Around one in seven couples may have difficulty conceiving. If you think you may need help conceiving, make an appointment with your GP to discuss your options.
What treatment is available for infertility?
Investigations, diagnoses, and conservative treatments for infertility are routinely available on the NHS. Types of fertility treatment available include:
- advice on lifestyle changes to aid a natural conception, such as weight loss and smoking cessation
- medical treatment for lack of regular ovulation
- surgical procedures, such as treatment for endometriosis
A referral for assisted conception can be made if infertility is diagnosed, or after all treatments and recommended lifestyle changes have been tried and infertility remains unexplained.
Types of assisted conception include:
- Intrauterine insemination (IUI)
- In vitro fertilisation (IVF)
- Intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI)
Am I eligible for assisted conception?
Not everyone is eligible for assisted conception treatment. To be considered for treatment you must meet the following eligibility criteria:
Status
The prospective mother must be a registered patient of a GP practice in South West London at the time of commencing assisted conception investigations and treatment.
Patients who start their assisted conception investigations or treatment and then move to and register with a GP practice in South West London will be treated in line with our policy.
Sub-fertility or infertility
The patient either has an identified cause of sub-fertility/infertility or has had 24 months of unexplained infertility.
For single women or same-sex female couples this means 12 cycles of unstimulated intrauterine insemination (IUI) over at least 12 months.
Sterilisation
Neither the patient nor their partner, if they have one, should have undergone previous sterilisation.
Anti-Mullerian Hormone (AMH) level
AMH level has always been equal or greater than 5.4pmol/l within the last 6 months.
Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) level
Highest ever level of FSH taken between day 2 and 5 of the cycle must be less than or equal to 8.9iu/L.
However, if the levels are above 8.9 and below 11.8 and the Anti-Mullerian Hormone (AMH) is above 5.4 then your treating clinician may decide to seek funding approval using AMH only.
Childlessness
The couple has no living child from their current relationship and at least one of the prospective parents does not have any living children from a previous relationship.
A child adopted by a patient or adopted in a previous relationship is considered to have the same status as a biological child.
Welfare of the child
Each patient and their partner, if they have one, must conform to the HFEA ‘Code of Practice’ to be able to access to NHS-funded assisted conception.
Age of woman
This policy only applies to adults.
Prospective mothers must be no more than 42 years of age (before their 43rd birthday) at the start of the full in vitro fertilisation (IVF) or intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) treatment cycle.
Body mass index (BMI)
Prospective mothers must have a BMI of between 19 and 30 for a period of at least six months prior to commencement of treatment.
Smoking status
Each patient and their partner, if they have one, must have been non-smokers for at least six months prior to commencement of treatment.
Alcohol and recreational drug use
Each patient and their partner, if they have one, must give assurances that their alcohol intake is within Department of Health guidelines, and they are not currently using recreational drugs.
Number of intrauterine insemination (IUI) cycles of treatment
We will fund up to 12 NHS-funded unstimulated IUI cycles for eligible patients.
IUI for single women and same-sex couples is not routinely funded unless the criteria set out within the policy are met.
Number of in vitro fertilisation (IVF) or intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) cycles of treatment
We will fund one NHS-funded full IVF/ICSI cycle for eligible patients.
Patients who have previously had NHS-funded IVF/ICSI or patients who have had more than two full cycles of IVF/ICSI (if aged under 40) and more than one cycle (if over 40), whether privately or NHS-funded will not receive any further NHS-funded IVF/ICSI.
For women aged 40 to 42 who have been trying for 2 years or longer, or have had 12 cycles of IUI, we will fund 1 full cycle of IVF if the following apply:
- they have never had IVF before
- they have discussed the risks of IVF and becoming pregnant at this age with their doctor
Exceptional circumstances
Where the eligibility criteria are not met but your clinician feels there are exceptional clinical reasons, cases can be referred to our Individual Funding Requests (IFR) panel for consideration.
Read our evidence based interventions policy to find out more about eligibility.
Fertility preservation
Fertility preservation usually involves the harvesting and freezing of eggs or sperm that may be thawed for use in future assisted conception treatment.
It can also involve the creation of embryos for freezing that may be implanted in the womb later.
Am I eligible for fertility preservation?
Fertility preservation is only available on the NHS to patients whose ongoing medical condition or treatment is causing, or is likely to cause, permanent harmful effects on sperm or egg production.
Read our evidence based interventions policy to find out more about eligibility.