New NHS guidelines on IVF treatment to extend age limit up to 42 - what do you think?

Totally disagree. It is noones right' or 'entitlement' to me a Mother or a Father.

Certainly not at the NHS expense.

Good news, all women should be entitled to a chance at being a mummy.

Anything that improves access to IVF has to be a good thing. Many women don't find the right man to have children with until their 30s, and after several years of trying that can put you into the late 30s/early 40s before referral to a fertility specialist, then there's all the other stuff they look at before considering IVF, and that's only if you qualify under your particular Trust's guidelines. The arbitary cut-off of 40 is unrealistic.

Luckily our GP is on the Birmingham/Worcestershire border. Birmingham don't pay for one round of IVF if one of the partners has previous children. Worcester do pay for one round if one of the partners has no children so we were lucky to get one free go. Unfortunately that didn't work, but each round of IVF is a learning process for the medics. We had to pay for the other two rounds, and round three was succesful.

There are so many flaws in the current system that really these changes make little odds.

They're only a guideline and don't 'have' to be followed.

Many PCT areas have such stringent criteria that they don't offer IVF to that many people in reality - case in point being my own.

I met all criteria. Stage 4 endo and PCOS. No children. Trying for 8 years with no success.

But DH has 2 children (then aged 20 and 21) from his previous marriage.

So we were rejected. I had no children. That didn't matter.

Good news :)

I am glad that the need for change has been recognised,

however it remains to be seen how this will actually work in practice with NHS budget restrictions, it will just end up in a worse 'postcode-lottery' for those who can and cannot.

Very exciting news - but no idea how it will be delivered.. current guidelines have been hit and miss and a total postcode lottery.
Having undergone 5 cycles of IVF myself at one point in my area (Bucks) I was on a waiting list and was too young, finally got up the waiting list and the guidelines had changed and I was too old!
Have many friends who have also undergone IVF and what we were being offered by PCT's in way of funded cycles was so varying dependent on where we lived.
Sorry bit of garbled (rushed) response, but it put huge smile on my face this morning when watching the news to hear it being proposed at least.
Very happy to discuss views on it further as I say, well 'experienced' in the subject!

I am strongly in favour of the changes. I haven't had fertility issues although had problems keeping a pregnancy and many early and late losses. It took us over a year with DC5 and was very tough. I can only imagine the heartbreak of infertility. I think of course they should be helped. 42 is not that old, I know many 'natural' pregnancies at that age. Arbitrary cut off at 40 was ridiculous.