Under criteria in force since 1 June 2019, Northern Ireland funds one IVF cycle (with or without ICSI) plus one frozen embryo transfer for eligible women under 40; women aged 40 to 42 qualify only if they have never had IVF. A political commitment to fund three cycles had not been delivered in January 2020 because of limited capacity. These rule sources date from 2019 and 2020, so confirm the current rules with your Trust or GP.
| Criterion | HSC-funded IVF (from 1 June 2019) |
|---|---|
| Under 40 | One IVF cycle, with or without ICSI, and one frozen embryo transfer |
| 40 to 42 | Only if never had IVF, no low ovarian reserve, and the implications have been discussed |
| BMI | 19.0 to 30.0 |
| Previous IVF | Neither partner has had three or more cycles, public or private |
| Sterilisation | No voluntary sterilisation |
| Proof of need | A demonstrated fertility problem, or 2 years of trying, or eight cycles of artificial insemination (at least four of them IUI) |
| Embryo storage | Included for two years |
Sources: Belfast Health and Social Care Trust, Eligibility for HSC funded IVF and related treatments (effective 1 June 2019); Fertility Network UK (undated, accessed October 2026).
According to Fertility Network UK, the criteria were set by the Department of Health with the Public Health Agency and the HSC Board.
The New Decade, New Approach agreement committed to funding three cycles for eligible women. In January 2020 the Health Minister said the Regional Fertility Centre did not have the capacity to deliver them (Q Radio, 30 January 2020). We found no newer official source saying whether the number of funded cycles has changed since.
The NHS-funded share has risen: 50% of IVF cycles in Northern Ireland were NHS-funded in 2024, up from 40% in 2019 (HFEA).
The rules on this page come from 2019 criteria and a 2020 statement. Confirm the current position with your Trust or GP before you plan treatment or a budget.
With an age line at 40, it pays to be evaluated on time. Map to the Positive sets out how long to try before seeing a specialist:
The book adds that a specialist should be seen sooner, whatever the age, with red flags such as absent periods for 3 months or more, very irregular cycles, two or more miscarriages in a row, or a history of pelvic surgery.
When to see a specialist is Chapter 29 of Map to the Positive, the start of Station IV. It explains why the cutoffs change with age and which kind of specialist to look for. The same station covers choosing a doctor, the treatment ladder and IVF step by step.
Take 30 days. If it does not give you more clarity than everything you have read for free so far, ask for a refund and you get every cent back. We cannot promise you a pregnancy. We can promise you will not be guessing.
References: Eligibility for HSC funded IVF and related treatments effective from 1st June 2019 - Belfast Health and Social Care Trust (2019-06-01) · NHS Funding in Northern Ireland - Fertility Network UK (accessed 2026-10-30) · NI fertility centre doesn't have 'capacity' to deliver extra IVF cycles, Health Minister says - Q Radio (2020-01-30) · Fertility treatment 2024: trends and figures - HFEA (2026-06-16)