Women who smoke are being told they must give up before receiving IVF on the NHS, it has emerged.
Figures from a Department of Health survey show that many clinics are denying treatment to female smokers.
The restriction is the latest in a number of criteria imposed by some primary health trusts, with some using narrow age restrictions and others telling obese women they must lose weight before being considered for infertility treatment.
However, Labour MP Sally Keeble said that smoking is 'not a good idea' if you are trying to conceive as it is linked to higher rates of miscarriage.
'I think there's no point in putting people through expensive and traumatic treatment if they are doing something which is likely to make it unsuccessful,' she claimed.
'It's really important that the people doing it should give it the best possible chance of success.'
A report published in 2004 by the British Medical Association's Board of Science and Education found that a woman's chance of conception falls by around 40 per cent if she smokes.
Figures from a Department of Health survey show that many clinics are denying treatment to female smokers.
The restriction is the latest in a number of criteria imposed by some primary health trusts, with some using narrow age restrictions and others telling obese women they must lose weight before being considered for infertility treatment.
However, Labour MP Sally Keeble said that smoking is 'not a good idea' if you are trying to conceive as it is linked to higher rates of miscarriage.
'I think there's no point in putting people through expensive and traumatic treatment if they are doing something which is likely to make it unsuccessful,' she claimed.
'It's really important that the people doing it should give it the best possible chance of success.'
A report published in 2004 by the British Medical Association's Board of Science and Education found that a woman's chance of conception falls by around 40 per cent if she smokes.
Labels: Smoking
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