Consultation on IVM, use of donated eggs and sperm

ACART Consultation on IVM & use of donated eggs and donated sperm

14 January 2009

MEDIA RELEASE

The Advisory Committee on Assisted Reproductive Technology (ACART) has issued two discussion documents for public consultation.

The first document is concerned with draft guidelines on the use of donated eggs with donated sperm for reproductive purposes. The Human Assisted Reproductive Technology Order 2005 classifies the use of donated eggs with donated sperm as an assisted reproductive procdure.

Applications to use an assisted reproductive procedure must be approved on a case by case basis by the Ethics Committee on Assisted Reproductive Technology (ECART). However, ECART is currently not able to consider any applications to use this treatment as ACART has not yet issued guidelines for its use. ACART is required to undertake public consultation before issuing guidelines.

The second document is concerned with ACART’s proposed advice to the Minister of Health on in vitro maturation (IVM) in fertility treatment. IVM involves removing immature eggs that have yet to complete their growth, and subsequently maturing these eggs in a laboratory.

The Human Assisted Reproductive Technology Order 2005 includes a list of procedures which can be undertaken by health professionals without the need for approval by ECART. These are classified as established procedures. In 2005 in vitro maturation was not included as the procedure was relatively new, with insufficient evidence about its safety.

After commissioning an expert review of the literature about in vitro maturation, ACART is proposing to advise the Minister of Health that in vitro maturation should become an establilshed procedure.

The discussion documents are available on the ACART website www.acart.health.govt.nz

Hard copies can be obtained by contacting the ACART Secretariat: acart@moh.govt.nz, or phone at 04 816 3931

Consultation closes on 16 March 2009.

ENDS

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