The Health Service Executive (HSE) in Ireland has announced a new publicly-funded fertility treatment scheme that will cover the transfer and storage of all embryos resulting from one cycle of IVF
Under the scheme, a full publicly funded cycle of IVF will include ovarian stimulation, the transfer of fresh or frozen embryos, and the use of frozen embryos in future attempts. The State will also cover the cost of storing embryos for up to two years.
Eligibility criteria for the scheme include an age limit of 40 for women and 59 for men, and a BMI of no more than 30 for intending mothers-to-be. Couples who have previously had more than one round of IVF are excluded from the scheme.
The pathway to fertility treatment starts with a referral from a GP to a HSE Fertility Hub, and if tests and investigations are unsuccessful, the HSE will fund further treatment at selected private fertility clinics. The treatments covered by the scheme include intrauterine insemination (IUI), IVF, and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).
Same-sex couples, single people, and couples using donated eggs or sperm are not currently eligible for free treatment under the scheme. The new scheme aims to make fertility treatment more accessible and affordable for couples struggling to conceive.
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