Understand Your Rights. Solve Your Legal Problems
After two decades of heartbreak, hope, and painful IVF treatments, Atomic Kitten star Liz McClarnon has finally welcomed her first child — a baby boy — with her husband Peter Cho.
The 44-year-old singer shared the emotional news on Instagram, posting a radiant selfie from her hospital bed and writing:
“Little man arrived early. It started out a bit scary, but all went well in the end.”
It was the moment fans had prayed for. For years, Liz had been open about her fertility journey, describing the “dark times” she faced through repeated IVF cycles, miscarriages, and the constant fear that motherhood might never happen.
Her story — one of grit, love, and quiet faith — has now touched millions across the UK and beyond.
Liz McClarnon has joyfully welcomed her first child — a baby boy — with her husband, Peter Cho, following years of emotional highs and lows on their painful IVF journey.
Liz first revealed her pregnancy in May after what she called “painful IVF and endless hope.” She and Peter, who met four years ago, faced three failed embryo transfers in 2023 and two miscarriages before finally receiving the positive test that changed everything.
“We feel like we’ve been given the world,” she said in an emotional Instagram video, filmed in a quiet park where she revealed her growing bump.
Fans flooded the comments with messages of joy, including well wishes from celebrity friends Natasha Hamilton, Michelle Heaton, and Jo O’Meara.
Liz married Peter in 2023 but kept his identity private until their first wedding anniversary. When she finally revealed his face, followers noted the pure happiness radiating from the pair — a couple who had endured and triumphed together.
Liz McClarnon and Partner Peter Cho
Speaking on Loose Women earlier this year, Liz admitted that hearing her story played back on screen made her emotional:
“It’s strange — when you hear someone else tell it, it almost feels like it happened to another person.”
She revealed she was five months pregnant at the time and had just learned she was expecting a boy.
The road to motherhood wasn’t simple. Liz began IVF treatments after learning that, at over 40, her chances of conceiving naturally were slim. Doctors found fluid around her ovaries but encouraged her to try assisted conception.
Despite setbacks, she persevered — and her story has inspired thousands of women who face similar challenges.
The emotional and legal realities of IVF are deeply intertwined with biology. Fertility expert Professor Geeta Nargund, a leading consultant at St George’s Hospital in London, once urged policymakers to help women better understand their biological clock.
“Ideally, if a woman is ready for a child, she should start trying by the time she is 30… because as a woman gets older, her fertility declines sharply,” she told Sky News.
Her words highlight why fertility law isn’t just a set of regulations — it’s about ensuring access, education, and empowerment. For women like Liz McClarnon, those hard-won rights made the dream of motherhood possible later in life.
For many couples like Liz and Peter, IVF isn’t just a medical journey — it’s a legal one too. What most people don’t realize is that fertility law in the UK governs everything from embryo ownership to age limits and parental rights once treatment begins.
Under the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990 (as amended in 2008), embryos created during IVF belong jointly to both partners who provided the eggs and sperm. This means no embryo can be used, stored, or destroyed without the written consent of both parties.
If a couple separates, this rule can have life-changing consequences — as seen in past cases where one partner withdrew consent, forcing clinics to legally destroy embryos despite the other’s wishes.
Takeaway: Always review and update your IVF consent forms before every cycle. It protects both your reproductive rights and emotional well-being.
The UK doesn’t have a strict legal age limit, but the NHS typically funds IVF only up to age 42, depending on local clinical commissioning policies. Private clinics can offer treatment later, but must ensure medical safety and informed consent.
The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) regulates all UK fertility clinics, ensuring ethical practice and patient protection. Clinics must clearly explain risks, success rates, and legal rights before treatment begins.
By law, donor-conceived children have the right to learn the donor’s identity at age 18. The donor, however, has no parental rights or responsibilities. This legal clarity helps families plan for the future and avoids complex disputes later in life.
Fertility law in 2025 continues to evolve — especially around egg-freezing time limits, single-parent IVF, and same-sex couple rights. New proposals in Parliament could soon extend embryo storage from 10 years to 55 years, giving families more flexibility in building their future.
Practical advice: Before starting IVF, ask your clinic about your legal consent forms, storage rights, and what happens to your embryos in worst-case scenarios. Consider consulting a fertility lawyer — even a one-hour session can prevent years of emotional and legal uncertainty.
Reader takeaway: IVF is not only about science and hope — it’s about legal empowerment. Knowing your rights ensures you stay in control of your body, your family, and your future.
Now home with her newborn, Liz is focusing on recovery and gratitude. “After years of heartbreak,” she wrote, “we finally have our miracle.”
The singer’s story is already sparking renewed conversations about women’s health, fertility access, and the emotional cost of IVF — a reminder that behind every baby photo lies a story of resilience, love, and legal rights that protect that dream.
1. Can women over 40 get IVF treatment on the NHS in the UK?
Yes, but access is limited. Most NHS trusts offer funded IVF up to age 42, though some stop at 40 depending on local policy. After that age, women can still pursue IVF privately if medically suitable. Always check your local NHS Integrated Care Board (ICB) rules before starting treatment.
2. Who legally owns embryos created during IVF in the UK?
Under the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act, embryos belong jointly to the people who provided the egg and sperm. No clinic can use, store, or destroy them without written consent from both partners — even if they separate. It’s vital to review consent forms before each cycle to avoid future legal complications.
3. What legal rights do IVF parents and donor-conceived children have?
In the UK, donors have no parental rights or financial obligations. Children conceived through donation have the right to request identifying information about their donor when they turn 18. This law helps ensure transparency and protects the rights of all parties involved in assisted reproduction.
