The Ovary Dialogues

Biology, not bureaucracy, might soon determine a British citizen’s right to free IVF treatment at the National Health Service.

Biology, not bureaucracy, might soon determine a British citizen’s right to free IVF treatment at the National Health Service. Presently, women above age 40 cannot receive free help with assisted reproduction. 

However, fertility experts argue that this limit should actually be based on a woman’s ovarian reserve. This means women above 40 with rich ovarian reserves could be granted three free IVF cycles, while women aged 23–39 could be denied free treatment if found to have unsuitable eggs. Will The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence re-consider the age limits? Watch this space for more.

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