Study using HFEA data to understand the long term health of women and their babies after fertility treatment

Researchers at the University of Oxford are conducting a study to better understand the long term health of women and their babies after fertility treatment.

PEARL is a large study of women and children in England which will include over 270,000 babies born between 1991 and 2018, and their mothers. The team will use existing records from the HFEA register, linked to information from GP practices held by the Clinical Practice Research Datalink.

The study has three aims, these are:

1. To find out the effect of fertility problems and fertility treatment on the health and development of ART children to adolescence
2. To look at the impact of successful fertility treatment on the health and wellbeing of women who underwent treatment
3. To estimate the additional costs to the NHS (if any) of caring for women and their children after successful fertility treatment

To find out more about the research, including how HFEA data is being used and whether your information may be included,  please visit the study website or contact the study lead, Dr Claire Carson.