The European Directorate for the Quality of Medicines & HealthCare (EDQM) of the Council of Europe has published a new booklet entitled “Add-ons in medically assisted reproduction treatments – A guide for those seeking fertility care”. This comprehensive booklet, available for free download, aims to support individuals navigating the complex landscape of fertility treatments by providing clear, concise and reliable information on various treatment add-ons.
Medically assisted reproduction techniques, such as intrauterine sperm insemination and in vitro fertilisation, have become well-established methods for addressing infertility. Yet the field is rapidly evolving and fertility clinics regularly propose new techniques. Some optional, non-essential treatments, known as “add-ons”, are offered to patients, with the claims that they improve the chances of pregnancy, reduce miscarriage risk and shorten the time to conception. However, their effectiveness and safety remain to be proven in certain cases.
This new guide seeks to empower patients with the knowledge needed to choose safe and effective treatments tailored to their individual needs. It encourages patients to ask their healthcare providers critical questions about the necessity, proven efficacy and potential risks and benefits of any proposed add-ons. By providing an overview of the different types of treatment currently available, the guide can help patients make informed decisions about their options.
The EDQM’s European Committee on Organ Transplantation (CD-P-TO) drafted this guide, in close collaboration with the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) – an observer to the CD-P-TO – as part of its mission to contribute actively to the implementation of high standards for the protection of public health and for the promotion of human rights and dignity.
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