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Analysis

Commentary: Selling unproved fertility treatments to women desperate for a baby may be unethical

BMJ 2016; 355 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.i6434 (Published 01 December 2016) Cite this as: BMJ 2016;355:i6434

Rapid Response:

Hiding deadly long term consequences of prolonged hormonal inductions is equally unethical

This online resource predicting the chances of a live birth will educate women and help them avoid unnecessary or even harmful IVF cycles. [7]
IVFs are cost effective up to age 43, according to NICE. [1]
Ovarian and uterine cancers are increased 4-fold and 5-fold respectively, after IVF treatment, as this excellent long term follow up study of tens of thousands of women clearly demonstrated. [2][3]
Serious and debilitating health consequences later on should be remembered when calculating additional benefits of continuing IVF cycles.
Irresponsible IVF Clinics abroad offer luring fertility tourism packages to UK patients rejected at home, even to women older than 50. [4][5][6]
Very few women will proceed in such costly practices, especially after they are correctly and ethically informed about long term health consequences.
References
[1] http://www.bmj.com/content/344/bmj.e3656
[2] http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs00432-015-2035-x#
[3] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26337160
[4] http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/...
[5] http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1196204/Desperate-older-women-go...
[6] http://www.telegraph.co.uk/women/mother-tongue/11482483/Fertility-treatm...
[7] http://www.bmj.com/content/355/bmj.i5735

Competing interests: No competing interests

13 January 2017
Stavros Saripanidis
Consultant in Obstetrics and Gynaecology
Private Clinic
Thessaloniki, Greece