Threshold

Note 1: Preservation of gametes should take place when there is a confirmed timetable for the start of the patient’s gonadotoxic treatment

The funding of cryopreservation does not automatically entitle people to funding for assisted conception. Applicants should be aware that they should also meet their local Norfolk and Waveney Integrated Care Board (ICB) eligibility criteria for specialist fertility treatments at the time of applying for assisted conception treatment.

For those seeking NHS funded assisted conception treatment, please refer to the Assisted Conception Policy June 2019 criteria.

Norfolk and Waveney ICB will fund Cryopreservation of sperm, oocytes and embryos in patients whose medical intervention poses a risk to their fertility if they meet the criteria as set out below.

Criteria for funding:

1. Patients faced with infertility as a consequence of their medical intervention

2. Duration:

• Cryopreservation for fertility preservation for adults may be funded for five years
• Children and young people will be funded for an extended duration of storage up to the age of 23, plus five years to their 28th birthday

NOTE 2: If fertility is found to have returned, either through fertility testing or through conception and natural pregnancy, continued storage will not be funded.

Policy Exclusions (the following are outside the scope of this policy):

• Cryopreservation of ovarian and testicular tissue.
• Individuals who have previously been sterilised.
• Embryo storage using donor sperm.

CASES FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION

On a case to case basis patients might be eligible for funding in consideration of their exceptionality. The requesting clinician must provide information to support the case for being considered an exception, by submitting an individual funding request.