Suzi Leather, Chair of the HFEA, said:
"We are now going through an important time of change for fertility treatment in the UK with the Government consulting on a review of the law in this area.
"We have carried out this research to ensure that the views of patients and the public are properly heard and taken account of as part of this important debate.
"The public have made it clear that while there is support for IVF in principle, people still have concerns about the long-term consequences. Addressing this is an important issue if we are to maintain confidence in this fast-moving sector. There is also agreement that the regulatory system is fair and appropriate. But we must continue to focus on the needs of patients and providing support to clinicians to ensure the system continues to work well.
"As 1 in 7 couples have concerns over their ability to conceive naturally, this issue affects many people throughout the UK. We hope that by widening the discussion in this way, the views of patients can be put at the heart of the future debate.