In 2013, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) published new guidelines about who should have access to IVF treatment on the NHS in England and Wales.
Who IVF Suitable For?
According to the guidelines, women aged under 40 should be offered three cycles of IVF treatment on the NHS if:
you have been trying to get pregnant through regular unprotected intercourse for two years, or you have not been able to get pregnant after 12 cycles of artificial insemination.
However, if tests show IVF is the only treatment likely to help you get pregnant, you should be referred for IVF straight away.
According to the guidelines, women aged under 40 should be offered three cycles of IVF treatment on the NHS if:
you have been trying to get pregnant through regular unprotected intercourse for two years, or you have not been able to get pregnant after 12 cycles of artificial insemination
However, if tests show IVF is the only treatment likely to help you get pregnant, you should be referred for IVF straight away.
If you turn 40 during treatment, the current cycle will be completed, but further cycles should not be offered.
The guidelines also say women aged between 40 and 42 should be offered one cycle of IVF on the NHS if all of the following four criteria are met:
- you have been trying to get pregnant through regular unprotected intercourse for two years, or you have not been able to get pregnant after 12 cycles of artificial insemination
- you have never had IVF treatment before you show no evidence of low ovarian reserve (this is when eggs in the ovary are low
in number or low in quality) - you show no evidence of low ovarian reserve (this is when eggs in the ovary are low in number or low in quality)
- you have been informed of the additional implications of IVF and pregnancy at this age
Again, if tests show IVF is the only treatment likely to help you get pregnant, you should be referred for IVF straight away.
Read information about getting started with IVF.
Success Rate Of IVF?The success rate of IVF depends on the age of the woman undergoing treatment and the cause of infertility (if it's known). Younger women are more likely to have healthier eggs, which increases the chances of success.
IVF isn't usually recommended for women above the age of 42 because the chances of a successful pregnancy are thought to be
too low.
In 2010, the percentage of IVF treatments that resulted in a live birth (the success rate) was:
32.2% for women under 35
27.7% for women aged 35-37
20.8% for women aged 38-39
13.6% for women aged 40-42
5% for women aged 43-44
1.9% for women aged over 44
Source: NHS