UK couple seeks law change after sperm donor withdraws consent

A couple from North Wales, Nat and Nik Fraser-Edwards, are calling for changes to UK law after their remaining five embryos are set to be destroyed. Despite spending £23,000 on fertility treatments, including ICSI, the couple discovered that their sperm donor has withdrawn consent for the further use of the embryos.

Under current UK regulations, a sperm or egg donor is permitted to withdraw consent at any point until the embryo is transferred into the womb. The Fraser-Edwards, who recently celebrated the first birthday of their son Jude, had hoped to use the stored embryos to grow their family further.

The UK government has expressed sympathy regarding the situation, stating that it is “keeping all aspects of the regulatory regime under review.” The couple is advocating for legislation that would prevent donors from withdrawing consent once an embryo has been successfully created.