Who is Eligible?
In order to qualify for free IVF treatments on the NHS, there are a certain number of criteria which must be met. Firstly, the woman in question must have had fertility problems for a minimum of three years, or her fertility problem (or that of her husband or partner in the case of couples with fertility problems) must have been identified already. The woman must also be between the ages of 23 and 39 at the time of treatment. The age guides are based on chances of success, as the IVF success rate is notoriously low even in young women. IVF is not recommended at all for women over the age of 42, as the chance of the procedure being a success is so low (around 5%).
Up until a few years ago, the treatment was only available to heterosexual couples trying for a biological baby but due to equalisation of embryology law, the NHS now also treats single women or lesbian couples using sperm donors provided they meet the other criteria.
Primary Care Trusts
Women or couples who fulfil these criteria are currently entitled to up to three rounds of IVF on the NHS. However, this does not mean that all eligible couples will definitely get three rounds. Medical staff must be confident that couples are suitable and some Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) will be able to offer more access to treatment than others. Very often this is a case of funding and so can appear like a post code lottery. The NHS is always trying to ensure that IVF provision is more equal across the country. If after three rounds of IVF, the couple has still not conceived, they must look for other options.
Other Options
For most women who are still determined to try to conceive via IVF, the next step is to pay privately. If age is a determining factor, it may still be difficult for a woman, say, in her forties, to find treatment even if she has the financial means as the success rate is so low that doctors may be reluctant to try the treatment. The psychological strain of what can be quite a laborious and nerve-wracking time can sometimes outweigh the benefits of IVF. The NHS can offer support on other options available to women trying to conceive, such as surrogacy and adoption.
Treatment Abroad
Increasingly, women who has restricted access to IVF on the NHS in the UK or for whom age or money is a prohibitive factor, are looking abroad to get IVF treatment. Very careful research has to be done in these cases as some couples desperate to conceive may be swayed by cheaper prices offered abroad. In some cases this may genuinely be because of the lower cost of living in those countries, but women should not be tempted to put their health at risk because of a potential financial saving on the treatment.
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