MORE than 100 women may never be able to have children after a fault damaged their eggs at an NHS fertility clinic.
The hopeful mums were told in recent days that the tragedy could unravel for those who have undergone the treatment at a “world-leading” London hospital.
The 136 women who had their eggs or embryos frozen in September and October 2022 at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Trust were given the heartbreaking news that they may be impacted.
The fault came amid the freezing process, due to a manufacturing issue with bottles of the solution used.
The women have now been told their eggs or embryos “may not survive the thaw process”.
But, there had been a “horrifying” almost a year-long delay between the hospital finding out about the error in March last year, to the women being told.
This could mean those women are no longer fertile, and may never be able to have their own youngsters.
One woman, whose eggs were frozen within the fault window, said she was shocked after being called in to talk about a “clinical development”.
She told The Times: “The doctor informed me that the eggs I had frozen are unlikely to be viable, due to a faulty freezing process. It has been devastating.
“Many of the women have now missed their chance to preserve their fertility. Some are cancer patients who have since had hysterectomies. It is traumatising for those poor women to be told their frozen eggs cannot be used.”
The woman added that the fact the hospital, which offers treatment that costs four figures via the NHS and to private patients, had been sitting on the information was “horrifying”.
She said: “Had I been told about the issue straight away, I could have done another round of egg freezing then, and be in a much better position than I am now.”
The fertility regulator, the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA), said it’s probing what had happened at the assisted conception unit.
The unit, which charges £3,700 for one round of private egg freezing or £4,500 for embryo freezing, has since apologised to the women.
Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust said: “While we did not know about the potential issue at the time eggs or embryos were frozen [in September and October 2022], this manufacturing issue may adversely impact the chance of frozen egg or embryo survival during thawing.
“We have contacted all of those affected and apologised for the delay in doing so and any distress this may have caused.
“We are supporting those who may have been impacted, including through our counselling service, and would urge anyone with concerns to speak to us directly via the dedicated phone line we have set up.”
