Home > Hospitals And Services > Services A to Z > Assisted Conception Service > Referral Acceptance Criteria
Information for who is eligible for NHS Funded Treatment in Scotland
Eligible patients who are new referrals from 1st April 2017 may be offered up to three cycles of IVF/ICSI where there is a reasonable expectation of a live birth. Eligible Patients referred before the 1st April 2017 may be offered up to two cycles of IVF/ICSI where there is a reasonable expectation of a live birth.
Referral for treatment can only be made if all access criteria are fulfilled, as noted below. Should the first cycle of treatment be unsuccessful all access criteria must be met before a subsequent cycle can commence.
Definition of infertility for couples
- Infertility with an appropriate cause, of any duration
OR
- Unexplained infertility of two years – heterosexual couples
- Unexplained infertility following six cycles of donor insemination
Sterilisation
Neither partner to have undergone voluntary sterilisation or who have undertaken reversal of sterilisation.
Stable Relationship
Couples must have been cohabiting in a stable relationship for a minimum of two years.
Legal Parenthood
- Couples where only one partner has legal parenthood of a child (or a biological child) can access NHS funded treatment as long as all other access criteria are met in full.
- Same sex couples will not be eligible if they already have a child in the home and both have consented to legal parenthood of that child.
Lifestyle
There is a responsibility on patients to fulfil the following access criteria in the interests of the welfare of the child and the effectiveness of treatment. The clinic may conduct tests to ensure that patients adhere to these criteria and, in the event of a positive result, patients will be advised that treatment cannot be started.
Body Mass Index (BMI)
The female partner must have a BMI above 18.5 and below 30. Couples should be aware that a normal BMI is best for both partners.
Smoking
Smoking status must be assessed prior to referral for treatment.
Both partners must be non-smoking for at least three months before treatment and couples must continue to be non-smoking during treatment.
Alcohol and Drugs
- Both partners must abstain from illegal and abusive substances
- Both partners must be Methadone free for at least one year prior to treatment
- Neither partner should drink alcohol prior to or during the period of treatment
NHS Funding for IVF/ ICSI treatment
Definition of One Full Cycle of NHS Funded Treatment
One full cycle includes ovulation induction, egg retrieval, fertilisation, transfer of fresh embryos followed by the freezing of suitable embryos and the subsequent replacement of these, provided the couple still fulfil the access criteria. If suitable embryos are frozen these should be transferred before the next stimulated treatment cycle.
No individual (male or female) can access more than the number of NHS funded IVF treatment cycles supported by NHS Scotland under any circ*mstances, even if they are in a new relationship.
Number of Cycles initiated by the date of the female’s 40th Birthday
Up to three cycles of IVF/ICSI may be undertaken where there is a reasonable expectation of a live birth. Clinical judgement should be applied to determine this, using an assessment of ovarian reserve before the first cycle. If there has been no or a poor response to ovarian stimulation (<3 eggs retrieved) in the first cycle no further IVF/ICSI treatment will be funded.
Fresh treatment cycles must be initiated by the date of the female partner’s 40th birthday and all subsequent frozen embryo transfers must be completed before the woman’s 41st birthday.
Patients should not be placed at the end of the waiting list following an unsuccessful treatment cycle. There could be a gap of 6-11 months between fresh cycles of IVF for patients who remain eligible.
Number of Cycles if aged 40 to 42 years old
One cycle of treatment may be funded for couples if the female has never previously had IVF treatment, if there is no evidence of poor ovarian reserve and if in the treating clinician’s view it is in the patients’ interest.
Discussion regarding the additional implications of IVF and pregnancy at this age should be undertaken.
- Eligible patients must be screened before the female partners 42nd birthday.
- Eligible patients must have reached the top of the IVF waiting list (which should not exceed 12 months).
- Eligible patients should be consented and a cycle of treatment initiated before their 42nd birthday.
NHS Funding for Frozen Embryos
Should circ*mstances change and couples no longer meet the NHS eligibility criteria self funding for any future transfers will be required.
Number of Cycles For Those That Have Previously Self Funded
NHS funding may be given to those patients who have previously paid for IVF treatment, if in the treating clinician’s view, the individual clinical circ*mstances warrant further treatment.
Please also see Access Criteria for NHS Funded IVF Treatments– links below.
Reasons for not offering treatment
- BMI less than 18.5 or greater than 30
- smoking
- we are obliged by law to take into account the welfare of any child likely to be born after fertility treatment. In order to assess this, we may ask your permission to contact other professionals. There may be circ*mstances where treatment cannot be offered if concerns are raised with respect to the welfare of any child born as a result of treatment.
- certain complex medical issues where pregnancy would carry significant risks
- Same sex couples will not be eligible if they already have a child in the home and both have consented to legal parenthood of that child.
How is an ‘AMH’ test result used?
- an AMH test result is used to decide which treatment protocol to use
- a blood sample will be taken from you to measure the amount of a hormone called AMH
- the result of that test will help us decide which drug stimulation protocol is best for you during your treatment. Please note that your AMH test result will not be used to decide whether you are offered treatment or not
- a high AMH level raises the possibility that you may over-respond to your treatment (i.e. too many eggs will be produced), increasing the risk of ovarian hyper stimulation syndrome
- a low AMH level raises the possibility that you may respond poorly to your treatment, i.e. only a few eggs are produced
How to refer a patient
All patients should be referred by their GP or Doctor at their local hospital. We ask that a number of tests are performed before you are referred. For the female partner these are, an up to date smear (within the last 3 years), a vagin*l swab for Chlamydia, a progesterone check for ovulation and for the female to provide evidence of2 MMR immunisations (German measles). For the male partner this is at least one sperm count. Under certain circ*mstances 2 sperm counts may be required.
Once we have received the referral letter and the results from the investigations required, an appointment will be made for you to attend the ACS Unit to see a Doctor or a Nurse.
Referral to Glasgow Royal Infirmary ACS Unit – self funding patients (Glasgow Royal Fertility Clinic)
Patients may make an appointment to see Professor Nelson or Dr Lyall by contacting the administrator Ruth Simpson on 0141 201 0851. Please bring as much information with you as possible relating to any investigations you may have had performed or any treatment you may have had.
If appropriate, arrangements may be made for a blood test to assess Anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) and a sperm count prior to your appointment.
