LAST WEEK A story in the United Kingdom reported that a number of ‘virgin births’ had taken place.

Rather than this having any miraculous connotations, the process comes from women who have not engaged in sexual intercourse receiving IVF treatment.

The Mail on Sunday reported that dozens of young women who had never engaged in sexual intercourse had given birth after receiving the treatment.

While the idea of a virgin birth may seem unusual, there is nothing in the Irish system to prevent it happening, and no compelling medical reasoning against it.

Does it happen in Ireland?

While it cannot be confirmed, it is entirely possible that a virgin birth has happened in Ireland.

Speaking to TheJournal.ie, one clinic said that a person’s lack sexual activity would not be of concern when applying IVF treatment.

Rather, someone who had engaged in normal sexual activity without being able to conceive naturally would be of greater concern.

Overwhelmingly, IVF treatment in Ireland is administered through the private system.

A large number of women availing of it are single, and whether or not a woman was sexually active is not something that could be easily determined by the clinic.

In a statement to TheJournal.ie, the HSE has said that, “Current national policy in relation to fertility services is that assisted reproduction services are, in the main, provided through private facilities.”

Exceptions to this are Cork University Maternity Hospital, which provides some limited maternity services, and the Rotunda Hospital in Dublin, which is a voluntary hospital.

The Rotunda Hospital has made the decision to make reproductive services available to medical card holders at no additional cost, as well as its private patients.

What is the process for IVF treatment?

IVF treatment (In vitro fertilisation) sees a woman’s egg removed from her ovary and fertilised with sperm in a laboratory. It is then placed back in the woman’s womb to develop and grow.

Currently, the guidelines for IVF treatment from the HSE state that individuals who are in “stable relationships” are generally recommended into the private system for it.

‘Stable relationship’ is understood to mean individuals who are married and in cohabiting opposite-sex couples. It has not yet been decided by Irish courts if this contravenes the Equal Status Act 2000 or the Equality Act 2004.

Read: Couple whose baby died tell HSE: ‘Your apology is six years too late’

Also: This mum donated her womb to her daughter so she could have a child