Embryo freezing was beneficial because it cut the risk of multiple pregnancies caused when several embryos were implanted in a woman’s womb, medical experts told a parliamentary committee.

The recommendation to allow embryo freezing was made in a report drawn up by the parliamentary committee on medically assisted procreation, headed by Nationalist MP Jean Pierre ­Farrugia.

The report, published yesterday, also suggests the setting up of an authority responsible for licensing IVF clinics, issuing guidelines for best practice and collecting data on the sector.

The select committee also ­recommended that assisted ­procreation services be avail­-able on the national health ­service, giving access to people who did not afford the treatment in the private ­sector.

According to Dr Farrugia, embryo freezing was medically beneficial for two reasons: It prevents the implantation of multiple embryos in the womb, which may result in higher risk multiple pregnancies; and it avoids having to repeatedly ­stimulate the woman’s ovaries by hormones to harvest the ova.

Medical experts consulted by the committee recommended that freezing of embryos be allowed with Mater Dei Hospital’s head of gynaecology department, Mark Brincat, arguing it would give couples who underwent IVF treatment more hope.

“It is very shattering to undergo the procedure knowing there is a 60 per cent or 70 per cent chance of failure to carry a pregnancy,” Dr Brincat told the select committee, arguing that freezing of embryos would give the couple another chance without having to go through the whole process from scratch.

The head of neonatal intensive care at Mater Dei, Paul Soler, said embryo freezing enabled lower numbers of embryos to be implanted and so lowered the risk of multiple births, which in 50 per cent of cases were prematurely born.

Luca Gianaroli, a specialist in reproductive medicine with a 30-year track record, told the select committee that freezing of embryos was “a need but not the final goal”, which was to help the woman get pregnant.

The report also noted the “radical change” in the stand taken by the Children’s Commissioner, who is now in favour of the freezing option.

In fresh submissions to the select committee, the Children’s Commissioner argued it was in the best interest of children to have only two embryos implanted in a woman’s womb with any extra embryos frozen for future use by the couple.

When the subject was tackled by Parliament’s social affairs committee five years ago, then Children’s Commissioner Sonia Camilleri had been against embryo freezing.

Ms Camilleri had also said in-vitro fertilisation should only be available to married couples, a position that has now changed with the Children’s Commissioner saying it should be available to couples in a “stable relationship”.

The select committee argued against the donation of sperm or ova (gametes) by third parties, insisting on the adoption of frozen embryos.

“To avoid ending up with large numbers of unwanted frozen embryos, the committee is recommending that gamete donation be put on hold so that infertile couples will be encouraged to adopt embryos instead,” Dr Farrugia said, insisting this was not embryo donation.

According to advice given by the Attorney General, adoption laws would have to be changed to cater for embryo adoption.

Another issue tackled by the select committee was the eligibility for IVF treatment, which it recommends should be available to heterosexual couples in a stable relationship.

“In such cases, stability can be ascertained through medical records that show how long a couple would have been trying to treat infertility,” Dr Farrugia said.

He argued that the law must not be restrictive in nature and instead it should promote guidelines detailing how many embryos were to be developed and how many should be implanted at one go.

If the guidelines were not adhered to, the doctor would have to give written reasons why they were breached, Dr Farrugia added, pointing out that the medical history of different women varied.

When asked whether the recommendations of the select committee would remain on the backburner as had happened with the Puli report in 2005, Dr Farrugia said he was informed the Prime Minister had the intention of raising the matter in Cabinet.

“There should be a period of public consultation with the contribution of the political parties. However, on matters of ­conscience, MPs should be informed and then it is up to the individual to vote on the Bill, whether in favour or against,” Dr Farrugia said, insisting such issues were not simply black or white.

The select committee also included Nationalist MP Frans Agius and Labour MP Michael Farrugia.

Main recommendations

• Heterosexual couples in stable relationships and not just married couples should be eligible for medically assisted procreation treatment.

• An autonomous authority on the same lines as the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority in the UK should be set up to issue licences to clinics, draw up ­standards of best practice, collect information from clinics and certify the eligibility of couples for IVF treatment.

• Infertile couples should have the possibility of adopting frozen embryos that are unclaimed by their parents.

• The donation of sperm and ova by third parties will not be permitted.

• The law should allow unused embryos to be frozen for future use by the couple.

• IVF treatment should be financed by the state to make it accessible to all infertile ­couples.