ALAN and Louise Masterton wanted a sister for their four sons after Nicole, their only daughter, died aged 3 in a bonfire accident.

They repeatedly tried, in vain, to persuade the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority to allow them to use sex selection.

Yesterday Mr Masterton said that it was too late for him and his wife, both 47, to have any more children. But he welcomed news that the laws on preimplantation genetic diagnosis could be reviewed, giving others the chance to choose their child’s sex.

He said: “I don’t think it will have any bearing on our situation. Time has run out for us biologically, but I still think it’s a good step forward for those who seek reproductive choice.

“I haven’t heard a valid argument yet to deny people that choice. People contact us constantly; most are partaking in infertility tourism.

“Seven couples that we know are going abroad this week, mostly to the United States. Their eggs will be harvested, fertilised, left for 48 hours, undergo testing and then implanted if they are the right sex.

“The technique costs about $20,000 (£11,000). We know of one couple who went four times and were successful on their fourth attempt.”

Mr Masterton said that if fertility laws were changed, it would be a “real victory for common sense”. He said that he and his wife would be happy for others rather than bitter for themselves.

He added: “Why should a faceless government authority have any say on what your reproductive choice is? “The reward for us would be that we’ve helped people who make the rules see common sense. It was never only about us and our situation; we had three attempts abroad.”

Mr Masterton, a solicitor, said that there was still stigma attached to seeking treatment abroad.

“Some people have told their mothers and aunts that they’re going on holiday. Most families have no idea that the couple are undergoing IVF.”

The Mastertons spent more £30,000 on their three failed IVF treatments with sex-screened embryos, all of which were performed abroad.

Australia and America already allow gender selection for social reasons, and some British families say they have been treated in Spain, even though it is not legal.

Explore UK News

• Crime News

• Education News

• Health News

• Scotland News

Times Recommends

• Fern Britton: 'I still can't see that I was wrong'
• Extreme cooking
• Easy French: Tarte Tatin