Hi Does anybody know what the cut off age is for IVF treatment either NHS or Private in the UK?

Thank you :)

They like to have started the first cycle by the time you are 39 and you get one free go, if your between 23-30 you get 3 free goes!!!

But it may also depend on your clinic and they will do it if you are over 39 you just have to undergo more tests (i htink) and they watch you more carefully.

Any more advise id be happy to help, had my final appointment yesterday to go on the ivf waiting list with the NHS , apparently its about 3-4months so its not as bad as i thought it was going to be.

How far ahead on fertility treatment are you?

Hi sammy, thanks for your reply.

I am actually 40 and a diabetic. I have one child already, but have a younger partner who has no children! we have been trying for a year now.

The reason I asked the question is that today I was told 35 was when they would stop giving ivf treatment on the nhs! I was shocked. I know I am 40, but I see this as my last chance, as things don't seem to be happening naturally!

You say they can still carry it out for 39 year olds, depending on what area you are in, do you know about the private age limit?

I notice that you are on the waiting list, and like you I am surprised that you will only have to wait a few months! I thought it would be something like a year of something, so that is a blessing for you. Have you any children at all? and how long had you been trying before going down the IVF route?

Thanks again for your help :)

No, i have no children at the moment but i will have one day.

The thing with the IVF is that you have to have been TTC for 3years before they will allow you to go through the procedure all though through a private hospital i am unsure as to how long you would have had to have been trying for.

It costs anything from £2,500 - £6,000 depending on where you have it done (this is what the NHS have told me and so it may be more with a private hospital.

Being diabetic and your age they may put you into the top category but again this is one to talk to your doctor about. Have you or dh had all the relevent tests yet as this is the first thing they will do, he will be the first one to under go the tests as it is less invasive for him and also cheaper for them, if he is ok themn they may carry procedures out on you.

I would deffinately advise discussing in depth everything with your doctor, keep me posted and good luck.

Hi Sammy thanks for your reply.

I know when I look at me being diabetic and 40 it seems crazy! but the problem is my partner is younger with no kids, so that is why I am ttc at such an advanced age.

I have spoken to my doctor, and they seem to think I should be fine with extra care regarding my diabetes. It just leaves the problem with my age.

I have been pregnant twice before with my last partner, and got pregnant first time both times, I never could of imagined then, what it would be like to have problems conceiving.

Have you had IVF yet, sorry I can't remember if you said? also how long have you been trying?

I notice you live in Gloustershire, we went camping there a couple of years ago, and cycled alot through all the farms and countryside etc, a lovely place to live.

Anyhow thanks for your help and good wishes

Hey brook, yeah, Gloucestershire is a nice place to live, lots of country and very relaxing which in our situation is just what we need ;)

I have been TTC for 28months now and this will be #1, i am on the waiting list and so we are expecting our first course of ivf around October time, depending on if i fall pg beforehand obviously, it would be a miracle though :eek:

I found the following site very useful, it tells you all you need to know about the NHS treatment and where to get help.

www.hfea.gov.uk - hope this helps :D

Hi brook, just wandering how you were getting on? :wave:

Hi,as far as I'm aware you can get IVF on the NHS up to the age of 40,but different health authorities offer only one or two cycles depending where you are, and if you meet their guidelines ie:my region only offers one cycle for a couple with no other children even by other partners.It is all so wrong that infertility treatment is so unfair and such a post-code lottery.
About me,I had one free IVF cycle on the NHS last October at age 40 which failed,and a 2nd cycle 4 mths ago was self funded at the same clinic,but I cancelled due to poor treatment there.It was a busy hectic place,and it felt like the patients there were like cattle being herded about,I found another patients information in my medical notes and was mistreated by a junior doctor. Thankfully,I have been able to put that ghastly experience behind me and got myself referred to a private clinic of my own choosing,my dh and I were treated like humanbeings,and learnt more in 1 hour there about our fertility problems than in the entire previous 5 years of treatment by the NHS.We found out our problems were not 'unexplained' afterall but in fact discovered there were serious male factor issues and that IVF/ ICSI was our only route to pregnancy.It took 5 years to learn this and only after we went privately.We are planning on another cycle in September,as doing a 3 month detox to improve our chances,ie:no alcohol,no caffeine,dh to stop smoking(very hard for him) lots of water,vitamins galore etc! I will also have acupuncture nearer the time of IVF as it is thought to increase blood flow to the uterus which aids fertilisation.I did start acupuncture with the last cycle and also found it very rejuvinating.
Phew!Sorry my post so long,hope you are lucky and get a good clinic on the NHS,there must be good ones out there.Fingers crossed!

~Kay

Kay - where are you in the uk?

In Gloucester they are thinking of stopping the 1st ivf treatment free because they have over spent by 40million and need to put cuts somewhere :( So i may not even get my 1st treatment free, i wander if they take credit cards because we just dont have that kind of money floating around!

Good luck.

Oh,so sorry to hear that Sammie! That infertility treatment is now almost only entitled to the rich, and the childless in the UK now have to get into debt or never have the chance to have a baby is appalling. I am certainly not rich,I'm a nurse on average pay, but have some savings to use for my IVF,which means I could be left with nothing in more ways than one,if it doesn't work.Its a bitter pill to take.
As if infertility isn't bad enough to have to contend with without the unfairness of the NHS. :mad:
I am from Essex and plans for a new hospital where I live have been axed for 2 years due to the overspend.It wouldnt surprise me if the one free IVF cycle soon goes the same way too.
I do hope you get your free go! Every childless woman should be entitled to that at the very least,we work and we pay our taxes don't we?!!
Good luck.

~Kay

Brook65 - how you getting on hun?

Hi SammieP, I noticed that you too live in Gloustershire and was wondering how long you have been in the "NHS" system? My DH and I have been TTC for over 2 years on the NHS and my consultant seems to want to keep me on Clomid for ever! Apparently, after 150mg of Clomid and metformin, that is it then I can move on. I have had quite a few tests HSG, ultrasounds, laproscopy but most of those have been done privately. I was just wondering if you area had some criteria, and what is was? Hope you don't mind me asking.

Hi, the whole process takes 3years, you have to have been trying that long before they will put you on the ivf waiting list.

I was on Clomid for 9months but it didnt work, i got up to 200mg (that was my last lot) and the we went to the specialist at Cheltenham General, we have had 2 meetings with her now and the last meeting she reffered us. We now have to have one last lot of blood tests done and were off. The process is a long one but im sure it will be worth the wait, they have very high sucess rates down here and my specialist is confident that we should catch 1st time but that is obviously not all ways the case so i am prepared to have 4 tries (thats probably all we could afford).

Keep in good contact with your specialist and ask them why they want you to stay on these drugs, there is obviously a valid reason for this.

Keep me posted as im only a couple of steps in front of you and so im happy to help and advise.

:D