Embryo freezing, which is unavailable in Malta, is one of the recommendations made in a report published tonight by a parliamentary select committee on assisted procreation.

Chaired by Nationalist MP Jean Pierre Farrugia, who is a doctor, the select committee based its recommendations on the advice given by medical experts, who argued that embryo freezing would lower the risk of multiple pregnancies caused when multiple embryos are implanted in a woman’s womb. Freezing would also reduce the pain caused to the woman by hormone stimulating therapy, which is necessary to harvest the ova.

While calling for government to regulate the sector, the report says that in-vitro fertilisation should be made available to heterosexual couples in a stable relationship and not just to married couples. The report says that an independent regulatory authority should be created to oversee the sector.

Rather than having a restrictive law, the report argues for guidelines that stipulate how many embryos should be fertilised and how many should be implanted. However, it also says that if the guidelines are not adhered to the doctor must submit the reasons why in writing since the medical history of various women differed.

Two other doctors, Nationalist backbencher Francis Agius and Labour MP Michael Farrugia set on the select committee.

The report was agreed unanimously.

Dr Farrugia said this was a 'pro-life- report where the committee sought to protect the interests of those people who had difficult to procreate.

Issues relating to gay couples were not within the remit of the committee.

Dr Farrugia highlights some of the issues discussed by the committee in the video above.

The report in full can be seen by clicking the pdf link below.