The Portuguese Society of Reproductive Medicine (SPMR) today called on government entities to take measures to reduce waiting lists in the National Health Service (SNS) for consultations and treatments in the area of infertility.
In a statement, SPMR also warns of the importance of timely referral of patients to medically assisted procreation centers through primary health care.
«The average waiting time for treatment in public hospitals is one and a half years: four to five months for the first consultation and one year for treatment. And these frightening numbers don't stop there, if it is necessary to resort to donating gametes (ovocytes and sperm), it can take up to three years", warns the president of SPMR Pedro Xavier, cited in a statement.
SPMR recalls that there are around 300 thousand infertile couples in Portugal, a number that has been increasing.
“It is therefore urgent to support couples in their access to medically assisted procreation treatments in the public sector”, says the specialist.
Pedro Xavier also defends the importance of raising awareness of «the preservation of reproductive potential through oocyte freezing, as a potentially beneficial strategy for women who cannot, or do not want to, become pregnant immediately».
From this Monday until November 12th, European Fertility Week takes place, organized since 2016, which aims to «raise public awareness of the issue of fertility and communicate the challenges faced by those who find themselves in this situation» .
Comments