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NHS IVF in the UK, who qualifies, and what the postcode lottery really means
Reviewed by HHH Clinical Team · April 2026
3 sections · 1 min read
Fertility & Treatment
1 minHHH clinical team
WHAT ARE THE NATIONAL RULES FOR NHS IVF ELIGIBILITY?
What are the national rules for NHS IVF eligibility?
WHAT ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA DO MOST NHS IVF PROGRAMMES USE?
What eligibility criteria do most NHS IVF programmes use?
Most ICBs require: age range (often under 40 or 42), within a set range (commonly 19–30), non-smoking, no existing children in the current or previous relationship (for either partner), and a minimum time trying. South Asian women with close to threshold can be particularly affected, a few points push eligibility one way or the other.
WHAT SHOULD YOU CHECK TO FIND OUT IF YOU QUALIFY FOR NHS IVF?
What should you check to find out if you qualify for NHS IVF?
Private in the UK typically costs £3,500–£7,000 per cycle plus medications. Overseas options (Spain, Greece, Cyprus) often cost less, but add travel, logistics, and aftercare complexity.
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Reviewed by clinicians
Authored and reviewed by clinicians from the founding team. Information only, not personalised medical advice.