Why are NHS funded IVF cycles dropping?

Only 27% of IVF cycles in the UK were funded by the NHS in 2022, a significant decline from 40% in 2012. This means only one in four women was able to get NHS funded IVF treatment.

What is the NHS IVF postcode lottery?

In England, the funding criteria for IVF is set by the local Integrated care boards (ICBs), which have replaced the clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) since July 2022.

There are 42 ICBs in different areas of England, and your IVF funding depends upon the individual policy of the ICB in your area.

Interestingly, in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, it is decided by national criteria, but in England, whether or not you get IVF funding depends upon where you live.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) lays out clear guidelines of who they believe should be offered NHS IVF funding.

They suggest that:

• Women under 40 years should qualify for three rounds of IVF if they have been trying for two or more years
• 40–42-year-olds should qualify for one round

However, these NICE guidelines are often ignored by local ICBs. For IVF, they often include additional criteria to the NICE guidelines making it harder for the patients.

This includes:

• Neither partner having other children, from this or previous relationships
• Stricter age ranges
• Healthy BMI
• Non-smokers only

This decline in NHS funded IVF cycles is not only due to lower of funding but also attributed to the growing rate of infertility.

As more people seek financial support for IVF, the percentage of people who can actually get it lowers.