{"id":8952,"date":"2019-07-04T17:46:51","date_gmt":"2019-07-04T16:46:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pamap.accessfertility.com\/ie\/?p=657"},"modified":"2025-05-14T16:25:33","modified_gmt":"2025-05-14T15:25:33","slug":"nhs-ivf-provision","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.accessfertility.com\/ie\/nhs-ivf-provision\/","title":{"rendered":"What I wish I’d known about NHS IVF provision"},"content":{"rendered":"

We love the NHS<\/strong><\/p>\n

It almost goes without saying that there is huge support for the NHS. The vast majority of people support the founding principles of a service free at the point of delivery, available to all and funded largely by taxation.<\/p>\n

But there\u2019s an argument that our attachment to the NHS means that we don\u2019t demand enough of the NHS. That we sometimes tolerate a level of service that would be unacceptable in other areas of our lives.\u00a0This is the experience of a growing number of people going through fertility treatment.<\/p>\n

Although we love the NHS and we are very lucky to be able to receive free fertility treatment, which is for some people their only option, for others it has caused a lot pain and disappointment due to lengthy delays and restrictions.<\/p>\n

Many other people have had positive and successful fertility journeys with the NHS too, we are not here to judge. We are NOT talking here about which is \u2018better\u2019 or \u2018worse\u2019 but how private and NHS fertility treatment differs to enable you to make informed decisions about your personal journey.<\/p>\n

Things to think about with NHS IVF provision:<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Patients have told me what they wish they had known about NHS IVF treatment before their journey started to enable others to be better informed. Things people mentioned, included:<\/p>\n

Look up the CCG (Clinical Commissioning Group) policy<\/strong>\u00a0on fertility treatments for your council: Every council has a different policy on eligibility, funding, and treatment. You\u2019ll want to ensure that you do nothing to endanger your eligibility which could be, for example, to pay for a cycle privately before you start IVF with NHS. If you are unclear about the policy, discuss it with your IVF clinic. You can find the CCG policy for your council online.<\/p>\n

\"image<\/strong>Expect delays, lots of delays<\/strong>: this is important to bear in mind if you are someone who is 35 and above, but especially over 38 and starting out on your fertility journey. Timing is key to the IVF process and, as we all know, the chances of successful treatment fall significantly for those over 40 years old. Therefore, you may need to think about the potential 10-18 month wait to start your treatment on the NHS.<\/span><\/p>\n

Look up the number of funded cycles available in your area<\/strong>: the success rates for people falling pregnant on their first cycle is up to around 25-30%. The majority of people, and especially those in the older age bracket, are likely to need more than one cycle of IVF. In many places now the NHS only offers one funded cycle so if you may need more than one private treatment might be something to consider as you can look for multi cycle treatment programmes, where you can purchase two or three cycles for a discounted rate.<\/p>\n

Many clinics in the UK partner with Access Fertility who offers inclusive multi cycle treatment packages. Access Fertility also offers refund plans where, if you don\u2019t have a baby after your treatment is complete, you can receive a full or partial refund. NHS clinics do not provide these type of options. Find out more about Access Fertility programmes here<\/a>. Read our blog about the cost of private treatment here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Check your eligibility<\/strong>:<\/p>\n

One key aspect you need to check is your NHS eligibility<\/a>. You are not eligible for NHS provision if:<\/p>\n

Women under 40<\/strong><\/p>\n

According to NICE,\u00a0women aged under 40 should be offered 3 cycles of IVF treatment on the NHS if:<\/p>\n