Information on new policy
In 2020, the clinical commissioning groups in Barnet, Camden, Enfield, Haringey and Islington joined to become the North Central London Integrated Care Board (NCL ICB). At this stage, each ICB had an individual fertility policy.
Following a review, development of a single NCL-wide policy and two periods of engagement, the NCL fertility policy has been approved by the NCL Strategy & Commissioning Committee. This new policy will mean that residents across NCL receive equitable access to specialist fertility treatment.
You can find more information about the development of the policy and engagement on NCL ICB's dedicated fertility services page.
Please note: Patients may be referred to any NHS-commissioned provider of assisted conception services of their choice.
Provider
Patients are now able to choose any NHS-commissioned provider to receive specialist fertility treatment. Below is the list of Trusts that patients across NCL have historically used:
*Please note that these trusts do not provide the full range of Assisted Conception Treatment (ACT) services.
NHS-commissioned providers includes private providers that have a contract with another NHS organisation. If patients would like advice as to which provider to be referred to, the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) website may be helpful.
Eligibility criteria (for IVF)
The below criteria is taken from the NCL ICB Fertility Policy. The full version can be viewed in Downloads.
Please note: The criteria below refers to eligibility for IVF; the patient may of course be referred in much sooner for investigations and medical/surgical treatment before IVF is needed.
Demonstrating infertility for eligibility for IVF
9.1 In order to be eligible for IVF, infertility must be demonstrated in one of the following ways:
- investigations show there is no chance of pregnancy with expectant management and IVF is the only effective treatment, OR
- patients have not conceived after either two years of regular unprotected intercourse OR 12 cycles of IUI.
Age of the woman or person trying to conceive
9.2 The woman or person trying to conceive who is receiving fertility treatment must be aged under 43 years. IVF medication must start with the provider before their 43rd birthday. Referrals should be made to fertility clinics allowing adequate time for work up.
9.3 If the woman or person trying to conceive reaches the age of 40 during treatment, the current full cycle will be completed but no further full cycles will be available. A full cycle of IVF treatment, with or without ICSI, should comprise one episode of ovarian stimulation and the transfer of resultant fresh and frozen embryo(s), in line with Section 1 of this document.
Previous IVF cycles for the woman or person trying to conceive
9.4 Treatment will not be funded for those aged under 40 years if three previous fresh cycles of IVF have been received, irrespective of how these were funded.
9.5 Treatment will not be funded for those aged 40-42 years if they have undergone any previous IVF treatment, irrespective of how this was funded.
9.6 One abandoned cycle (defined as a cycle where an egg collection procedure has not been undertaken) does not count towards the number of ‘previous’ IVF cycles.
Body mass index (BMI)
9.7 The woman or person undergoing treatment with the intention of trying to conceive must have a BMI within the range 19–30 kg/m2.
Smoking
9.8 Treatment will not be funded if the woman or person undergoing treatment with the intention of trying to conceive smokes .
9.9 Treatment will not be funded if the man or partner providing sperm for treatment smokes.
Ovarian reserve
9.10 There should not be evidence of low ovarian reserve, defined in this policy as more than one of the following:
- antral follicle count (AFC) of less than or equal to 4
- anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) of less than or equal to 5.4 pmol/l
- follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) greater than 8.9 IU/l
Previous children
9.11 Couples: At least one individual in a couple must not have a living child from their relationship or any previous relationship.
Single persons: Individuals should not have a living child.
9.12 Foster children are outside the scope of this criterion. ‘Child’ refers to a living son or daughter irrespective of their age or place of residence.
Previous sterilisation
9.13 Couples: Neither individual in a couple should have undergone sterilisation.
Single persons: Individuals should not have undergone sterilisation.
9.14 Criteria 9.13 still applies where sterilisation reversal has unsuccessfully been attempted.
For more eligibility information, see Downloads for the full policy and a criteria matrix.
