20.02.13
NICE guidance extends fertility treatment access
More people will have access to fertility treatment on the NHS, after NICE published updated guidance.
Women aged up to 42 will now qualify for free cycles of IVF in certain circumstances. Same sex couples and people with physical disabilities that can make it more difficult to conceive naturally will also be covered by the new guidance.
The length of time couples have to try to conceive naturally has been reduced from three years to two and people with known fertility problems can be referred immediately for treatment.
If the new guidance is fully implemented, 93% of IVF cycles could be funded by the NHS, and could cost an additional £65.2m.
Stricter criteria will be put in place for the use of one embryo at a time, to reduce the number of twins and triplets born following IVF.
Dr Tim Child, consultant gynaecologist and director of the Oxford Fertility Unit, who helped draw up the guidelines, said: “It is very clear in my daily work that people get stuck at various stages in the system and as time moves on their chances of success both naturally and with assisted conception techniques only goes down.
“The 2004 guideline said couples should try naturally for three years which was really too long to make couples wait before moving on to an effective treatment such as IVF. With the new recommendation of two years the outcome will be to prevent people waiting an extra year when their success rate only reduces.”
Sir Andrew Dillon, chief executive of NICE, said: “Whatever the cause, we know fertility problems can have a potentially devastating effect on people's lives; causing significant distress, depression and possibly leading to the breakdown of relationships.
“The good news is that, thanks to a number of medical advances over the years, many fertility problems can be treated effectively.
“It is because of these new advances that we have been able to update our guideline on fertility, ensuring that the right support, care and treatment is available to those who will benefit the most.”
Clare Lewis-Jones, chief executive of Infertility Network UK, warned that the recommendations must be put into practice across the NHS. She said: “People are suffering every day because some PCTs have continually flouted the NICE guidelines.
“The current ‘postcode lottery’ approach to the treatment of infertility here has gone on for far too long and it is vital that the government supports the measures in the updated guidelines and communicates the need to implement them to those who commission fertility services in the NHS.”
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