Private fertility clinics have been accused of upselling controversial “add ons” after one woman found optional extras had been included in her bill, according to a report in the Irish Independent.
That client told the newspaper she feels strongly that vulnerable people could be exploited by clinics who push expensive and often unproven extras as part of their fertility treatments.
She said that she was repeatedly asked if she would like to pay €150 to add “embryo glue” to her treatment package. Embryo glue is a substance added to embryos before transfer, as clinics claim it could improve the chance of an embryo implanting in the womb.
The UK’s Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority says there is “conflicting evidence” that it improves a patient’s chances of having a baby.
The client declined it on her first attempt, but paid for it on a subsequent attempt, but declined it again on a 3rd attempt, the first that resulted in a healthy baby.
On one final occasion, she found that embryo glue was included in her bill as a “typical expected cost” of fertility treatment.
