Question
Further to the Written Answers by Lord Darzi of Denham on 29 November (WA 131) and 3 December (WA 159) regarding the need for fully informed consent on the part of women donating eggs for research, whether they will describe the incidents in which adverse clinical effects associated with ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) have been recorded by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority at each respective licensed centre; and whether treatment has always been discontinued whenever OHSS was or is suspected.
Answer
The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists' Green-top Guideline No.5, on the management of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS), contains detailed information on the symptoms, diagnosis and classification of severity of OHSS. This is a markedly different document from the public consultation document issued by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA), which gave a general description of the risks associated with egg donation. The HFEA has advised me that it does not believe there is anything contradictory between the two documents. Information on the incidents of adverse clinical effects associated with OHSS occurring in each HFEA licensed centre, and whether treatment was discontinued where OHSS was suspected, is not routinely collectedly by the HFEA. However, I have asked the HFEA to make an analysis of the incident reports referred to in my Answer given on 5 December (Official Report, col. WA196) and I will write to the noble Lord with the result, and place a copy in the Library.