Science and Technology Committee

Regulating GIFT

Gamete intrafallopian transfer (GIFT) differs from IVF in that fertilisation takes place inside the woman. However, it still involves the woman taking hormonal treatment to stimulate egg production. The treatment is not regulated unless it involves donated sperm. As a result it can be undertaken in unregulated clinics. Should it be brought under the HFE Act?

Legal status: This is presently unregulated, although a recent European Union Directive on Human Tissues and Cells will require all such handlings to be supervised by a ‘competent authority’ of each member state of the European Union by 2006.

Scientific status: Well established technology currently available

Scientific status: Well established

A few clarifying questions

posted 02/02/2004 - 14:48 by kjt

My response to this scenario depends on a number of issues. (1) Is there a difference between this service and other unregulated medical services? (2) Could keeping GIFT with own sperm unregulated lead to inconsistencies with other reproductive regulations? (sperm sorting for child's sex for example) (3) Is there a benefit to the patient if the HFEA ensures quality control? – How successful is the HFEA in doing that today?

Comment

posted 03/03/2004 - 15:40 by jax

GIFT is unregulated by the HFEA as it does not involve either the creation of an human embryo outside the womb (or fallopian tubes, to be precise, but still within the reproductive area of a female human body), or the use of donor gametes (or where donation is required, regulation is required). I therefore do not see that regulation by the HFEA is necessary, as there is no ex utero embryo, or anonymised gametes to keep a check on.

Bringing GIFT under the HFEA would surely just produce more work for an already overstretched organisation, and use up more financial resources that should be put to better use elsewhere.

Regulate to protect against abuse

posted 15/03/2004 - 12:40 by careorg

This should be regulated; egg production processes can be abused. Over-stimulation of the ovaries have been known to cause harm to the mother and unethical practices arise where the ability to produce many eggs could mean the mother may want to sell the extra eggs or trade for free treatments; these are potential undue influences on the mother apart from the possible damage to eggs which were produced under artificial stimulation. There is no data to say that these eggs are as healthy as that naturally produced. This is regulated but nevertheless it requires stating that where sperm is donated, regulations must exist to ensure that records are kept for the benefit of the child: the child has the right to know of his/her genetic origins for health and medical purposes and for its own sense of identity within the human race.