A British married couple has been given extra time to find a clinic in another country to store their frozen embryos.

The Human Fertilization and Embryology Authority has exercised discretionary powers to give Michelle Hickman and husband Martin Hymers permission to store and export their embryos after the 5-year storage limit ran out in May, The Times of London reported Thursday.

Hickman's uterus had been removed after complications surrounding the birth of the couple's son, Robert. They have since been unable to find a surrogate to bring their other embryos to term.

I do not know who makes these rules about storage deadlines but they should be people who know what they are talking about, Hickman said. If I had a working uterus I would be able to have had embryos stored until I was 55. Why should I be discriminated against?

The couple has been searching for a clinic abroad to take their embryos.

We have been in contact with a number of clinics but the only ones to have responded so far are in the United States, Hickman said.