NHS told: give trans patients equal access to fertility service

[miri1985]

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/aug/04/nhs-trans-patients-equal-access-fertility-services

Anyone betting the EHRC don't take the same action to force the NHS to give women access to laser or electrolysis brought on by PCOS or menopause

This website shows how patchy the access to fertility treatment is on the NHS nationwide - different CCGs have entirely different policies, and more and more are withdrawing funding completely. I suspect there will be no funding for IVF on the NHS within a few years, and I wouldn't be surprised if this latest challenge accelerated that

www.fertilityfairness.co.uk

I suspect there will be no funding for IVF on the NHS within a few years, and I wouldn't be surprised if this latest challenge accelerated that

If the principle of parity with those diagnosed with cancer is established, it would likely protect the options for this group longer than others.

If the principle of parity with those diagnosed with cancer is established, it would likely protect the options for this group longer than others.

I hope that is the case, and that fertility preservation (and the subsequent treatment cycles needed to use the frozen gametes) for those diagnosed with cancer will continue to be funded on the NHS

I will be very sad when IVF for non cancer sufferers will only be available for those who can afford to self fund, but I do understand that the NHS is under enormous pressure (although it's a bitter pill to swallow when so much of the budget is spent on obesity related conditions, and infertility is a disease as defined by the WHO, which is not self inflicted). Our IVF was self funded, we didn't have any treatment on the NHS, but I know many people whose families wouldn't exist if they'd not been able to access NHS fertility treatment.

Sorry bananafish what I meant was that if people who are transgender have established parity with those diagnosed with cancer, their fertility treatment will likely be provided longer than other groups.

The NHS will likely maintain options for those diagnosed with cancer (it would be politically difficult to announce cuts for this but also, the numbers involved- especially for female patients is relatively small) I've linked at the beginning of the thread to a campaign started last year which shows how disparately the protocols are applied.

So, in reality, should the challenge be successful, it seems more likely that those who are transgender could end up being a group with preferential access.

I think the postcode lottery of NHS funding of fertility treatments is especially appalling.

Urgh, yes. Apols for my misunderstanding. I sadly agree with you. Cancer sufferers don't have a pressure group lobbying on this particular issue - because quite understandably the focus is more on the postcode lottery for access to particular cancer drugs and treatments

Clearly preservation of life takes priority over preservation of fertility when it comes to cancer funding, but loss of fertility due to cancer treatment has significant life changing impact long after (hopefully successful) treatment is finished. In women it's obvs a lot more complex than for men, and requires a more lengthy delay in starting treatment - and may not be an option in the case of hormone receptive cancers. But it really should be funded and an option to those who wish to preserve gametes (or potentially preserve ovarian tissue, rather than going through ovarian stimulation and egg collection), and it will be tragic if this is no longer available because funding is required for those whose sterility is an active choice. Whoever shouts loudest.

no apols neccessary- I don't think I expressed myself very clearly!

There are so many differences between a person diagnosed with cancer and someone who is transgender, not least it seems, the power of their lobby groups!

Cancer patients ivf is more complicated when no eggs could be harvested before treatment. its not as straight forward as “you had cancer so you’re entitled to treatment”.