HNY Policy and Pathway Repository - Hull

Harvesting and Storage of viable gametes in patients undergoing NHS funded medical treatment (s) that cause infertility.

Humber CCGs agree to fund the harvesting and subsequent storage (cryopreservation) of viable gametes, for an initial period of 10 years, for patients undergoing NHS funded medical treatment that may leave them infertile.

If after the initial 10 year period storage is still required, an IFR application should be made as an exceptional request, provided the patient wishes to keep their sample for potential future use. Each case will be considered on its own merit and in line with the HFEA legislation.

Approval for harvesting and cryopreservation does not guarantee future funding of assisted conception or fertility treatment – in this instance the specific CCG policy for assisted conception should be applied.

 

Prior to fertility preservation, the secondary care clinician at the organisation providing the fertility service must confirm:

• That the planned treatment is likely to affect future fertility (and document this for the commissioners’ audit purposes)

• That the impact of the treatment on fertility has been discussed with the patient

• That the patient is able to make an informed choice to undertake gamete harvesting and cryopreservation of semen, oocytes or embryos for an initial period of 10 years

• That the patient is aware that funding for gamete harvesting and cryopreservation does not guarantee future funding of assisted conception treatment

 

Cryopreservation in males
In general, it is recommended that at least two semen samples are collected over a period of one week. The CCGs will commission a maximum of three samples of semen; this is considered sufficient to provide future fertility.

Testicular tissue freezing is considered experimental and will not be funded.

Note: testicular sperm retrieval is commissioned by NHS England and not by the CCGs.

Cryopreservation in Females
The CCG will normally fund one cycle of egg retrieval, with or without fertilisation. If fewer than 10 eggs are retrieved following this first cycle of egg retrieval, then one further cycle can be offered.

Ovarian tissue storage is considered experimental and will not be funded.

Age
There are no specific age limits to this policy for males or females. The decision to attempt to preserve fertility is a clinical decision. 

Previous sterilisation
Gamete retrieval and cryopreservation will not be funded where the patient has previously been sterilised.

NHS Funded Assisted Conception
Access to NHS funded harvesting and cryopreservation will not be affected by previous attempts at assisted conception. However, funding for further assisted conception attempts will be subject to the criteria stated in the CCG’s IVF policy at the time of any funding application.

Expectations of Providers
Cryopreservation of gametes or embryos must meet the current legislative standards, i.e. under Human Embryo and Fertility Act 1990.

The provider of the service must ensure the patient receives appropriate counselling and provides full consent. The patient and their partner must be made aware of the legal position on embryo ownership should one partner remove consent to their ongoing storage or use.

The provider of the service must ensure patients are aware of legal issues on posthumous use of gametes and embryos should they wish a partner to be able to use these should their treatment not be successful.

Patients will need to provide annual consent for continued storage. The provider must ensure appropriate consent to storage is in place and that the patient understands the need for on-going consent and has outlined the purposes for which they can be used.

Expectation of the Patient
The patient will be responsible for ensuring the storage provider has up to date contact details. Failure to provide on-going consent may result in the destruction of stored materials.

Not provided

Access to Infertility Treatment – Commissioning Policy Document