Staffordshire & Stoke-on-Trent’s proposed interim fertility policy the worst in UK

As well as offering the least possible amount of treatment for women aged 23-40:
Women aged 40-42 are excluded from the policy.
Single women are excluded – the policy states it is only for individuals ‘in a stable relationship’
Female same-sex couples have to pay for six IUI cycles within 12 months and, if they go on to access NHS-funded IVF, they then have to pay for donor sperm.
Male same-sex couples are excluded from this policy.
The policy also proposes that women over 35 will have to have an AMH test >3 before they can access NHS-funded fertility treatment.

Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent ICB covers the following areas:
Stoke-on-Trent – where fertility patients can currently access two partial IVF cycles (one fresh embryo transfer and one frozen embryo transfer)
North Staffs
Stafford and surrounds
Cannock Chase
East Staffs
South East Staffs & Seisdon Peninsula

National guidance from the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE) says women under 40 should be able to access three full IVF cycles (a full cycle is the transfer of a fresh embryo and all viable frozen embryos). Women aged 40-42 should be able to access one full IVF cycle.

If you are affected by this very poor fertility policy and are happy to share your story with the media, in order to help raise awareness of this situation, please email Catherine at media@fertilitynetworkuk.org with brief details of your situation and how to contact you.