Ireland lags behind in IVF

Despite a massive growth in assisted reproduction treatments such as IVF in Ireland in recent years, we still lag behind other European countries in terms of the level of infertility treatments provided.

That's according to new research carried out by the major fertility treatment centres in Ireland.

They say while access to fertility treatments in Ireland is now easier than it was 20 years ago, it is almost exclusively available only to private patients, who have to meet the cost of the treatments themselves.

The researchers say a potential reason for the relatively low uptake of assisted reproduction treatment here is the lack of State funding for this type of treatment.

The study found that compared to the European averages for fertility treatment uptake, Ireland has the lowest numbers seeking treatment in the under 29 age category.

The figures show that since 1999 a total of 24,378 cycles of assisted reproduction treatment have commenced in Ireland.

An increased number of treatment clinics has fuelled this increase.

However, at 762 treatment cycles per million inhabitants, Ireland lags behind the European average of 850 per million, the research found.

Our pregnancy rates following fertility treatment, however, are above the European average despite the higher age of the female population treated here, the study found.

The research is published in the current Irish Medical Journal.

[Posted: Tue 15/05/2012]