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IVF Campaigner Fights for Equal Access to Fertility Treatment in Parliament

Amber Izzo, a 30-year-old IVF campaigner from Peterborough, UK, has taken her fight for equal access to fertility treatment to Westminster, calling for an end to the NHS ‘postcode lottery’ that determines who can access IVF based on their location. Her Fertility Access campaign aims to standardise NHS-funded fertility treatment across England, ensuring all eligible patients receive care in line with the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines.


NICE currently recommends that women under 40 should be offered three fully-funded cycles of IVF, but access varies dramatically across the country, with some regions offering little to no NHS support. Izzo’s campaign demands that all Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) adhere to these national guidelines, making fertility treatment fair and consistent for everyone—regardless of their postcode or personal circumstances.


Bringing the Fight to Parliament

Izzo was joined in Westminster by healthcare professionals and fellow campaigners, including Dr. Anand Patel, Mr. Jonathan Ramsay, Dr. Carole Gilling-Smith, and Emma Whitney, to push for change. She also had the backing of Peterborough MP Andrew Pakes, who is actively supporting the campaign.


"Our campaign asks for NICE guidelines to be adhered to," said Izzo. "We want standardised criteria that ensure equal access for all, including step-parents, by making the system couple-centric—so a partner’s previous children from another relationship do not disqualify someone from receiving treatment."


Fertility campaigner Katie Rollings, co-founder of Fertility Access UK, also highlighted the urgent need for reform. "The injustice surrounding fertility treatment affects so many people, yet it remains a topic shrouded in shame and fear," she said. "We don’t talk about it enough, which only adds to the pain for those struggling to conceive."


The Bigger Picture: Declining Fertility Rates and Male Infertility Awareness


Beyond advocating for equal NHS funding, the Fertility Access campaign is raising awareness of male infertility, an often-overlooked issue. The team aims to improve education for GPs, ensuring they have the necessary resources to support and diagnose fertility issues in both men and women.


With England’s fertility rate currently at 1.44 births per woman, campaigners stress that ensuring access to fertility treatment is not just a personal issue—it’s a national one. "If we don’t act now, we risk making fertility treatment even more inaccessible at a time when birth rates are already falling," Rollings warned.


What’s Next?


While the Westminster meeting was a key milestone, campaigners say this is just the beginning. They plan to continue lobbying policymakers, raising public awareness, and pushing for legislative changes to make fertility treatment fair for all.


Izzo and her team have vowed to keep fighting for those who need this support, ensuring no one is denied the chance to build a family simply because of where they live.

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