Doctors are warning women of the dangers of buying fertility drugs over the internet.
They claim that women desperate for children who are unable to afford the costly IVF medication are putting their lives at risk purchasing possibly deadly fertility drugs being sold illegally on eBay.
These medications need to be supervised by professional medical personnel, otherwise they could be dangerous. Along with blood clots, deep vein thrombosis and strokes, women can develop ovarian hyper-stimulation, which can cause fatal organ failure.
An investigation by The Mail on Sunday has found IVF drugs are being sold online for a third of the market price. 1mg of Suprecur, which costs £35 at a private UK clinic, can be bought for £15 on eBay. Ten injectable vials of Menopur would usually cost £300 when purchased from a clinic, but is currently selling for £100 on the site.
Leading fertility expert Professor Lord Winston is warning women not to turn to these cheaper alternatives. ‘You don’t know if they are what they say on the packet. The drugs may not be pure and there’s always a risk when drugs are taken without medical supervision.’
As for the people behind these illegal sales, it’s suspected that sellers could be either unethical pharmacists, counterfeit criminals or couples with leftover medication after their own IVF treatment.
The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency has confirmed it is illegal to sell IVF drugs online and have asked eBay to remove them from the site.
