NHS patients

How to make a referral to Complete Fertility

Referral of patients to our fertility services is simply done via the NHS e-Referral Service (e-RS).

Patients who are suitable for NHS assisted conception treatment will be notified directly.

Patients desiring private treatment should have this clearly indicated on the form.

Southampton City CCG funding

One NHS funded cycle

One NHS funded cycle of IVF treatment available to couples who live in Southampton CCG and satisfy the eligibility criteria set out below. One cycle of IVF treatment is defined as one cycle of ovarian stimulation, egg retrieval and fertilisation and up to two separate embryo transfers (fresh/frozen or frozen/frozen as clinically indicated). It includes appropriate diagnostic tests, scans and pharmacological therapy.

Freezing and storage

The freezing and storage of viable embryos from NHS funded IVF will be funded for up to 3 years (or the female's 42nd birthday of this is sooner) so that couples have the option to use stored embryos at a later stage if they choose to do so. 

Male fertility preservation

Sperm storage will be funded for post-pubertal males under the age of 55 years who are about to undergo medical treatment which is likely to result in long-term sub-fertility. Subsequent assisted conceptions procedures using the sperm will not be funded unless the other eligibility criteria are met.

IVF using donated eggs

IVF using donated eggs from UK clinics licensed by the HFEA will be commissioned. Surgical sperm retrieval will be commissioned in appropriately selected patients, provided that the azoospermia is not the result of a sterilisation procedure or the absence of sperm production.

Eligibility criteria for patients in Southampton City CCG

The patient / couple must:

  • Comply with NICE Clinical Practice

And have gone through the primary and secondary care sub-fertility pathways appropriate to them before IVF is considered. See https://guidance.nice.org.uk/CG156 These investigations must all have been completed prior to referral for assisted conception: Rubella, Chlamydia, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and HIV. FSH / AMH is also offered.

  • Have had infertility of at least 1 year duration 

Couples with a diagnosed cause of absolute infertility which precludes any possibility of natural conception, and who meet all the other criteria, will have immediate access to IVF on reaching the eligible age range. All other couples must have infertility of at least 1 year duration.

  • The woman must be 34 years or below at time of referral

The age at referral should be before the female’s 35th birthday. Women approaching the age of 35 years must be referred in time to be able to commence treatment before their 35th birthday.

  • Never have received NHS funded IVF/ICSI treatment or have had more than 2 self-funded cycles of IVF/ICSI and have no frozen embryos stored from a previous cycle.

If a couple has had frozen embryos transferred as part of earlier self-funded treatment the frozen cycles will not be counted as previous cycles, when assessing eligibility for NHS funded IVF.

  • Women in same sex couples or women not in a partnership must be demonstrably sub-fertile

(10 unsuccessful cycles of IUI as evidence of unexplained infertility).

  • Not have a living child (including adopted) from their relationship, or any previous relationship. 
  • Not have been sterilised for either partner. 
  • Have a BMI range between 19 and 29.9 for at least the last six months.
  • Both be non-smokers for at least the last six months.

    For more comprehensive information regarding specific criteria then please email us.