The UK Government has warned against undergoing 'risky' fertility treatment in Cyprus. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) updated its advice page for the travel hotspot on Friday.

The north of the nation has become popular for medical tourism in recent years with fertility treatment reported to cost half that of private UK services. However the Government have warned it 'carries risk' as 'clinics are not regulated in the same way as in the UK'.

The note urges people to 'Make sure you conduct thorough research beforehand' and links to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) website. The update said: "Fertility treatment in the north of Cyprus carries risks as clinics are not regulated in the same way as they are in the UK.

"Make sure you conduct thorough research beforehand. Further information on fertility treatment abroad is available on the HFEA website."

HFEA offers advice to people considering traveling overseas to undergo fertility treatment about the questions they should be asking. Fertility services in the north of Cyprus made headlines in April when multiple Brits complained they'd been given the wrong sperm or egg donors.

An investigation claimed 'most' families took DNA tests that confirmed their fears. Cyprus is a member of the European Union and so follows their laws on treatment but the north of the country is not controlled by the Republic of Cyprus and so EU law is suspended there.

It is currently controlled by the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) but the UK does not recognise its independence from the Republic of Cyprus. The Ministry of Health in the territory has pledged to investigate the area's fertility service issues.

The UK Government's travel advice says diplomats at The British High Commission have 'limited ability to provide assistance there'. It links to a list of English-speaking lawyers in both the Republic of Cyprus and the north of Cyprus.

Criteria on who can access NHS funding for IVF depends on the rules set out by regional Integrated Care Boards.