Ministers are to scrap “outdated” IVF laws that deny access to people with HIV and force lesbians to pay extra for tests. Campaigners said the move would transform lives across the UK.
Hundreds of couples hoping to become parents but going through the distress of fertility issues will have their chances improved, the government announced on Wednesday, as it outlined two law changes to IVF provision in the UK.
Lesbian couples will no longer be required to pay for expensive screening before IVF, while couples with HIV will no longer be banned from having babies via IVF under the new laws.
The Department of Health and Social Care said same-sex couples with undetectable HIV – where the viral load is too low for transmission – would be able to access fertility treatment.
“Millions of couples dream of the joy of parenthood and bringing life into the world,” said Maria Caulfield, a health minister. “But for many, that joy turns to unimaginable pain as they experience the distress of fertility issues.”
The changes should work for everyone and “support as many people as possible to conceive”, she added.
As well as accessing fertility treatment, HIV-positive couples will also be able to donate sperm or eggs to friends or relatives.
Deborah Gold, chief executive of the National Aids Trust, said the move “follows the science”.
“This change will transform the lives of some people living with HIV, who have until this point been barred from the opportunity to become a parent through fertility treatments.”
Debbie Laycock, head of policy at Terrence Higgins Trust, said the decision to end discriminatory laws around IVF for people living with HIV would change people’s families, futures and lives.
“There’s no reason for people living with HIV who have an undetectable viral load to be denied the same fertility treatment as everyone else and it’s right the law reflects that,” said Laycock.
“Now the decision has been made, we need to see the change implemented as quickly as possible so its benefits can begin to be felt.”
Currently, female same-sex couples are screened for the likes of hepatitis B, hepatitis C or rubella, with tests costing up to £1,000. The extra tests are not required for heterosexual couples.
“The government is scrapping this outdated law to ensure female same-sex couples have the same rights as a man and woman when trying to conceive,” a government statement said.
Dr Catherine Hill, Fertility Network UK’s head of policy and public affairs, also welcomed the move, which she said will remove inequalities and “the massive financial barriers facing female same-sex couples hoping to become parents via fertility services”.
However, Robbie de Santos, of LGBTQ+ charity Stonewall, said: “We’re no further forward with a clear timeline for all health bodies to implement these changes.” He accused ministers of failing to take issues seriously enough.
