Female same-sex couples will no longer have to face financial barriers to accessing NHS fertility treatment, in a landmark ruling.
Until now, female same-sex couples in England were forced to go through several rounds of expensive intrauterine insemination that cost some as much as £25,000, before being considered for NHS-funded IVF.
Opposite-sex couples must simply try to conceive for two years before they can receive funded IVF.
As part of its new Women’s Health Strategy, the government has announced that “there will no longer be a requirement for [female same-sex couples] to pay for artificial insemination to prove their fertility status”.
Now, NHS fertility treatment will begin with six rounds of funded IUI, before moving on to IVF if necessary.
The government has also vowed to end the “postcode lottery” for fertility treatment, experienced by heterosexual and LGBTQ+ people alike, by improving “transparency on provision and availability of IVF so prospective parents can see how their local area performs”.
Other measures in the strategy include an investment of £10 million into breast screening programmes, recognising parents who have lost a child before 24 weeks through the introduction of a pregnancy loss certificate in England, and improvements to specialist endometriosis services.
Nancy Kelley, CEO of Stonewall, said: “We are delighted that the UK government has listened to our call for fair and equal access to IVF treatment.
“For years, lesbians, bi women and trans people have been forced to pay for up to £25,000 of private healthcare before they can access IVF on the NHS, or face giving up their dream of becoming parents.
“This is a giant step towards a world where LGBTQ+ people have the same opportunity as everyone else to build a loving, thriving family of their own.”
Health and social care secretary Steve Barclay said: “Our health and care system only works if it works for everyone.
“It is not right that 51% of our population are disadvantaged in accessing the care they need, simply because of their sex.
“The publication of this strategy is a landmark moment in addressing entrenched inequalities and improving the health and wellbeing of women across the country.”
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However, barriers are still in place for other LBGT+ couples - with trans and non-binary people requiring fertility preservation treatment still facing a “postcode lottery” for funded treatment.
