NHS services while going private

[happypupp]

Hi all - not sure if my question will make sense but I'll try - 3 years ago I was 39 and going through infertility investigations via NHS. After a round of blood tests and ultrasound they were quick to give me the diagnosis of "unexplained subfertility" and recommend IVF: self-funded, because I was told that they only fund IVF up to 35. At the time we weren't comfortable with the idea of IVF and decided to try to conceive naturally a little longer, then covid situations discouraged us from using any kinds of healthcare institutions altogether until last year. So I'm 42, almost 43, now freaking out and looking into IVF.

Are we not able to use NHS for anything at all once you're paying fertility treatments from your pocket?

We're writing to the fertility team who gave us the recommendation 3 years ago to press for some form of support, we aren't holding our hopes too high but if you don't ask you don't get... if there is any obvious points we should raise with them, we'd appreciate suggestions.

NICE guidelines say NHS should offer 3 cycles for women under 40, 1 full cycle for 40-42 who meet the criteria of IVF, which we are even falling outside of. We do understand that local NHS trusts aren't obliged to follow this, but it feels so unfair.

[Lowamh]

The funding is a lottery. If you’re considering IVF or other fertility treatment I’d recommend you book a private consultation as soon as possible. The NHS isn’t known for speed and that is what you need right now

[Positivechangeplease]

it all depends on the boroughs ccgs. It’s dependent on where you live/where the hospital you’re referred to is. I happen to know lambeth had a cut off of 40 but when I moved to Merton (prior to being accepted for ivf in lambeth) I checked out their ccgs and theirs is 42 - you’d have to be super quick to get in before you turn 43 but it seems finding a hospital that will accept you at 42 might be your only hope for nhs funding

[Blueberryshrub]

I am going through the same thing. I started infertility investigations at the time when the lockdowns started (was 38) but everything was put on hold because of covid. By the time all restrictions finished, I turned 40 and was told I am no longer eligible for IVF on NHS. But it took 8 months for the fertility clinic to tell me that and I am nearly 41 now. I and my GP appealed but CCG declined it again. NICE guidelines are ‘only’ guidelines and dont need to be respected by CCGs. Please check your local CCG but most CCGs only do IVF until the age of 39. Only a very few do IVFs until the age of 42 and you need to be a resident of this CCG for 12 months at least. I would have moved if there was no residency requirement.

[Ivfgotadream]

I have to be honest here as I do think sometimes that’s the best advice.

It was a gamble deciding to continue to try naturally. The CCG and the NHS guidelines are clear that the age cap in your area was 36 and nationwide max 42 which you are outside of. I really would advise not bothering with appeals and so on. Even if they offered some testing they won’t offer full cycles so you’ll only be saving yourself a couple of hundred pounds at most. You are better of just going straight to private clinics and not delaying

The reasons for this is the success rates over age 42/43 are not much better than trying naturally and I’d recommend reading up on the stats and being prepared that success rates are only in the region of 3% or so. Also very few clinics will agree to treat you with your own eggs at age 43+ . It’s not about IVF being a lottery in this case or even unfair - they have to have an age/success cap like any treatment the NHS offers

Im sorry if this isn’t what you want to hear but sometimes honesty is the kindest advice x

[Jokiekin11]

yeah it is a post code lottery unfortunately. If I were you I would just go privately ASAP. There are massive delays currently with the NHS and by the time they respond you will most likely be over 42 (cut off).

I wish you all the best x

[Tnthketnf]

My advice would be to go private and with open mind. The NHS funding is a great thing where it is available however it comes with very long waiting times and consequences. I think if we had gone private from the beginning my chances would have been much better . I was 36 when I was referred to the waiting list and nearly 38 when I started my first cycle. Now nearly 40 and still here.

Good luck