HEALTH chiefs in Shropshire have drawn up a new policy for providing fertility treatment for childless couples – so long as they are non-smokers.
It involves providing a “safe, equitable and accessible” fertility service to all couples where the woman has been unable to conceive.
It is estimated that infertility affects one in seven couples in the UK.
Under the new county scheme, treatment will be limited initially to two cycles for each couple.
A couple is defined as two individuals in a heterosexual relationship for at least two years – either married or co- habiting.
The two cycles of treatment will be provided to couples in which the woman is aged 23 and 37.
But people are being warned that they must be non- smokers.
A report says: “Previous smokers should have stopped for at least four weeks before referral and continue to refrain from smoking throughout the treatment.
“The reason is that maternal and paternal smoking can adversely affect the success rates of assisted reproduction procedures.”
