... but cancer patients denied by by IVF rules

CANCER patients are missing out on NHS treatment to freeze their eggs after being subjected to rules used for IVF, it is claimed.

Under strict criteria, IVF can be denied to under-23s, those who smoke and overweight women.

But the rules are applied in some areas to preserving fertility for cancer patients, it is said.

Dr Melanie Davies, consultant gynaecologist at University College Hospitals London, said she had seen a patient denied NHS egg freezing as her body mass index was too high. She added: ‘You cannot apply that to a cancer treatment, where someone may only have two days in which to have fertility preservation.’

NICE guidance is that IVF criteria should not apply to women who need to preserve fertility. British Fertility Society experts say the IVF 23-40 age limit is nonetheless used for women wanting to freeze their eggs.

NHS Clinical Commissioners said there was a responsibility to balance the whole population’s needs with the ‘most effective use of the limited NHS pound’.