"Same-sex couples and women aged up to 42 may soon be eligible for IVF treatment, according to new draft guidelines published today. The proposals were issued by the National Institute for health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) and featured prominently in the news, although they also include a range of recommendations not covered by the media." According to the NHS website.
"What do the new proposals say?
The updated draft guidelines released today for public consultation include the following key suggested changes:
- extending the upper age limit of women who can receive one cycle of IVF to 42 years old
- increasing the number of embryos implanted into the womb during a cycle of IVF
- excluding oral ovarian stimulation agents that have previously been recommended
- making new groups of the population eligible to receive fertility treatment
The draft proposals suggest making IVF available to a number of identified groups including same-sex couples."
According to Pinknews.co.uk,
"The recommendations, which puts same-sex couples on par with heterosexual couples when it comes to fertility treatment, is issued by the government watchdog for cost-effective treatment in the NHS, National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE).
Then new guidelines also call on health authorities in England and Wales to fund intra-uterine insemination (IUI), which uses donor sperms to help same-sex couples conceive. If IUI should fail for six cycles in a row, then, they should be considered for the more costly, and medically complex IVF, the guidelines will say."
The guidelines are open for consultation and more information including the full proposals and how to respond to the consultation are available on the NICE website. Individuals are not able to respond, however a representative of LGBT people will be collecting views to formally respond.
