IVF Age Limit Increased

2 July 2013, 11:53 | Updated: 2 July 2013, 12:03

Women in Milton Keynes, struggling to get pregnant, can now get IVF on the NHS up to the age of 39.

Changes mean the window when you are eligible for IVF treatment on the NHS has been expanded. Previously it was only open to women aged between 30 and 34 who had tried unsuccessfully to conceive a baby naturally.

IVF will now be available on the NHS to women in Milton Keynes aged between 23 and 39.

The changes bring Milton Keynes into line with neighbouring areas, and the guidance put forward by the health watchdog the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE).

Dr Nicola Smith, Chair of NHS Milton Keynes CCG and a local GP said: ““We wanted to be fair to couples receiving fertility treatment.

"The service will be in line with other local areas to avoid postcode lottery situations as much as possible. The Clinical Commissioning will continue to restrict access to IVF due to the current financial climate however the changes to the policy will result in more couples having successful treatment."

In vitro fertilisation (IVF) is one of several techniques available to help couples with fertility problems to have a baby. During IVF, an egg is surgically removed from the woman's ovaries and fertilised with sperm in a laboratory. The fertilised egg, now called an embryo, is then returned to the woman's womb to grow and develop.