IVF (2024)

IVF is only offered on the NHS if certain criteria are met. If you don't meet these criteria, you may need to pay for private treatment.

NICE recommendations

TheNational Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE)fertility guidelinesmake recommendations about who should have access to IVF treatment on the NHS in England and Wales.

Butindividual NHS integrated care boards (ICBs) make the final decision about who can have NHS-funded IVF in their local area, and their criteria may be stricter than those recommended by NICE.

Women under 40

According to NICE,women aged under 40 should be offered 3 cycles of IVF treatment on the NHS if:

• they've been trying to get pregnant through regular unprotected sexfor 2 years
• they'venot been able to get pregnant after 12cycles ofartificial insemination, with at least 6 of the cycles using a method called intrauterine insemination (IUI)

If you turn 40 during treatment, the current cycle will be completed, but further cycles shouldn't be offered.

If tests show IVF is the only treatment likely to help you get pregnant, you should be referred straight away.

Women aged 40 to 42

The NICE guidelines also say women aged 40 to 42 should be offered 1 cycle of IVF on the NHSif all of the following criteria are met:

• they've been trying to get pregnant through regular unprotectedsex for 2 years. Or they haven't been able to get pregnant after 12 cycles of artificial insemination, with at least 6 of the cycles using a method called intrauterine insemination (IUI)
• they've never had IVF treatment before
• theyshow no evidence of low ovarian reserve (where eggs in your ovaries arelow in numberor quality)
• they've been informed of the additional implications of IVF and pregnancy at this age

Again,if tests show IVF is the only treatment likely to help you get pregnant, you should be referred straight away.

IVF on the NHS

NHS trusts across England and Wales are working to provide the same levels of service. But the provision of IVF treatment varies across the country, and often depends on localICB policies.

ICBs may have additional criteria you need to meet before you can have IVF on the NHS, such as:

• not having any children already, fromboth your currentand any previous relationships
• being a healthy weight
• not smoking
• falling into acertain age range (for example, some ICBs only fund treatment for women under 35)

Although NICE recommend up to 3 cycles of IVF should be offered on the NHS, some ICBs only offer 1 cycle, or only offer NHS-funded IVF in exceptional circ*mstances.

Find out how many cycles of IVF are funded by the NHS in each area of England on GOV.UK

You can also ask your GP or contactyour local integrated care board (ICB) for more information about NHS-funded IVF treatment in your area.

Private treatment

If you're not eligible for NHS treatment or you decide to pay for IVF, you canhave treatment at aprivate clinic.

Some clinics can be contacted directly without seeing your GP first, but others may ask for a referral from your GP.

The cost of private treatment can vary, but 1 cycle of IVF cancost up to £5,000 or more.There may be additional costs for medicines, consultations and tests.

Make sure you find out exactly what's included in the price during your discussions with the clinic.

Some people consider having IVF abroad,butthere are a number of issues you need to think about, includingyour safety and the standard of careyou'll receive. Clinics in other countries may not be as regulated as they are in the UK.

Further information

• Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA): costs and funding
• Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA): fertility treatment abroad
• Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA): choose a fertility clinic