Stonewall: 'Make access to IVF equal for LGBTQIA+ people'

Assisted reproductive technology, including in vitro fertilisation (IVF), has revolutionised the way we approach fertility and parenthood. For LGBTQIA+ couples, IVF can offer a path to building a family that might not have been possible otherwise.

While this seems like an overwhelmingly positive thing, there are unique challenges and considerations that members of the LGBTQIA+ community may face when accessing IVF, and this issue is at the forefront of Stonewalls latest IVF equality campaign.

To support IVF equality within the UK, click here

Here's what you need to know

One of the biggest challenges for LGBTQIA+ individuals and couples is finding a fertility clinic that is inclusive and welcoming. Many clinics have historically catered only to heterosexual couples and may not have experience or expertise in working with LGBTQIA+ patients. As a result, LGBTQIA+ individuals may feel uncomfortable or unwelcome in these settings, which can be a barrier to accessing IVF services.

Another challenge for LGBTQIA+ individuals and couples is the cost of IVF. IVF can be a prohibitively expensive process, and insurance coverage for fertility treatments varies widely. For those without insurance coverage, the cost of IVF can be a significant financial burden. This is particularly true for same-sex male couples, who may need to use a surrogate and egg donor in order to conceive a child through IVF, which can add to the overall cost of the process.

To support IVF equality within the UK, click here

Stonewall's 2023 campaign

The UK Government’s 2022 Women’s Health Strategy pledged to remove additional financial barriers to In-Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) for female same-sex couples in England. This included the requirement to pay for artificial insemination (Intrauterine insemination or IUI) to prove fertility status before accessing IVF services.

However, many regional Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) in England still require female same-sex couples to self-fund at least six cycles of IUI before they are eligible for NHS IVF treatment. Others even require up to 12 cycles of self-funded artificial insemination – this is far beyond what is recommended in guidelines provided by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).

With intra-uterine insemination (IUI) costing between £350-£1,600 per cycle at a private clinic, a couple who needed to fund twelve IUI cycles and associated medical fees could have to spend up to £25,000 before being eligible for NHS care. For many in England, this cost is impossible to afford.

This lack of equitable access to NHS funding for IVF means that conceiving children isn’t an option for lots of people in our communities. With many cis, straight couples qualifying for IVF on the NHS if they have not become pregnant after two years of unprotected sex – at no additional financial cost – this is just another way in which LGBTQI+ individuals are discriminated against in society. Policies around IVF particularly impact bi women, lesbians, and some trans people. You can read more about the unequal burden of proof on LGBTQIA+ couples in this article.

To support IVF equality within the UK, click here