People in Ireland seeking fertility treatment will, for the first time, be able to access a range of new services, including screening of the egg and embryo for chromosomal abnormalities.

According to Beacon CARE Fertility, which is based in Dublin, it has been licensed to provide new services, which until now, people had to travel abroad for.

These include:

-Array CGH: This is a new technique which involves the egg and embryo being screened for chromosomal abnormalities - a major cause of IVF failure and miscarriage. This type of screening is particularly suitable for women over the age of 37, women who have had several unexplained miscarriages or IVF failures and men who are known to have sperm at risk of carrying abnormal chromosomes.
-PGD (Pre-implantation Genetic Diagnosis): This can be used by people who are at risk of passing on an inherited condition to their baby. It is used in conjunction with IVF and allows for genetic testing of an embryo before it is implanted and therefore before pregnancy occurs.

According to Pauline Cullen of the Beacon Medical Group, the licensing of these services by the Irish Medicines Board will have 'a significant impact on women and couples who are dealing with fertility challenges in Ireland'.

"The groundbreaking treatments that have been licensed in Ireland for the first time are already having significant levels of success in the UK," she said.