Margaret Grant (48) celebrated six years ago when she argued for a change in the rules on IVF procedures.

Now, after a break from the heartache, she's ready to take on a fresh challenge – to try for another rule change to help childless couples achieve their dream.

Her goal is to try to stop the destruction of more than a million "leftover" embryos created for fertility treatment in British clinics.

Margaret, of Westhill, Inverness, was sparked into action when she heard NHS Grampian had asked staff at the Aberdeen fertility clinic, where she went for IVF treatment, for sperm and egg donations to restore depleted stocks.

Margaret's campaign is to persuade the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) to insert a clause in its new code of practice, aimed at those giving up fertility treatment for whatever reason, including the break-up of their relationship.

She suggests they should be asked if they would donate any remaining frozen embryos to other childless couples on the waiting list.

Government figures show that of 2,137,924 embryos created in British clinics between 1991 and 2005, around 1.2 million were never used. Just four per cent resulted in live births.

Extra embryos are created to increase the chance of one being used for implantation in the prospective mother.

Politicians have already suggested it should be made easier for couples to "adopt" viable embryos unwanted by their natural parents.

"I am at another stage in my life now and would really like to preserve these embryos," said Margaret, a gardening adviser for an Inverness store.

"I know there is a national egg shortage at the moment and I would really like to do something to help people because I know there have always been problems. Even when I had IVF I needed to find an egg donor.

"It seems terrible that embryos can be destroyed when they could be used to help others."

In 2003, after going to her then MP David Stewart, Margaret was delighted when the HFEA amended its code of practice to ensure all parties involved in IVF treatment would be informed before an embryo was discarded.

Margaret was devastated in 2001 when her former husband ordered the destruction of five frozen embryos created from a donor's eggs and fertilised by his sperm.

Staff at the Aberdeen clinic told her of the news only when she contacted them to discuss continuing with the fertility treatment after her divorce.

Margaret Grant – ready for a fresh challenge. Picture: Bobby Nelson

Fertility clinics are obliged to allow frozen embryos to perish if either party withdraws consent for one to be used.

As a result of Margaret's case, "all reasonable steps" must be taken to inform both parties, even if the embryos were created using donated eggs or sperm.

Now Margaret plans to ask the HFEA, which licenses fertility clinics, for up-to-date figures on how many embryos are discarded each year and the numbers going for research.

"I think my solution could be looked upon as similar to organ donation, although obviously no-one has died," she said.

"People could be asked to consider saving the embryos for others at a crucial point."

As part of her campaign she is also writing to the Westminster health minister, Dawn Primarolo.

Margaret and her former husband went for IVF treatment in 1995 after she could not get pregnant because of an early menopause. When her embryos were destroyed she was determined other women would not have to go through the same anguish.

"I can honestly say that once I achieved a change in the code of practice through David Stewart I felt I had done all that I had to do," she said. "Now this feels like the right thing to do and at the right time.

"There is a waiting list for IVF in the UK and people are willing to pay thousands of pounds for private treatment.

"I do feel there has to be something else done to help couples achieve their dream of having a baby.

"The trauma of what happened to me will be carried around with me – it's part of my life. It is not something I will forget.

"But sometimes something good can come out of something bad."

The HFEA is carrying out a consultation on its new draft code of practice and consent forms which will come into effect in October this year.

"We welcome comments and suggestions as to how we can make this guidance better for patients and clinics," said a spokesman.

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