Cumbrian women in IVF 'first' (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Cumbrian women in IVF 'first'

2:09pm Thursday 17th January 2008 in News By Gazette News Room

TWO Cumbrian women are taking part in a 'world-first' IVF treatment scheme.

The women, who are being treated at the Fertility Centre in Newcastle, are among the first to undergo an IVF procedure at a reduced cost in return for donating some of their eggs for research.

They came forward after the North East England Stem Cell Institute (NESCI) received final approval and funding for the scheme, known as egg sharing.

Under the scheme, women receive about half the cost of their IVF treatment - £1,500 - in return for the donation of half their eggs.

One hundred women came forward and, after testing and counselling, 15 were found to be suitable and six of them, including the two Cumbrian women, began treatment this month.