Family Law & Fertility Law Blog | Louisa Ghevaert Associates

Understanding of Fertility, Genomics and Embryo Research in the UK in 2022

To mark its 30th anniversary in 2022, the Progress Educational Trust (“PET”) commissioned important research, supported by Ferring Pharmaceuticals, to gauge public awareness about fertility, genomics and embryo research in the UK. Ipsos carried out a nationally representative online survey of 2,233 UK adults on PET’s behalf between 24 - 27 March 2022. The results matter because they provide a snapshot of current public understanding and opinion about issues impacting the fertility sector and rapid advances in the field of genomics to combat genetic diseases. These research findings are also significant because they come at a time when law reform is expected in these key areas in the UK.

Women’s Health Strategy for England Marks a Step Forward

On average, women in the UK live longer than men, but they spend a significantly greater proportion of their lives in ill health and disability compared with men. On Wednesday 20 July 2022, the government therefore published its first ever Women’s Health Strategy for England. This is a much needed step forward to address the gender healthcare gap, recognising there has been a male orientated approach up until now in research and clinical trials, education and training for healthcare professionals as well as in the creation and delivery of healthcare policies and services.

Declaration of parentage: the importance of identity, status and birth certificates

In X v Y [2022] EWFC 77, the applicant applied to the English Family Court for a declaration of parentage following a 35-year search for her biological father to resolve issues relating to her identity and her birth certificate. In granting the application, the court navigated complex legal issues and drew inferences from the respondent’s refusal to undergo DNA testing and lack of opposition to the application. As such, X v Y [2022] EWFC 77 brings into close focus the importance of identity, status and parentage and the re-registration of birth certificates to provide properly maintained records not just for the benefit of individuals but for the public as well.

Conceiving with Donor Sperm: What Could Go Wrong?

Demand for donor sperm has increased in recent years. This has been driven by growing numbers of single women and same-sex couples undergoing assisted conception. Added to this, male sub-fertility and infertility rates now stand at around 10 – 15 percent. Furthermore, there has been a shortage of sperm donors in the UK for many years. As such, increased demand together with the time, commitment and costs of undergoing licensed fertility treatment with donor sperm is leading to growing numbers of women looking for a sperm donor online.

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