Many women may choose Mr. Stable instead of Mr. Sexy as their mates, but new research shows that during periods of high fertility, Mr. Stable is on the hot seat.

FORBES: Study: When Women are Fertile, Stable but Not-So-Sexy Guys Get the Shaft

The draft law places severe restrictions on the use of frozen embryos -- created as part of a fertility programme but no longer needed or claimed by the parents -- for the purposes of medical research.

CNN: France forbids human cloning

However, women are able to get subsidised IVF treatment, in exchange for donating eggs to other couples, or, in the case of one fertility centre in the north east, for research.

BBC: NEWS | Health | IVF tourism: an ethical dilemma?

One compromise that Bush reportedly had been considering would have allowed the funding of research using stem cells from the excess embryos at fertility clinics.

CNN: Bush to allow limited stem cell funding

Children born after fertility treatments, such as IVF, may have a slightly higher chance of developing asthma, research suggests.

BBC: Fertility treatment 'asthma link'

The government's fertility watchdog will also make clear the majority of babies born by IVF are healthy and that more research is needed on the birth defect issues.

BBC: New guidance on IVF defects risk