by Mary Graham

The "national postcode lottery" of IVF treatment is being highlighted by a Kent MP based on his experiences in the county.

Dartford MP Gareth Johnson, has asked Britain’s health trusts how many cycles of the fertility treatment they provide to couples trying to conceive.

The responses show primary care trusts (PCTs) offer anything between one to three cycles.

Of 171 PCTs, 166 confirmed they did offer IVF treatment, but five said they offered nothing.

Mr Johnson today launched the All Party Parliamentary Group on Infertility report, which has been influenced by cut backs to treatments made at the end of last year by NHS West Kent, which covers north Kent, Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells.

Due to a funding crisis, the PCT temporarily limited access to expensive IVF treatments until it could balance the books.

Today’s report - Holding back the British IVF Revolution - highlights that health care guidelines from NICE suggest couples should be offered up to three cycles of IVF

"this shows just how big an issue infertility is” – gareth johnson

But that is being ignored by 73 per cent of health trusts and the three health trusts covering Kent (West Kent, Medway and Eastern and Coastal Kent), only offer two cycles for couples aged 23-39.

There is also evidence to suggest health trusts are adding conditions that stop couples from getting access to treatment, such as with-holding treatment for women who smoke heavily.

Mr Johnson said: "I was not prepared for so many conditions and restrictions on treatment and it seems there is little consistency in IVF availability on the NHS.

"IVF treatment was invented in Britain and so more than any other country we should be championing its use.

"One in Seven couples in the UK suffer from infertility problems, indeed more women attend GP surgeries to obtain advice on infertility than any other issue other than pregnancy.

"This shows just how big an issue infertility is for so many people."