In an overhaul of fertility rules, people who are interested in starting a family can freeze their eggs, embryos and sperm for up to 55 year.
The government announced Monday that the existing 10-year limit on how long people can keep the genetic material needed for in-vitro fertilization is being removed.
Ministers stated that assisted reproduction was necessary due to the trend towards later parenthood. They also wanted to ensure that people who choose to have assisted reproduction don't feel pressured to begin treatment too soon.
Potential parents shouldn't have to worry about time limits for their fertility decisions. This important change in storage timescales will allow people to take more control of their future and remove the pressure that comes from knowing a decision must be made within 10 year, according to James Bethell, the innovation minister responsible for health.
Many people in the UK are having children later in life. It is becoming more common for people to choose freezing their eggs, sperm, and embryos to preserve fertility. This can be due to a variety of reasons, including not being able or ready to start a family and medical conditions.
Individuals and couples who have frozen eggs, sperm, or embryos will no longer be limited to a 10-year storage period. They will now be able to ask every 10 years whether they wish to keep them or to dispose of them. This is up to a maximum 55-year limit.
All potential parents will now be allowed to store their genetic material for up to 55 years, with the new upper limit. The current rules allow only those who can show that they are prematurely infertile to keep their genetic material in storage for 55 years.
Human Fertilization and Embryology Authority (which regulates fertility practices and clinics that offer it) welcomed the extension.
Julia Chain, chair of the regulators, stated that we welcome the government's plans to increase the storage limit for frozen eggs and sperm, as it will bring the law in line with scientific advances, modern society, and individual reproductive choices.
Chain said that this is great news for patients as it gives them more time to make decisions about family planning. A growing number of people are opting to freeze eggs, embryos or sperm.
This change was possible thanks to vitrification, a new method of freezing eggs that allows them to be kept indefinitely without deteriorating.
An amendment to the law will be required for the extension. The Department of Health and Social Care, however, has not yet indicated when and how that might happen. It is understood that legislation will be introduced when enough time is available for debate in the parliamentary chambers.
The move was supported by fertility experts. Jason Kasraie (chair of the Association of Reproductive and Clinical Scientists) stated that the current storage limits had in some cases adversely affected reproductive choice for couples by imposing an artificial deadline which would not apply to those trying to conceive naturally.
Storage limits that are more fair will reduce stress for patients and speed up the storage process for assisted conception clinics.
