This method of fertility treatment would never have been developed if research had not taken place on eggs and on embryos, and research using eggs is still going on. The HFEA lists a number of reasons eggs are needed:
for diagnosing a genetic disorder or foetal abnormality at an early stage
to develop more effective methods of contraception (eg a contraceptive vaccine)
to increase understanding of the causes of miscarriage
Before the treatment starts you will need to sign a consent form. This gives permission for the treatment to take place. You can explicitly state on the form how your eggs are to be used, and you do not have to make them available for research if for any reason you don't want to.
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