Concern over lack of funding for IVF and sterilisation options in England – The Guardian

Even worse than the postcode lottery on IVF treatment being introduced by clinical commissioning groups (Report, 7 August) is the short-termism and lack of joined-up thinking in deciding what patient services to axe in order to save money.

In my area (Herts Valleys), at a recent public consultation event, proposals were not only to cease providing IVF and specialist fertility services but also to stop funding vasectomy and female sterilisation operations. But funding of pregnancy/birth/postnatal care as well as abortions will continue.

It should not need spelling out that prevention is always better than cure and to know that reducing unwanted/unplanned pregnancies is cheaper than dealing with the results of such pregnancies. When pointing this out, I was told that the CCG would continue to supply very effective contraceptives.

Unfortunately figures and surveys show that contraceptives may be effective, but the human beings who use/do not use them are fallible. In real life, male or female sterilisation is the only 100% effective method of preventing pregnancy and it is sad that highly paid professionals tasked with spending our money efficiently do not appear to know this.Diane MundayWheathampstead, Hertfordshire

One in six couples in the UK now struggle to conceive. Thats a hefty portion of the population. Many people will have family or friends who are going through gruelling fertility treatment. But the sweeping cuts to NHS funding will sentence so many who long to be parents to remain forever childless. The physical and emotional blitz of treatment is brutal enough without adding financial worry. And the gift of having a child through IVF should not be restricted to those who can afford to pay for it privately. Diane Chandler Author of Moondance, London

The cuts to provision of IVF treatment on the NHS in some parts of England, on which you report, are unfair and appalling, but not surprising under this Tory government. Readers struggling to conceive may be interested in an article in the current issue (2 August) of New Scientist magazine, which states that, as an initial option, the clinic turkey baster method, properly called intrauterine insemination (IUI) may be worthwhile.

A recent study in New Zealand suggests that with IUI, compared with trying to conceive naturally, the live birth rate could increase from 9% to 31% when paired with a drug that boosts ovulation.

The article says the procedure should cost about a quarter of IVF. Clare MunksAlfreton, Derbyshire

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Concern over lack of funding for IVF and sterilisation options in England - The Guardian