acart.gif

23 July 2008 - Two proposed changes to fertility treatment practices could help infertile cancer sufferers to still have babies and also to help treat some very rare diseases, according to two discussion papers released today.

The first proposal would allow women who have frozen their own eggs before undergoing cancer treatment to now use the eggs to create embryos and, if successful, ultimately give birth.

The other allows women to screen their embryos so that once the baby is born, umbilical cord stem cells can be used to treat non-inherited disease in close family members.

The discussion papers were released publicly today for comment by the Advisory Committee set up under the Human Assisted Reproductive Technology Act.

Committee Spokesperson Gareth Jones says both practices are not currently allowed in New Zealand, though they are allowed in some countries.

To date, there has been a tight restriction on the use of frozen eggs to create babies while a track record of cases has built up to assure safety. This has now occurred and the expert committee providing guidance in this area now believes it is safe to proceed.

Only a very small number of women currently freeze eggs in New Zealand - thought to number 20 to 25. However, because of existing restrictions, this is likely to significantly under-represent demand.

Similarly, using cord blood from babies conceived from screened embryos to help treat very rare diseases is expected to help only a very small number of people.

This treatment is currently approved for families with genetic disorders where the treatment would help a brother or sister. This is now to be extended for some rare non-genetic diseases such as leukemia for close family members.

Professor Jones says the advisory committee responsible for providing advice to the Minister of Health is now seeking public views on its proposals before it finalises them.

Anyone interested in providing their view has until 5 September 2008 to do so. The discussion papers can be downloaded from the website of the Advisory Committee on Assisted Reproductive Technology: http://www.acart.health.govt.nz/moh.nsf/indexcm/acart-consultation-home