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'Donor eggs for science' debated 'Donor eggs for science' debated
(about 3 hours later)
A fertility watchdog is seeking public opinion on women donating their eggs for scientific research.A fertility watchdog is seeking public opinion on women donating their eggs for scientific research.
The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority is asking if IVF patients and women not having treatment should donate, and which checks are needed.The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority is asking if IVF patients and women not having treatment should donate, and which checks are needed.
This comes despite permission already being granted to a North East research team to collect eggs for research.This comes despite permission already being granted to a North East research team to collect eggs for research.
Scientists hope to find new cures for disease through their work, but the egg donors themselves face health risks.Scientists hope to find new cures for disease through their work, but the egg donors themselves face health risks.
It is our job to ensure that it is safe and appropriate for the patients and donors Angela McNabHFEA chief executive Should eggs be donated?It is our job to ensure that it is safe and appropriate for the patients and donors Angela McNabHFEA chief executive Should eggs be donated?
Women who have their ovaries stimulated with drugs to make eggs for harvesting risk a rare, but potentially deadly, condition called ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome.Women who have their ovaries stimulated with drugs to make eggs for harvesting risk a rare, but potentially deadly, condition called ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome.
Some question whether allowing donation for research will limit the ability of clinics to provide egg donor fertility treatment for women.Some question whether allowing donation for research will limit the ability of clinics to provide egg donor fertility treatment for women.
Others are concerned about the potential risk of women being coerced into donating for research.Others are concerned about the potential risk of women being coerced into donating for research.
For example, if a woman has a partner or relative with a genetic illness that they feel research would eventually help to cure, she might feel under pressure to donate her eggs to aid research. For example, a woman who has a partner with a genetic illness that stem cell research might benefit could feel under pressure to donate.
Egg 'shortage'Egg 'shortage'
The Newcastle NHS Fertility Centre is offering to part-fund women's IVF treatment if they donate some of their fresh eggs for research. The Newcastle NHS Fertility Centre is offering to part-fund women's IVF treatment if they donate some of their fresh eggs for research. Before this they relied on 'left-over' eggs discarded during IVF.
Hopefully they can take my eggs and find a cure Liz Shipley, who has Motor Neurone Disease 'I'd give my eggs to science'Hopefully they can take my eggs and find a cure Liz Shipley, who has Motor Neurone Disease 'I'd give my eggs to science'
Researchers will use the eggs to create cloned early-stage embryos, with the ultimate hope of extracting stem cells that could treat diseases. The eggs need to be fresh for these investigations to have the best chance of working. Researchers will use the eggs to create cloned early-stage embryos, with the ultimate hope of extracting stem cells that could treat diseases.
Scientists say there is a shortage of eggs for such research, and have asked for women to be able to choose to donate specifically for that purpose. Scientists say there is a shortage of fresh eggs for such research, and have asked for women to be able to choose to donate specifically for that purpose.
Altruistic donation is already allowed to help infertile couples conceive.Altruistic donation is already allowed to help infertile couples conceive.
Critics have accused the HFEA of caving in to pressure from scientists.Critics have accused the HFEA of caving in to pressure from scientists.
Others say the science is still too young to warrant testing on human eggs.Others say the science is still too young to warrant testing on human eggs.
Animal eggs Dr Stephen Minger, director of the Stem Cell Biology Laboratory, Kings College London, said it was unethical to use human eggs for therapeutic cloning. "We have no idea of the efficiency of this technique."
Dr Stephen Minger, director of the Stem Cell Biology Laboratory, Kings College London, said: "In my opinion it is unethical to use human eggs for therapeutic cloning. We have no idea of the efficiency of this technique and it may take hundreds of eggs to get one stem cell line.
Key points There is a shortage of donor eggs for research and fertility treatmentScientists can use eggs to obtain stem cellsStem cell research holds hope of disease treatments and curesThere are ethical and safety concerns around egg donation and stem cell researchThe HFEA consultation asks who should be able to donate and what safeguards are neededKey points There is a shortage of donor eggs for research and fertility treatmentScientists can use eggs to obtain stem cellsStem cell research holds hope of disease treatments and curesThere are ethical and safety concerns around egg donation and stem cell researchThe HFEA consultation asks who should be able to donate and what safeguards are needed
"A much more responsible approach would be to practise the technique using animal eggs.
"When this has proved successful it may be time to consider using human eggs, but only when we have as much information about the technique as possible."
But Professor Ian Wilmutt, director of the Centre for Regenerative Medicine at the University of Edinburgh, said: "Egg donation could provide opportunities to study human inherited diseases that could not be available in any other way."But Professor Ian Wilmutt, director of the Centre for Regenerative Medicine at the University of Edinburgh, said: "Egg donation could provide opportunities to study human inherited diseases that could not be available in any other way."
Angela McNab, chief executive of the HFEA, said: "We know the importance of scientific development, but it is our job to ensure that it is safe and appropriate for the patients and donors that make it possible. If that is not the case then we must act to protect their interests. Angela McNab, chief executive of the HFEA, said: "We know the importance of scientific development, but it is our job to ensure that it is safe and appropriate for the patients and donors that make it possible."
"There has been a lot of broad discussion on this issue within the scientific and medical community, but a more detailed and specific debate is now needed to help the authority to make a decision on donating eggs for research."
'Cooling off' period'Cooling off' period
Dr Tony Callard, chairman of the BMA's Ethics Committee, said: "As long as women are properly informed about the procedure and are not pressured to agree, they should be able to consent to egg donation for research."Dr Tony Callard, chairman of the BMA's Ethics Committee, said: "As long as women are properly informed about the procedure and are not pressured to agree, they should be able to consent to egg donation for research."
He said the incentives for donating needed more debate.
Every egg that would be used would be used for a bona fide piece of research that will help to take the science forward Professor Alison MurdochNewcastle Fertility Centre at Life
Professor Alison Murdoch, of the Newcastle NHS Fertility Centre, said: "We are aware of the ethical issues that must be taken into account in all medical research.
"Every egg that would be used would be used for a bona fide piece of research that will help to take the science forward."
She added that the women who had shown interest in donating eggs for research were not the same as those wanting to share eggs with women needing fertility treatment.
For this reason she said it was unlikely that research donations would compound the problem of surrogate egg shortages.
The risks are too significant. The cost of even one woman's life is not worth it Josephine Quintavalle Hands Off Our Ovaries
Josephine Quintavalle, co-founder of the Hands Off Our Ovaries group, said: "Eggs for research is an absolute no-no. The risks are too significant. The cost of even one woman's life is not worth it."Josephine Quintavalle, co-founder of the Hands Off Our Ovaries group, said: "Eggs for research is an absolute no-no. The risks are too significant. The cost of even one woman's life is not worth it."
Clare Brown, chief executive of Infertility Network UK, said: "Without research, treatments for infertility will never improve. However, we believe it is vital that all aspects of any research, especially when it involves donated eggs, should be carefully thought through and discussed."
The consultation puts forward a range of suggested safeguards for discussion, including a "cooling-off" period for donors.The consultation puts forward a range of suggested safeguards for discussion, including a "cooling-off" period for donors.
Potential donors could also be required to see independent counsellors about the implications of donating to research and be evaluated to check that they have received proper information.Potential donors could also be required to see independent counsellors about the implications of donating to research and be evaluated to check that they have received proper information.