This week, two BBC News investigations highlighted something many people navigating fertility treatment already know too well: where you live can determine whether you get a baby on the NHS.
The headlines were stark. NHS Kent and Medway has cut IVF access and lowered its age limit, reducing the number of funded cycles from two to one and dropping the upper age limit for women from 40 to 38, changes that came into effect on 1 April. In addition, a separate BBC investigation asked why so many people are given only one chance to have a baby via NHS IVF, far below the three cycles that NICE guidelines recommend.
These stories matter, and we want to make sure you have clear, accurate information about where you stand, and what you can do right now.
What's actually happening
NHS Kent and Medway's changes are significant, but they are not an isolated case. Together, they point to a much bigger problem across the UK.
NICE guidelines recommend that women under 40 who haven't conceived after two years of trying should be offered three full cycles of IVF on the NHS. Yet according to infertility charity Progress Educational Trust, only two of England's 42 Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) currently comply with that guidance. Every other ICB offers fewer cycles, and many, like Kent and Medway, now offer just one.
NHS commissioners are not legally required to follow NICE guidance. Local ICBs decide what they can fund within their own budgets, which is why access to NHS fertility treatment varies so dramatically from one postcode to the next. It is, as campaigners have called it for years, a postcode lottery, and for many families, it's getting worse.
"But I don't know if I'm even eligible"
That's exactly why we built our NHS IVF eligibility calculator.
NHS funding rules are complicated. Age limits, BMI thresholds, relationship status, whether either partner has children from a previous relationship, the criteria differ between every single ICB in England. What's true in one town may not be true 20 miles away.
Our calculator lets you check your eligibility by postcode in just a few minutes. It draws on publicly available ICB policy documents, which we review and update regularly, so you can get a clear picture of what NHS funding might look like for you, right where you live.
Check your NHS IVF eligibility here →
You can get tested without risking your NHS funding
This is one of the most important things we want you to know, and one of the most misunderstood.
Having fertility investigations does not jeopardise your NHS funding.
Getting tested, understanding your hormone levels, sperm quality, ovarian reserve, and any underlying conditions, is a completely separate pathway from treatment funding. It won't affect your eligibility for NHS-funded IVF if you meet the criteria later.
In fact, getting tested early is one of the most valuable things you can do. Many ICBs require evidence of a fertility diagnosis before they will fund treatment. Understanding your fertility picture now means you're better placed to move quickly if your circumstances or local funding policies change.
That's why we offer our Pre-Treatment Test and Consultation Bundle for just £575, everything you need to get a clear picture of your fertility in one straightforward package, with expert guidance from our clinical team on what the results mean for you and your next steps.
Find out more about our pre-treatment bundle →
If you're not eligible for NHS funding
We know how devastating it can feel to discover that your local ICB doesn't fund treatment, or that recent cuts have changed what you were previously entitled to. You are not alone, and there are still options.
At Care Fertility, we treat thousands of patients on the NHS every year, and we also support people who fund their own treatment. We'll never push you towards private care if NHS treatment is available to you. But if self-funded IVF is the right path, we can talk you through what that looks like honestly and without pressure.
It's also worth remembering: ICB policies can change. What's true today may not be true in six months. We'd encourage you to check back, talk to your GP, and use our eligibility calculator again if your situation or local policy has shifted.
Our commitment to you
We have been helping people build families for over 25 years. We know that behind every news story about NHS cuts are real people, couples, single parents, same-sex partners, for whom this isn't a policy debate. It's their life, and their chance of becoming a parent.
We will always be honest with you about what funding you may be entitled to, what your options are, and what your realistic chances look like. That's the least you deserve.
If you're unsure where to start, use our NHS eligibility calculator, it takes just a few minutes and could give you the clarity you need to take the next step.
Have questions about your fertility options? Get in touch with our team, we're here to help.