK the HFEA has a comprehensive database of all women undergoing IVF procedures since 1991, over 300,000 treatment cycles.  Up until a recent change in legislation it was not possible due to restrictive confidentiality covenants to link the HFEA database with the UK cancer register.  However, researchers are now looking at such linkage studies which should be able to demonstrate the true risk of developing cancer after IVF treatment in the UK population.

“Screening for ovarian malignancy using ultrasound and serum markers has been shown to be effective in picking up ovarian cancer at an early stage, although there is no evidence to date that screening will actually save lives.  Moreover, screening increases the risk of surgery and operative intervention when it may not be required. 

“Clearly there needs to be a balanced approach.  Clinicians should ensure that all patients are made aware of the potential risks of ovarian stimulation and until further evidence is available, the pros and cons of future ovarian screening, to allow them to make a fully informed choice about their treatment options."

See the article on the British Fertility Society website

Geeta Nargund to speak at The Fertility Show, Olympia, London 4-5 November 2011

Treatment abroad for the reluctant traveller.
Probably the most often cited reason for going abroad for treatment is the scarcity of donor eggs in the UK. But there are risks with overseas clinics, namely that they may not necessarily be regulated to the same high standards as those in the UK and that, following treatment, one's consultant is a long way away. Create Health Clinics is one of a number of UK fertility clinics, regulated by the HFEA, who operates a scheme whereby they send patients who need donor eggs to clinics with whom they have a relationship in Cyprus but essentially retain responsibility for patient care throughout the process. CREATE's Medical Director, Geeta Nargund, explains the benefits to patients.

Book you place at this seminer

You will also be able to visit us on Stand 4 where you can pick up some useful information and meet members of the team who will be on hand to answer any questions you may have.

Professor RC Chian joins the CREATE team

CREATE Health is delighted to announce that Professor RC Chian, the Pioneer of IVM and Vitrification from McGill University Canada, now directs our embryology services as Scientific Director.

Our Latest Newsletter

Autumn/Winter 2011 Newsletter (404.2 KB)

Fertility and IVF in the News

We have collected the latest news articles relating to fertility and IVF in the national press.

Please click on the headlines below to read fertility related newspaper reports

• Mail on Sunday Supplement June 2011, turn to page 24
• Down's warning to older IVF mothers: Fertility drugs may lead to embryo problems
• I thought I’d lost the baby. Then we saw a little arm waving: Kate Silverton reveals how the trauma of IVF treatment ended in joy - the natural way (The Daily Mail 15 May 2011)
• IVF with a Gentle Touch The Independent Tuesday 3 May 2011
• I Became a Mother Thanks to Mild IVF The Daily Express 18 January 2011
• Buying up baby: Why are experts dragging their heels when it comes to cheap IVF? Those who can afford it pay up to £10,000 for IVF, but a gentler technique, priced at just £174, could soon be available to all. So why are experts dragging their heels? Jere
• This foetus is just 17 weeks old – so why the big smile? (Sunday Times 10 October 2010 (754.8 KB)
• Thinking of using IVF? Try this first (Independent 9 February 2010)
• I am 38. My heart is only 33, but my lungs are aged 52. Why? (Daily Mail 7 February 2010)
• Grandparents funding IVF as desperate couples borrow thousands to fund dreams of parenthood (Daily Mail 5 August 2009)
• IVF doesn't always deliver (Daily Telegraph 27 May 2009)
• Hundreds of British women having 'risky' IVF treatment abroad (Daily Mail June 30 2009)
• Have faith in nature before trying IVF, couples told (Daily Mail February 25 2009)
• I thought I’d never conceive (Daily Express January 27 2009) (599.4 KB)
• Safer fertility method offers comparable results to IVF, clinic claims (November 10 2008 Times Online - UK)
• 'Mild' form of IVF just as effective, researchers claim (November 10 2008 guardian.co.uk - UK)
• The new fertility treatment that can double a woman's chances of ... (12 November 2008 Daily Mail - UK)
• New Guidelines For Elective Single Embryo Transfer In IVF Treatment
• The IVF minefield: Desperate couples are resorting to poorly-tested techniques, say experts  Couples struggling to have a baby are being put at risk by poorly tested fertility treatments, IVF experts have warned.
• IVF 30 Years On
• 'Mild IVF' technique is better than intensive fertility injections, claim doctors 10 April 2008
• Milder form of IVF could make big savings for health service 11 April 2008
• A new form of cheaper, more natural IVF that could beat infertility and make you a mum 22 April 2008
• Want to start a family? Forget the fertility kits and have a romantic dinner instead 11 April 2008
• Cheaper and safer 'Soft' IVF 23 April 2008
• UK fertility safety for women is 'among the worst in Europe' 6 April 2008
• Professor Stuart Campbell: Is it time to rethink the abortion law? 01/05/2008
• New abortion debate 40 years on May 06 2008
• How could anyone look at this photo and deny it's time to cut the abortion limit? 5th May 2008
• IVF is expensive and harrowing, and carries significant health risks. That is why some fertility experts are turning to an alternative method called 'mild IVF'. The Guardian 4 July 2007
• Women using IVF may damage their son’s chances of having children  February 10 2007
• Boys born through IVF are 50pc more likely to suffer infertility  February 09 2007
• Fertility research drugs put egg donors at risk  February 17 2007
• Low drug IVF reduces health risks January 21 2007
• IVF overload January 9 2007
• Westminster Hall debate: Infertility treatment  January 31 2007
• IVF: Why leading fertility expert thinks women are being put at risk October 8 2006
• Surge in number of children in UK born to mothers over 50  May 8 2006
• IVF without the drugs October 3 2006
• IVF harm pregnancy chance by damaging eggs  December 3 2006
• Warning over ‘dangerous and unnecessary’ IVF doses October 8 2006
• Mum’s fertility clock test  13 October 2005
• IVF Miracle or Nightmare March 31 2006
• IVF the natural way February 24 2004
• Health secrets for 2004 December 30 2003
• Dieting destroyed my fertility May 28 2002
• Do women need periods? August 28 2001
• Backing for “cut-price” IVF January 31 2001
• What your skin is telling you June 28 2001
• New hope for IVF couples December 5 2000
• NHS should provide three free cycles of IVF treatment for suitable patients in England and Wales.
• Infertile World
• Lower Fertility Drug Doses Just as Effective for IVF