Gürtin Zeynep B, Tiemann Emily
EGA Institute for Women's Health, University College London, London, UK.
Reprod Biomed Soc Online. 2020 Nov 21;12:56-68. doi: 10.1016/j.rbms.2020.10.004. eCollection 2021 Mar.
To the authors' knowledge, this is the first UK-based study to analyse the marketing of elective egg freezing (EEF) by fertility clinics. Analyses were based on the websites of the top 15 UK clinics, which together provided 87.8% of all egg freezing cycles in the UK between 2008 and 2017 inclusive. The analyses included three phases: content analysis; systematic cost analysis and comparison; and quality analysis examining the information available on egg freezing and its adherence to the guidelines of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA). The results show that clinics frame EEF according to four main themes: as a new and exciting technology; as a solution to (a modern woman's) life circumstances; as a means to gain control, freedom and more reproductive options; and as a means to avoid the reproductive risks of ageing. This study also found that most clinics are not sufficiently clear and transparent about the 'true' cost of an EEF cycle, present an unbalanced view of EEF, and do not provide satisfactory data or information. Most importantly, none of the clinics adhere adequately to the HFEA guidelines regarding advertising and the provision of information. As the EEF market continues to grow, offered exclusively by private clinics, these findings require urgent attention. Clinics must improve the type and quality of EEF information on their websites such that potential patients can make informed choices, and this article provides 10 basic criteria which can be used as a checklist. It is suggested that the time may have come to grant greater economic regulatory powers to HFEA to avoid overcommercialization of the fertility industry.
据作者所知，这是英国首个分析生育诊所对选择性卵子冷冻（EEF）进行营销的研究。分析基于英国排名前15的诊所的网站，这些诊所在2008年至2017年（含）期间共提供了英国所有卵子冷冻周期的87.8%。分析包括三个阶段：内容分析；系统成本分析与比较；以及质量分析，审查关于卵子冷冻的可用信息及其是否符合人类受精与胚胎学管理局（HFEA）的指南。结果表明，诊所根据四个主要主题来构建EEF：作为一项新的、令人兴奋的技术；作为解决（现代女性的）生活状况的方法；作为获得控制、自由和更多生殖选择的手段；以及作为避免衰老带来的生殖风险的手段。本研究还发现，大多数诊所对于EEF周期的“真实”成本不够清晰透明；对EEF的看法不均衡；且未提供令人满意的数据或信息。最重要的是，没有一家诊所充分遵守HFEA关于广告和信息提供的指南。由于EEF市场持续增长，且仅由私立诊所提供，这些发现需要紧急关注。诊所必须改善其网站上EEF信息的类型和质量，以便潜在患者能够做出明智的选择，本文提供了10条基本标准，可作为一份清单使用。有人认为，或许是时候赋予HFEA更大的经济监管权力，以避免生育行业过度商业化了。
