Criticism over delay in licensing infertility clinics

A STATE agency promoting women’s health has criticised the delay in licensing infertility clinics that have been providing services in Ireland for over 20 years.

The Women’s Health Council (WHC) said Ireland, Romania and Poland were the only countries in Europe not to have legislation for clinics offering assisted reproductive technologies.

Infertility affects one in six couples in Ireland and the WHC said demand for infertility treatments was likely to increase with couples delaying parenthood to pursue career and financial security and as obesity and sexually transmitted infection rates increase.