Experts raise alarm over 'dangerous' fertility add-ons in Ireland

Leading medical experts have raised concerns over the sale of numerous meaningless and dangerous additional fertility treatments on the Irish market. This comes after a surge in promotions of these add-ons to individuals seeking medical assistance to conceive, despite claims that they can improve their chances of pregnancy. During RTÉ Investigates' Fertility Uncovered program, undercover researchers observed the widespread marketing of such treatments at the Future Fertility Show in Dublin.

Dr. Tim Child, an associate professor of reproductive medicine at Oxford University and board member of the UK's independent regulator for fertility treatment, HFEA, explained that many of these add-ons lack substantial evidence supporting their effectiveness in increasing live birth rates. The HFEA introduced a traffic light system in 2017 to inform patients about the evidence behind these treatments, with red-rated add-ons carrying potential safety concerns, such as reducing IVF treatment effectiveness.

Ireland currently lacks a fully functioning regulator overseeing fertility treatment, and some add-ons, like intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) used to treat elevated natural killer (NK) cell levels, were promoted at the Future Fertility Show as effective measures to prevent embryo implantation. However, experts such as Dr. Tim Child and Emeritus Professor Ashley Moffett of the University of Cambridge rejected these claims, stating that natural killer cells in the blood offer no insight into those present in the uterus and that the idea of NK cells potentially rejecting the foetus is incorrect.

In the UK, the HFEA has classified the use of steroids and IVIG as red-rated treatments due to the lack of evidence showing increased chances of pregnancy and the potential risks, including gestational diabetes and other complications. Despite these warnings, clinic representatives at the Future Fertility Show recommended these treatments based on the presence of natural killer cells, potentially exposing patients to significant risks.

The Future Fertility Show acknowledged that no treatment guarantees a baby but stressed the importance of informed decision-making by patients in consultation with healthcare providers. The Assisted Human Reproduction Act, signed into law in Ireland in July 2024, established a regulatory framework for assisted human reproduction practices, including IVF, but no independent statutory regulator overseeing fertility treatment has been established yet, leaving the existing Medical Council as the primary regulator.

The government announced the establishment of the Assisted Human Reproduction Regulatory Authority (AHRRA) in October 2025, but it remains unoperational with no timeline for its launch.