Funding for Second IVF Cycle
From 1 October this year, couples who are undergoing fertility treatment, and who meet certain criteria, will be able to receive public funding for a second IVF (In Vitro Fertilisation) cycle. It's thought that about 90 percent of patients who have completed one unsuccessful cycle of treatment will choose to undertake a second cycle. (Each year, more than 3500 people are referred for fertility services, with about 70 percent of them going on to receive treatment.)
Improvements in IVF techniques have led to a big rise in conception rates, with about 43 percent of women aged 37 years and under becoming pregnant as a result of their first IVF cycle - up from 25 percent in 1999. In the past, to increase the chance of pregnancy most women received more than one embryo at one time, a practice that increased the risk of twins and the associated health problems for mothers and babies.
However, as techniques have improved and pregnancy rates increased, there has been a move towards the preferred single embryo transfer (SET), which reduces the chance of twins and creates fewer health issues for the baby. Use of the SET guidelines in IVF procedures will become standard practice from 1 October.
Contact for Enquiries
The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry
Pastoral House
25 The Terrace
PO Box 2526, Wellington
Tel: 0800 00 83 33
Fax: +64 4 894 0720
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