Cancer patients are being denied access to NHS fertility treatment, leading specialists say today.

In spite of a recommendation in 2004 that patients facing chemotherapy should be given universal access to sperm, egg and embryo storage, there is no consistency and no national policy on funding such techniques.

Patients who are treated for cancer can become infertile, so storing sperm, eggs or embryos can be their only hope of becoming parents later.

A new report by experts from the Royal Colleges of Physicians, Radiologists, and Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, recommends that the NHS funds these services, including setting up research-based centres for egg and ovarian tissue storage. About 11,000 patients aged between 15 and 40 are diagnosed with cancer each year in the UK — 4 per cent of the total.

A separate survey for the charity Cancerbackup highlighted the “postcode lottery” in accessing procedures.

In 2004 the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (Nice) said that cancer patients should be given universal access to sperm, egg and embryo storage. The Royal Colleges’ working party found this was not happening.

“There is currently no national policy for funding any of the techniques which aim to preserve fertility or treat the effects of gonadal damage, demand for which will always be very limited.

“The working party strongly recommends that an agreed national policy and funded nationwide equity of access to resources be available.”

The report says that sperm banking should be widely available and noted the success of embryo storage.

The study also called for patients to be fully informed of the risks of treatment at the time of diagnosis.

Dr Michael Williams, Vice-President of the Royal College of Radiologists, said: “It is shocking that arguments over funding still limit patients’ access to fertility-preserving treatments. Sperm freezing is well established, simple and effective.”

The Cancerbackup survey of 84 out of 152 primary care trusts (PCTs) revealed that access to fertility services is patchy across England.

The East of England was found to have the best provision, while PCTs in the South West failed to implement many of the Nice recommendations.

About a third of men questioned by Cancerbackup said they had never been offered sperm storage. The survey also revealed that only half of the PCTs funded embryo storage.

Joanne Rule, the chief executive of Cancerbackup, said: “It is unacceptable that access to fertility services for cancer patients is dependent on where you live. Some PCTs are denying patients the option to preserve their fertility. All cancer patients should be informed of the potential impact of cancer treatment on their fertility before treatment starts.”

A spokesman for the Department of Health said: “There are Nice guidance documents which recommend that cancer patients should have access to appropriate trained personnel at the time of diagnosis to discuss fertility issues. Implementation of Nice guidance is a standard which the NHS is expected to achieve over time.”

Treatment risks

— The four main treatments for cancer — surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and hormonal therapy — can all affect fertility

— A survey of men treated for testicular cancer between 1982 and 1992 found that chemotherapy was the biggest risk to fertility

— The same survey found that 77 per cent were able to have a child. Another 5 per cent were able to do so after fertility treatment

— Most doctors advise women not to become pregnant until at least two years after chemotherapy because of the likelihood of the cancer coming back

Sources: Cancer Research UK; Office for National Statistics; cancercare.org.uk

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