The NHS has just released an updated report (3rd August 2023) showing funding decisions for IVF cycles, revealing huge disparities in access to NHS funded IVF treatment in each area of England. We decided to analyse 3 years worth of Government and HFEA data to reveal where in the UK has the most and least support for couples seeking IVF.
South East Sussex Named As Best Place in the UK to have IVF
The study analyses categories such as the quality and quantity of IVF treatment available, the amount of NHS funded treatments and the number of private clinics in each area, to create an index revealing the best and worst places in the UK to undergo IVF treatment. According to the new index, South East’s Sussex is the region offering the best IVF support to hetrosexual couples which includes 3 full cycles and a maximum of 5 years egg freezing, up to the age of 40. Couples with children are eligible as long as one of them doesn’t already have a child. It’s also an area with the one of the least amount of already funded NHS cycles, meaning you’re more likely to fastrack.
Same-sex couples and disparity in NHS-funding decisions
The study highlights a wider discrimination case around IVF, with many NHS-funded programmes requiring same-sex couples to have had 6-12 cycles of self-funded artificial insemination before they will be considered for any fertility support. Artificial insemination, or IUI, at a private clinic usually costs around £350-£1,600 per cycle, this means female same-sex couples could pay up to £25,000 before accessing NHS-funded IVF support. However, the same can’t be said for hetrosexual couples, with many areas stating guaranteed eligibility with no previous NHS cycles.
Increase in patients opting for private pathways
When looking at the data, we have found that many same-sex and single patients are now opting for the private pathway, with IVF in female same-sex relationships increasing by a third (33%), and the amount of single patients increasing by 44% in the last 3 years alone. Additionally, 65% of NHS-funded IVF treatment doesn’t include a full cycle – A ‘full cycle’ is a term used to define one episode of ovarian stimulation and the transfer of any resultant fresh and frozen embryos. A full cycle ends when either every available viable embryo has been transferred or one results in a pregnancy.
NHS Funding decisions are restrictive
According to the data, 61% will not fund IVF if either partner has any living children from the current or any previous relationships, regardless of their age or whether the child resides with them. This may also include any adopted children within current or previous relationships. The data also uncovers the decline in external donation support with sperm and egg donors decreasing by 15% in the last 3 years and the number of surrogates has declining by 7%.
With this data in mind, we have looked at the best and worst areas for those looking at IVF support.
New index reveals the UK’s best regions for IVF support
The study reveals Sussex, South Yorkshire and Kent and Medway are all in the top 3 for providing the best support for hetrosexual couples going through IVF, with each of these regions offering the highest number of full cycles, egg freezing and the lowest number of patients already gone through NHS-funding in those areas.
| Count | County | Region | Number of IVF cycles funded by NHS | Full cycle? | Age | Parental status | Is cryopreservation funded? (egg freezing) | NHS funded IVF totals (last 3 years) | Number of private clinics |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sussex | South East | 3 | Yes | Up to 40 | At least one person should have no children from current or previous relationships | Yes, for 5 years | 6,149 | 10 |
| 2 | South Yorkshire | Yorkshire and The Humber | 2 | Yes | 18-42 | No children from current or previous relationships | Yes, for 3 years | 3,251 | 4 |
| 3 | Kent and Medway | South East | 2 | No | Up to 40 | No children from current or previous relationships | Yes, for 10 years | 6,149 | 10 |
| 4 | North East London | London | 3 | Yes | Up to 40 | At least one person should have no children from current or previous relationships | Yes, for 2 years | 11,958 | 33 |
| 5 | Gloucestershire | South West | 2 | No | Up to 40 | No children from current or previous relationships | Yes, for 1 year | 3,299 | 7 |
There are the worst regions for same-sex IVF support
According to the data, the amount of same-sex couples opting for the private IVF pathway has increased by 33% since 2019. This could be due to the distinct lack of NHS-funded accessibility for same-sex couples looking to undertake IVF, and our analysis uncovers which regions same-sex female couples will have to pay £25,000 before eligible for NHS-funding. According to the data Cambridgeshire, Peterborough and Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly all require same-sex female couples to have undergone at least 12 cycles of self-funded artificial insemination before even qualifying for NHS support.
| Count | County | Region | Access requirement for female same-sex couples | Full cycle? | Is cryopreservation funded? (egg freezing) | NHS funded IVF totals (last 3 years) | Number of private clinics |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cambridgeshire and Peterborough | East of England | 12 cycles of self-funded artificial insemination | No | No | 2,041 | 6 |
| 2 | Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly | South West | 12 cycles of self-funded artificial insemination | No | 1 year | 3,299 | 7 |
| 3 | Hampshire and Isle of Wight | South East | 12 cycles of self-funded artificial insemination | No | 3 years | 6,149 | 10 |
| 4 | Gloucestershire | South West | 12 cycles of self-funded artificial insemination | No | 1 year | 3,299 | 7 |
| 5 | Suffolk and North East Essex | East of England | 12 cycles of self-funded artificial insemination | No | No | 2,041 | 6 |
The worst regions if you’re going through IVF
Looking at the regions that provide the least support for hetrosexual couples going through, or wanting to undertake IVF, Postpartum Plan identifies Cambridgeshire and Peterborough as offering the least amount of cycles, no egg freezing and the smallest number of private clinics available.
| Count | County | Region | Number of IVF cycles funded by NHS | Full cycle? | Age | Parental status | Is cryopreservation funded? (egg freezing) | NHS funded IVF totals (last 3 years) | Number of private clinics |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cambridgeshire and Peterborough | East of England | 1 | No | 23-42 | No children from current or previous relationships | No | 2,041 | 6 |
| 2 | Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes | South East | 1 | No | 23-42 | No children from current or previous relationships | No | 6,149 | 10 |
| 3 | North West London | London | 1 | No | Up to 40 | No children from current or previous relationships | No | 11,958 | 33 |
| 4 | Herefordshire and Worcestershire | West Midlands | 1 | No | 18-39 | No children from current or previous relationships | No | 3,852 | 9 |
| 5 | Somerset | South West | 1 | No | 23-40 | No children from current or previous relationships | No | 3,299 | 10 |
With NHS IVF funding declining by 16% nationally in the last 3 years, and more people opting to go down the privatised healthcare route to debunk long waiting times and other restrictions, there needs to be a shift in the way we look at fertility.
Sources:
- https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nhs-funded-ivf-in-england/nhs-funded-in-vitro-fertilisation-ivf-in-england
- https://www.hfea.gov.uk/about-us/publications/research-and-data/fertility-treatment-2021-preliminary-trends-and-figures/
- https://www.hfea.gov.uk/choose-a-clinic/clinic-search/results/?location=leeds&distance=25
