In Focus

In many countries, including the UK, a woman can donate eggs for use by others. Within the UK, the donation of human eggs is strictly regulated by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority.

Sequencing the whole genome of a newborn baby means establishing the precise order in which millions of chemical components occur within the baby's DNA.

Surrogacy is when a woman carries a baby for those who are unable to conceive or carry a child themselves. In the UK, surrogacy has been legal since 1985.

The fertility rate is the average number of children born to women during their reproductive life. To maintain a stable population a fertility rate of 2.1 is required.

Access to NHS-funded fertility treatment, including IVF, is restricted. People find themselves faced with the postcode lottery.