The following criteria are set by Health Commission Wales.
In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) or Intra Cytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI)
- The cycle of treatment should start before the female patient’s 40th birthday.
- The upper age limit of the female patient, at time of referral to the tertiary service, should be no more than 38 years and6 months.
- Three or more self funded IVF cycles by the female patient will exclude any further NHS IVF treatment.
- Any previous completed cycles of NHS IVF treatment by the female patient will exclude further NHS IVF treatment.
- Sub fertility must be demonstrated before there can be access to NHS funded IVF treatment. Sub fertility for heterosexual couples is defined as inability to conceive after 2 years unprotected intercourse or fertility problem demonstrated at investigation Subfertility for same sex couples/single women is defined as no live birth following insemination at or just prior to the known time of ovulation on at least ten non-stimulated cycles or fertility problem demonstrated at investigation.
- For couples – there are no children (biological or adopted) living with the couple and one of the partners has never had a biological or adopted child. For single women – that the woman has never had a biological or adopted child.
- Subfertility is not the result of a s
- The couple/single women must have a body mass index of between at least 19 and up to and including 30. Couples/single women outside this range will be added to the waiting list but must have achieved this range at time of treatment
- Where either of the couple/single women smokes – Only couples/single women who agree to take part in a supported programme of smoking cessation will be accepted on the IVF treatment waiting list and must be non-smoking at time of treatment.
- Patients not conforming to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) Code of Practice will be excluded from having access to NHS funded assisted fertility treatment.
Intrauterine insemination (IUI) *
- Age and criteria for childlessness will depend on where you reside
- 3 cycles are offered
- Waiting time is approximately 6-12 months but may vary
- Post code in
Donor insemination (DIUI) is offered to:
- Women whose partner has a genetic or no sperm available for treatment
- Women in a same sex relationship who have demonstrated infertility
- Single women who have demonstrated infertility.
- All these women should be 40 or less and have patent fallopian tubes and hormones within normal limits
- Waiting time may depend on donor availability
* NB The Health service in Wales
BMI/SMOKING
The Welsh Health Specialised Services Committee (WHSSC) set the eligibility criteria for NHS assisted reproduction treatments. WHSSC indicates that:
- the couple / single women must have a body mass index of between at least 19 and up to and including 30. Couples / single women outside this range will be added to the waiting list but must have achieved this range at time of treatment
- where either of the couple / single women smoke, only couples / single women who agree to take part in a supported programme of smoking cessation will be accepted on the IVF treatment waiting list and must be non-smoking at time of treatment
The rationale for these criteria was based on research-based evidence provided by the All Wales Assisted Fertility Working Group which is made up of Consultants, Scientists and other members of the infertility field.
