As of July 20, queer women, trans men, and non-binary people will no longer face steep financial barriers to access NHS In-vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment.

This is a historic change.

Until now, the only option for queer couples seeking IVF in England was to go through several rounds of expensive IUI (intrauterine insemination).

This cost some people as much as £25,000, before they could be considered for NHS-funded treatment.

The only rule for cisgender, heterosexual couples is that they have to have been trying to conceive for two years before they can qualify for funded IVF.

This decision is part of the Women’s Health Strategy, where cis women in same-sex couples, as well as trans men and non-binary people seeking IVF, no longer have to go through IUI to pay for artificial insemination to prove their fertility status.

Now, NHS fertility treatment will begin with six rounds of funded IUI, before moving onto IVF if necessary.

The government has also vowed to end the “postcode lottery” for fertility treatment, experienced by heterosexual and LGBTQ+ people alike, by improving “transparency on provision and availability of IVF so prospective parents can see how their local area performs”.

This is a huge step towards a world where LGBTQ+ people have the same opportunity as everyone else to build loving, thriving families of their own.

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