Possible to get straws sent to home in UK?

[KarmaCaramello]

Is it still possible at all? Planning straightforward ICI - but clinics require hundreds in mandatory tests and appointments and only offer IUI as the least invasive option.

Thanks

Hi, this has not been possible in the UK for a number of years. Straws can only be sent to a fertility clinic now.

@kirstysmbc thanks. It’s so frustrating. Is there any info on why the law was changed? There are so many extra appointments and fees when using a clinic.

I don't know for sure, but I imagine it could be about tightening up on legislation around who is using donors and number of families receiving each donor can donate to. A clinic will have much tighter controls, if you send it to an individual, you lose all control over where it goes.

Yes, it hasn’t been possible for many years now. It’s because of the UK “10 families “ rule. As far as I know, It makes it too difficult to keep track of numbers if straws are used at home - whereas legally clinics have to inform HEFA if it is successful or the clinic could lose their license.

Its a real pain costs wise, but the alternative is that you end up like other countries (such as the US) where there are no real limits to how many kids can be born from one donor - as sperm banks won’t know who was successful or not if parents use straws at home but aren’t legally obliged to inform anyone. ( I’m very aware of this as I used a US donor and I’m aware of at least a dozen kids already - and those are just the ones whose parents wanted to keep in touch! In reality there could be 50, 100 - I’ll never know).