European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology

The European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) was created in 1985 by both Professor R.G. Edwards from Cambridge, and Dr. J. Cohen from Paris, who felt that the study and research in the field of reproduction needed to be encouraged and recognized.

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The society consists of:

General Assembly, comprising all its members, made up of diverse sub-special interest groups, such as andrology, reproductive genetics, ethics and law, and paramedical group;
Executive Committee, comprising seven members or more, and having various sub-committees, such as the Finance Subcommittee, Training Subcommittee, and Annual Meeting Subcommittee; and
Advisory Committee.

Working closely with the ESHRE, but still independently, is the European Assisted Conception Consortium (EACC). Any policy decisions made by the EACC are conveyed to the ESHRE Executive Committee in order to keep both groups clear and consistent in their goals. The EACC, however, has different intents. This group focuses more on informing the European Union, providing advice, and sharing their knowledge in the areas of reproduction, and tissue and cells.

Only three representatives from each country of the European Union are allowed to gain membership to the EACC, and they must be of three specific areas of study:

a representative from the appropriate regulatory authority;
a clinician; and
an embryologist.

They meet twice a year to discuss specific issues, and also attend the ESHRE Annual General Meeting. In the beginning, EACC needed ESHRE’s financial support, but now membership fees are sufficient to cover the organization's expenses.