IVF changes to tighten up smoking and vaping rules

Marc Waddington
BBC News, Liverpool
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Changes are planned that will affect who is eligible for IVF treatment across Merseyside and Cheshire

Male partners in couples who want NHS-funded fertility treatment could be banned from taking part if they smoke or vape.

Planned changes across Merseyside and Cheshire that aim to equalise eligibility for IVF treatment would see rules around tobacco use made stricter in Liverpool.

Currently, only the female partner in heterosexual couples seeking IVF has to be smoke-free, but if the changes go ahead, men in Halton, Knowsley, Liverpool, Sefton and St Helens will also need to quit.

"This is because of the impact of treatment outcomes, and the increased risk of complications in pregnancy," a report put before health chiefs in Liverpool said.

The rules on smoking already exist in other parts of the region, but a number of other changes under the plans will have an impact on couples in different boroughs.

Currently, depending on where people live, they are eligible for between one and three rounds of IVF.

But women aged between 40 and 42 across all boroughs are only allowed one round.

If the changes are made, only one NHS-funded round will be available for anyone up to the age of 42.

Couples with children

There would also be other significant changes in specific parts of the region relating to couples who already have children, and men who are overweight.

Couples registered with GPs in parts of Cheshire East and Cheshire West are currently not exempt from IVF if either partner has living children, but this will change to fall in line with other parts of the region.

And in Wirral, men will no longer have to have a maximum body mass index (BMI) if they are to be allowed to take part.

The current rules in the borough are that both men and women should have a BMI of between 19 and 29.9 to begin treatment.

But this will change so that men will only be "advised" to lose weight… to improve their chances of conceiving".

"This would not necessarily be a barrier to the couple accessing NHS fertility treatment," a report on the consultation said.

"The NHS faces significant financial challenges, necessitating careful balancing of population needs, clinical risk and commissioning decisions to address health inequalities," the report added.

It said the aim of the changes was to "prioritise the most pressing needs of the population, [to recognise] the potential for increased demand in areas like mental health, urgent care and community services, whilst addressing unwarranted variation and the need for a consistent offer".

About 734 first rounds of IVF treatment are given each year on Merseyside and in Cheshire.

The consultation, which comes amid nationwide changes to IVF eligibility, is due to end on 15 July.

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