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PLEA: Michelle and Martin.
PLEA: Michelle and Martin.
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Couple race to save 'live' embryos

Yakub Qureshi
3/ 5/2006

A STOCKPORT couple are facing a desperate race to save their fertilised embryos from being destroyed.

Michelle Hickman had an emergency hysterectomy following son Robert's birth six years ago, but remained keen to have more children.

She and husband Martin Hymers, who live in Heaton Chapel, froze six embryos in the hope they could find a surrogate mum to give birth to them. The following year they froze a further seven.

But so far, they have been unable to find a candidate and now face the prospect of losing the embryos altogether, as the storage deadline of May 8 looms.

'Not explained'

In Britain, embryos created for surrogacy can be kept for only five years. But the couple, who have already spent '10,000 on fertility treatment and trying to find a surrogate, claim this was not explained to them when they visited the Manchester Fertility Services clinic.

They say they discovered only in January that their IVF clinic must dispose of the first batch on May 8.

Though the government is currently reviewing the law for embryo storage, the couple's only option now is to export the fertilised eggs to a country with more flexible storage rules.

Ms Hickman, an IT consultant, said: "There isn't a way round the current rules. Our only hope is to store the embryos overseas and either find a surrogate overseas or bring them back when there's a change in the law.

'High chance'

"We were told by our doctor they have an extremely high chance of success, and having to get them destroyed is heart-breaking."

If the embryos had been created for fertility problems, other than a missing womb, the couple could apply for extensions until Ms Hickman, currently 33, was 55.

No-one from the Manchester Fertility Services clinic, based at the Manchester Bupa hospital, was available for comment.

The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority, which governs the use of embryos in Britain, said it was unable to extend the deadline as it was set by an Act of Parliament.

If an application to move the embryos overseas was received, the May 8 deadline for their disposal could be extended while the move was considered, said a spokesman.

The Health Department is currently reviewing the law on embryo storage.

* To help other women who have had hysterectomies following pregnancy, Ms Hickman has set up a group called A Little Wish, which can be contacted at www.a-little-wish.co.uk


| Submit CommentSubmit Comments | View CommentsView Comments(4)


Most recent 2 of 4 user comments

   Paula - how is not useful.

To our knowlege it is the only website in the world that gives the impact of post pregnancy hysterectomies allowing others to make informed decisions we were denied.

A woman - whinging! My organs were taken without consent or medical necessity. If I had a working uterus it would take us LESS money, we would not need a surrogate AND we could keep them until I was 55.

We would just like the same rules as others that have more fertilty than ourselves.

Yes we have one, however we may have been able to LOTS as our friends AND I would have been able to help others.

Wonder if you tell the people you know NOT to have a second child after their first as others have "no successful pregnancy".

Thank you Debbie, IP's need more genune surrogates :)
Michelle Hickman
7/07/2007 at 20:24

Offensive or Inappropriate?

   i was interested in helping but the web site was really not useful
paula mcgrail, sheffield
9/05/2006 at 22:36

Offensive or Inappropriate?

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