The Know Daily - Thursday 19 October

_{Read in 5m 24s ∙ Listening to Joy Crookes}

Shipwreck sites around the coast of England will be given “game-changing” protection against thieves thanks to a new Historic England project. More than 50 famous wrecks - including the mysterious 17th-century Klein Hollandia and the remains of UC-70, the First World War German submarine - will be forensically marked to deter would-be looters.

🚦 The fertility regulator’s ruling

Fertility treatment “add-ons” are to be rated to help patients avoid paying for items which they may not need, the fertility regulator has announced.

Why is this needed?
“Many unsuspecting patients spend thousands of pounds on optional extras which are offered with a promise to improve their chances of having a baby,” said Sky News. But the Human Fertility and Embryology Authority (HFEA) has warned that some clinics may be “unnecessarily offering unproven treatments to patients”.

Supplementary fertility treatments - which can include genetic tests, medicine, surgery and equipment - are offered at some private clinics alongside proven methods, such as IVF.

How will the system work?
The new HFEA ratings system uses five colours spanning from green to red. These colours are used to represent the level of evidence regarding an add-on’s effectiveness in improving someone’s chances of having a baby, explained the BBC.

For example, immunological tests - which check for things like infections, allergies and autoimmune diseases - are rated red, while endometrial scratching is rated amber.

The HFEA has said that add-ons without strong evidence of safety or effectiveness should only be offered in a research setting - and patients shouldn’t have to pay for them.

How has the news been received?
Fertility support groups have welcomed the move, suggesting that it may prevent unsuspecting patients from being exploited. “These emotionally and financially difficult decisions often centre on whether to try expensive fertility treatment add-ons and are typically made when patients are at their most vulnerable,” said Dr Catherine Hill from Fertility Network UK.