Fertility doesn’t discriminate, but our healthcare system still does.
Until every person, no matter who they are or where they live, has a fair chance to build a family, our fight for fertility equality must go on.
- IVF Equality Now
Fertility Access UK
In May 2024 Fertility Action initiated a campaign to equalise access to fertility treatments, and remove the unfair IVF postcode lottery.
Katie (Founder) approached fellow Advocate Amber Izzo, and together they created a brand new campaign called Fertility Access UK - aimed to raise awareness, and initiate a campaign in Parliament to take action and change access to Fertility treatments.
- Inequality in Care
The IVF
Postcode Lottery
Currently in the UK less than 10% of Integrated Care Boards (ICB’s) offer the recommended three cycles of IVF, with many offering just one or none at all.
This leaves thousands of individuals and couples without the support they need to build their families, simply because of where they live.
“Infertility creates deeply emotional challenges, as well as physical.”
Infertility is not only a physical challenge but also a deeply emotional one, often accompanied by anxiety, depression, and feelings of isolation.
By addressing inequalities in access to IVF, we can alleviate some of this burden and give more people the chance to build the families they dream of.
- the differences
How Fertility Funding Differs Around The UK
Unlike England, the devolved nations of Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland have implemented more consistent and equitable policies for IVF funding*:
Scotland
Eligible patients can access up to three full cycles of NHS-funded IVF, following NICE guidelines.
Wales
Offers up to two cycles of IVF to those who meet the criteria, with fewer restrictions than in many parts of England.
Northern Ireland
Provides one full cycle of IVF, but with standardised access criteria across the region. These approaches demonstrate that more equitable systems are achievable, providing a blueprint for reform in England.
(*information updated May 2025)
- meaningful changes
What Are We Asking For?
Through our Fertility Access UK campaign, we are advocating for meaningful changes to create a fairer, more inclusive system for IVF provision across England:
- Equal Cycles:
Equal access to three full NHS-funded IVF cycles across England. This includes an egg retrieval, a fresh transfer, and all subsequent embryo transfers from each individual cycle.
- Equal Age Brackets:
Equal treatment access for patients aged 18-42 years, abolishing the inconsistency in eligibility due to age across the country.
- Couple-Centric:
Remove the limitation to couples where one or both partners have a child from a previous relationship, making access to IVF dependent on the couple and not their prior family circumstances.
- Male Factor Awareness:
Improve training, resources and education in primary and secondary care to better support patients in male reproductive health and fertility.
- Timely Diagnosis, Testing & Referrals:
Time is a critical factor in infertility. We would like to see a significant decrease in timings between primary and secondary care, but also in urological referrals, through improved education and preliminary testing at primary care.
- Supporting Every Journey
Our Commitment
We are committed to improving services and access for everyone when it comes to Fertility Treatment. In addition to the Fertility Access Campaign, we are proud to collaborate with Fertility Matters at Work on their campaign for the Workplace Bill, advocating for better support in the workplace.
We are also working alongside LGBT Mummies and several leading organisations involved in the Fertility Justice Campaign, who are striving to improve access to fertility care for the LGBTQIA+ community.
