Fertility patients face tough new questions

Couples hoping to start a family using fertility treatment could face tough new questions, it was announced today.

A review is under way of what inquiries should be made into the background, health and suitability of couples seeking treatment.

Watchdog the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority today launched a public consultation to update its guidance after prospective parents said they felt "discriminated against" and clinics claimed there was ambiguity over what to ask. Questions could include:

Controversy over older, single mothers and lesbian couples undergoing treatment has also raised the question of whether everyone should automatically get it. But parents have said they feel the questions currently asked make them feel judged as prospective parents.

The HFEA review comes as the Government investigates if the laws governing fertility treatment need to be updated. Included in the review is how the clinics should gather information, if it should be solely through patient questionnaires, GPs and other agencies, or a combination of these.