Guidance

NHS-funded in vitro fertilisation (IVF) in England

Updated 11 September 2025

Applies to England

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nhs-funded-ivf-in-england/nhs-funded-in-vitro-fertilisation-ivf-in-england

Introduction

Funding decisions for health services in England are made by integrated care boards (ICBs) and are based on the clinical needs of their local population. We expect these organisations to commission fertility services in line with National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines for assessment and treatment of fertility problems, ensuring equal access to fertility treatment across England.

As part of the Women’s Health Strategy for England, we committed to greater transparency of the provision of IVF services across the country.

The tables below show data taken from published ICB commissioning policies and indicate how many IVF cycles are funded by the NHS in each area of England. Not all ICBs have published their policies. For some ICBs, we have used previous clinical commissioning group (CCG) policies, if available.

You can find information about IVF and fertility on the NHS website:

Find information about IVF and clinics from the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority, the UK government fertility regulator.

Fertility Network UK provides information and support for anyone affected by fertility issues

Updates

The information on this page was accurate as at 11 September 2025. You should always refer to the individual ICB policy for the most up-to-date information.

If you’re an ICB, let us know your policy has been published or updated.

ICB commissioning policies for NHS-funded IVF in England

The tables below show the data taken from published ICB commissioning policies and indicate how many IVF cycles are funded by the NHS in each area of England.

Where an ICB policy is not available and is currently being reviewed, this is indicated in the tables.

The following ICB policies are not available:

  • Cheshire and Merseyside
  • Greater Manchester
  • Humber and North Yorkshire
  • Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland

If the information for your area is missing, contact your ICB for the latest commissioning information. Visit the NHS website to find your local ICB

NHS-funded treatment and access requirements

The information in the tables below shows the access criteria for IVF treatment that are most often reported as having variation across England. Some details, such as a full cycle, are recommended by NICE fertility guidelines. Other criteria, such as parental status, are additional access criteria that are applied by individual ICBs.

We have chosen not to include some criteria, such as body mass index, as this is largely consistent across all ICB policies. Most ICBs require:

  • referrals to fertility treatment to have followed 2 years of regular unprotected intercourse (in the absence of any known cause of infertility) for heterosexual couples, or following 6 rounds of artificial insemination for female same-sex couples
  • a body mass index (BMI) of between 19 and 30 for the woman conceiving
  • both partners to be non-smokers

You should always refer to your ICB’s full commissioning policy for the most up-to-date and complete information on access criteria.

Number of cycles and age

A ‘full cycle’ is a term used by NICE to define a full cycle of IVF treatment, which should include 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.

Where we refer to a ‘non-full’ cycle in the table below, this means that an ICB does not meet the NICE guideline definition of a full cycle.

If a full cycle is not offered, any additional viable embryos from the retrieval stage can still be frozen and used in further treatment. Some commissioning policies may include additional frozen embryo transfers in a cycle, but with a maximum limit (for example, they refer to a ‘full cycle’ as one fresh transfer and up to 2 frozen transfers). You should refer to your ICB’s full commissioning policy document for further information on what they define as a cycle of IVF.

Age refers to the age of the person trying to conceive and the age shown is the criteria for the maximum number of cycles. Some commissioning policies offer one cycle for people aged between 40 and 42 (if they do not offer the maximum number of cycles available to people in this age group).

Parental status

Some ICBs 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.

Cryopreservation

Cryopreservation refers to the frozen storage of any viable embryos remaining after the fresh embryo transfer. This does not refer to the storage of gametes for other reasons. However, this may be funded and you should refer to the ICB’s full commissioning policy for more details. You will still be able to store embryos beyond the funded limit, but you would be required to pay for the storage yourself.

Female same-sex couples

Table 2 shows additional access requirements for female same-sex couples. Female same-sex couples, who are using artificial insemination to conceive, have been expected to undergo at least 6 rounds of self-funded intrauterine insemination (IUI) before accessing the NHS treatment pathway (that includes further rounds of IUI). Some ICBs may expect you to self-fund up to 12 rounds of artificial insemination. The text here indicates the criteria for accessing the ICB’s NHS-funded fertility treatment pathway.

Table 1: NHS-funded treatment and access requirements, by ICB

ICB Maximum number of IVF cycles funded and age Parental status Previous cycles Is cryopreservation funded?
Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire 1 (non-full) cycle for age 25-40 At least one person should have no children from current or previous relationships No more than 2 previous NHS or self-funded IVF cycles Yes, for a maximum of 2 years or 18 weeks prior to 40th birthday
Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes 1 (non-full) cycle for age 23-42 No children from current or previous relationships No previous NHS-funded IVF cycles and no more than 1 self-funded ICSI or IVF cycle Yes, for a maximum of 1 year
Birmingham and Solihull 1 (non-full) cycle for age 20-40 No children from current or previous relationships No previous NHS or self-funded IVF cycles Yes, for a maximum of 1 year
Black Country 1 (non-full) cycle for age up to 40 No children from current or previous relationships No previous NHS-funded or self-funded IVF or ICSI cycles Yes, for a maximum of 1 year
Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire 1 (non-full) cycle for age up to 40 No children from current or previous relationships No previous NHS-funded IVF cycles Yes, for a maximum of 1 year
Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West 1 (non-full) cycle for age up to 35 No children from current or previous relationships No previous NHS-funded IVF cycles and no more than 2 previous self-funded IVF cycles Yes, for a maximum of 3 years
Cambridgeshire and Peterborough 1 (non-full) cycle for age 23-42 No children from current or previous relationships No more than 2 previous NHS or self-funded IVF cycles No
Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly 1 (non-full) cycle for age up to 40 No children from current relationship and at least one person should have no children from previous relationships No previous NHS-funded IVF and no more than 2 previous self-funded IVF cycles Yes, for a maximum of 5 years or up to the age of 40, whichever is first
Cheshire and Merseyside Policy under review      
Coventry and Warwickshire 1 (non-full) cycle for age up to 40 No children from current or previous relationships No previous NHS-funded IVF cycles and no more than 2 previous self-funded IVF cycles Yes, for a maximum of 1 year
Derby and Derbyshire 1 full cycle for age up to 42 No children from current or previous relationships No more than 2 previous self-funded IVF cycles Yes, for a maximum of 3 years
Devon 1 (non-full) cycle for age up to 40 No children from current relationship and at least one person should have no children from previous relationships No more than 2 previous NHS-funded or self-funded IVF cycles Yes, for a maximum of 1 year
Dorset 1 (non-full) cycle for age up to 42 No children from current relationship and at least one person should have no children from previous relationships No more than 1 previous NHS-funded IVF cycle Yes, for a maximum of 1 year
Frimley 1 (non-full) cycle for age up to 35 No children from current or previous relationships No previous NHS-funded IVF cycles and no more than 2 previous self-funded IVF cycles Yes, for a maximum of 3 years
Gloucestershire 2 (non-full) cycles for age 18-39 No children from current or previous relationships No more than 1 previous NHS or self-funded IVF embryo transfer Yes, for a maximum of 1 year
Greater Manchester Policy under review      
Hampshire and Isle of Wight 1 (non-full) cycle for age up to 35 No children from current or previous relationships No previous NHS-funded IVF cycles or ICSI Yes, for a maximum of 3 years
Herefordshire and Worcestershire 1 (non-full) cycle for age 18-39 No children from current or previous relationships No previous NHS-funded or self-funded IVF or ICSI cycles No
Hertfordshire and West Essex 1 (non-full) cycle for age 23-42 No children from current or previous relationships No previous NHS or self-funded IVF cycles Yes, for a maximum of 1 year
Humber and North Yorkshire Policy under review      
Kent and Medway 2 (non-full) cycles for age up to 40 No children from current or previous relationships No more than 2 previous NHS or self-funded IVF cycles Yes, for a maximum of 2 years
Lancashire and South Cumbria 1 full cycle for age 18-42 No children from current or previous relationships No previous IVF cycles with current partner Yes, for a maximum of 2 years
Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Policy under review      
Lincolnshire 1 full cycle for age up to 40 No children from current or previous relationships No more than 2 previous self-funded IVF cycles Yes, for a maximum of 3 years
Mid and South Essex 2 (non-full) cycles for age 23-39

1 (non-full) cycle for age 40-42		 No children from current or previous relationships Any previous IVF cycles count towards number offered Yes, for a maximum of 3 years
Norfolk and Waveney 2 (non-full) cycles for age 23-39

1 (non-full) cycle for age 40-42		 No children from current or previous relationships Any previous IVF cycles count towards number offered Yes, for a maximum of 1 year
North Central London 3 (non-full) cycles for age up to 40

1 (non-full) cycle for age 40-42		 At least one person should have no children from current or previous relationships No more than 2 previous fresh NHS or self-funded IVF cycles Yes, for a maximum of 2 years
Northamptonshire 1 full cycle for age up to 42 No children from current or previous relationships No more than 2 previous self-funded IVF cycles Yes, for a maximum of 3 years
North East and North Cumbria 3 full cycles for age up to 40

1 full cycle for age 40-42		 No children from current or previous relationships Any previous IVF cycles count towards number offered Yes, up to the age of 42
North East London 3 full cycles for age up to 40

1 full cycle for age 40-42		 At least one person should have no children from current or previous relationships Any previous IVF cycles count towards number offered Yes, for a maximum of 2 years
North West London 1 (non-full) cycle for age up to 40 No children from current or previous relationships No previous NHS IVF cycles or no more than 2 previous self-funded IVF cycles Yes, for a maximum of 1 year
Nottingham and Nottinghamshire 1 full cycle for age up to 42 No children from current or previous relationships No more than 2 previous self-funded IVF cycles Yes, for a maximum of 3 years
Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin 1 full cycle for age 18-40 No children from current or previous relationships No previous NHS or self-funded IVF cycles Yes, for a maximum of 1 year
Somerset 1 (non-full) cycle for age 23-40 No children from current or previous relationships No previous NHS-funded IVF cycles in current relationship Yes, for a maximum of 1 year
South East London 2 full cycles for age 23-39

1 full cycle for age 40-42		 No children from current or previous relationships Any previous IVF cycles count towards number offered Yes, for a maximum of 2 years
South West London 1 (non-full) cycle for age 18-42 No children from current relationship and at least one person should have no children from previous relationships No more than 1 previous NHS-funded or self-funded IVF cycle Yes, for a maximum of 1 year
South Yorkshire 2 full cycles for age 18-42 No children from current or previous relationships Any previous IVF cycles count towards number offered Yes, for a maximum of 3 years
Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent 1 (non-full) cycle for age 23-39 No children from current or previous relationships No more than 2 previous self-funded IVF cycles and no previous NHS-funded IVF cycles Yes, for a maximum of 3 years
Suffolk and North East Essex 2 (non-full) cycles for age 23-39

1 (non-full) cycle for age 40-42		 No children from current or previous relationships No more than 2 previous NHS or self-funded IVF cycles Yes, for a maximum of 1 year
Surrey Heartlands 2 (non-full) cycles for age up to 40 No children from current or previous relationships Any previous NHS-funded IVF cycles count towards number offered Yes, for a maximum of 2 years
Sussex 1 (non-full) cycle for age up to 42 No children from current relationship No previous NHS or self-funded IVF cycles Yes, for a maximum of 5 years
West Yorkshire 1 full cycle for age 18-42 No children from current or previous relationships Any previous IVF cycles count towards number offered Yes, for a maximum of 3 years

Table 2: access requirements for female same-sex couples, by ICB

ICB Number of artificial insemination cycles required
Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire 10 cycles of self-funded artificial insemination, 4 of which should be IUI
Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes 6 cycles of self-funded artificial insemination
Birmingham and Solihull 6 cycles of self-funded artificial insemination
Black Country 6 cycles of self-funded artificial insemination
Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire 6 cycles of self-funded artificial insemination
Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West 12 cycles of self-funded artificial insemination, 6 of which should be IUI
Cambridgeshire and Peterborough 12 cycles of self-funded artificial insemination
Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly 12 cycles of self-funded artificial insemination, 6 of which should be IUI
Cheshire and Merseyside Policy under review
Coventry and Warwickshire 6 cycles of self-funded artificial insemination
Derby and Derbyshire 6 cycles of self-funded artificial insemination
Devon 6 cycles of self-funded artificial insemination
Dorset 6 cycles of self-funded artificial insemination
Frimley 12 cycles of self-funded artificial insemination, 6 of which should be IUI
Gloucestershire 6 cycles of self-funded artificial insemination
Greater Manchester Policy under review
Hampshire and Isle of Wight 12 cycles of self-funded artificial insemination
Herefordshire and Worcestershire 6 cycles of self-funded artificial insemination
Hertfordshire and West Essex 6 cycles of self-funded artificial insemination
Humber and North Yorkshire Policy under review
Kent and Medway 6 cycles of self-funded artificial insemination
Lancashire and South Cumbria 12 cycles of self-funded artificial insemination
Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Policy under review
Lincolnshire Unknown (individual CCG policies apply)
Mid and South Essex 6 cycles of self-funded artificial insemination
Norfolk and Waveney 6 cycles of self-funded artificial insemination
North Central London 6 cycles of self-funded artificial insemination
Northamptonshire Evidence of subfertility as per local CCG policy
North East and North Cumbria 6 cycles of self-funded artificial insemination
North East London 6 cycles (3 cycles for women aged over 36) of self-funded artificial insemination
North West London 12 cycles of self-funded artificial insemination, 6 of which should be IUI
Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Evidence of subfertility as per local CCG policy
Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin 6 cycles of self-funded artificial insemination
Somerset 6 cycles of NHS-funded artificial insemination
South East London 6 cycles (3 cycles for women aged over 36) of self-funded artificial insemination
South West London 12 cycles of self-funded artificial insemination
South Yorkshire 6 cycles of NHS-funded artificial insemination
Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent 6 cycles of self-funded artificial insemination
Suffolk and North East Essex 6 cycles of self-funded artificial insemination
Surrey Heartlands 6 cycles of NHS-funded artificial insemination
Sussex 6 cycles of self-funded artificial insemination
West Yorkshire 6 cycles of NHS-funded artificial insemination

Some of the links provided do not link directly to the policy document and require finding the document within a list of documents by clicking through drop-down lists or several pages. Usually the policy document titles include ‘assisted conception’, ‘fertility services’, ‘IVF’ or ‘infertility’. Sometimes they may be included as part of big documents that cover all clinical commissioning policies, and titles may include ‘treatment access policy’, ‘clinical policies’ or similar.

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