To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answers by the Parliamentary
Under-Secretary of State for Health on 14 July 2014 (HC Deb, col 448W), Earl Howe
on 3 December 2014 (HL273), Lord O'Shaughnessy on 3 December 2018 (HL11600), and comments
by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health on 20 January 2016 (HC Deb,
col 623WH), to what extent the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA)
database is linked to (1) NHS databases, and (2) cancer registries; whether data from
the register of patients and treatments that is maintained by the HFEA is sufficient
to assess the contention that IVF in older women linked to an increased risk of breast
cancer; and how the HFEA will ensure that information provided to patients regarding
any potential long-term safety implications associated with treatment will include
appropriate reference to such risks.
<p>The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) Register is not linked
to any National Health Service databases or cancer registries; and data from the Register
alone would not allow an assessment of the risk to be identified. However, under the
Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act (Disclosure of Information for Research Purposes)
Regulations 2010, the HFEA may authorise the processing of disclosable protected information
contained in the Register for research, in the public interest or in the interests
of improving patient care. A recent study by University College London investigated
risks of ovarian, breast, and corpus uteri cancer in women treated with Assisted Reproductive
Technologies and found no link between the use of ovarian stimulatory drugs and an
increased risk of cancer.</p><p>The HFEA continually updates patient information whenever
new clinical information is available. The HFEA is advised by the Scientific and Clinical
Advances Advisory Committee on scientific and clinical developments (including research)
in assisted conception, embryo research and related areas.</p>
