IVF Private Treatment Vs IVF NHS Treatment

In vitro fertilization or IVF is a lifeline for many couples who have are having difficulty conceiving. For women with certain medical conditions, IVF is the only option for becoming pregnant. The downside of IVF is that it is expensive, and the results are not guaranteed. For women in the United Kingdom, the National Health Service (NHS) offers fully subsidized IVF treatments, but choosing NSH IVF can be risky. The standards of service vary across the country, and there is some evidence that it is less successful than private treatments.

• Not all IVF treatments are created equal.

Treatment Criteria

• Before you can get IVF treatment on the NHS, you need to meet certain criteria. First, neither parent-to-be should have any children, whether from this relationship or a previous one. You must have tried to conceive unsuccessfully for one year before visiting your doctor. If the root cause of your infertility has not been identified, than you must try conceiving for three years before being approved for IVF. You must be between 23 and 39 years old, and you may be required to lose weight, quit smoking or make other lifestyle changes to improve your general health before receiving treatment. Private clinics determine their own guidelines for who makes a good IVF candidate, but they tend to be far less stringent than NHS requirements.

Price

• IVF treatment on the NHS is free, though most candidates will have contributed to the NHS through taxes. According to the UK's Human Fertility and Embryology Authority (HFEA), prices for private clinics range from 4,000 GBP to 8,000 GBP.

Regional Differences

• Where you live can have a significant impact on the NHS IVF treatments you receive. In some places, candidates receive three IVF treatments from the NHS, while in other places, they only receive one. With a private clinic, you can receive as many treatments as you can afford and your doctor finds to be safe.

Success Rate

• A 2007 study by the BBC found that the NHS IVF success rate is lower than private clinics. According to BioNews, this disparity is likely in part due to the fact that private clinics can build IVF schedules, according to the best time for embryo implantation for each patient. The NHS has less flexibility and may not be able to harvest eggs and implant embryos at the right time.

Warnings

• If you decide to seek private IVF treatment, make sure the clinic you go with has a license from HFEA. You can verify this information on the HFEA website (see Resources). All NHS IVF clinics are HFEA approved.