Fertility problems

List of quality statements

Statement 1 People who are concerned that it is taking longer than expected to conceive are given advice on the impact that lifestyle can have on their chances of getting pregnant.

Statement 2 People are referred for specialist consultation if the woman has not conceived after 1 year of intercourse or after 6 cycles of artificial insemination, or earlier in certain circumstances.

Statement 3 People who are having problems conceiving are offered counselling before, during and after investigation and treatment for their fertility problems.

Statement 4 Services analysing semen samples use methods and reference values in accordance with the most recent World Health Organization laboratory manual.

Statement 5 Women aged under 40 years who meet the criteria for in vitro fertilisation (IVF) are offered 3 full cycles of IVF.

Statement 6 Women aged 40 to 42 years who meet the criteria for IVF are offered 1 full cycle of IVF.

Statement 7 Women having IVF are offered intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) only if there are severe deficits in semen quality, obstructive azoospermia, non‑obstructive azoospermia or if previous IVF treatment resulted in failed or very poor fertilisation.

Statement 8 Women having IVF have 1 or 2 embryos transferred according to the woman's or donor's age, the cycle number and the quality of the embryos.

Statement 9 People preparing to have treatment for cancer that is likely to result in fertility problems are offered cryopreservation.