The treatment – which involves placing sperm inside a woman’s uterus to facilitate fertilisation – is now subject to a new policy, following what already happens in the UK, which was introduced in December 2017.

HSC has responded to concerns which were aired on social media earlier this week by those affected by the change.

In a statement the committee has said its policies have been reviewed, and brought into line with NICE guidelines.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence “provides national guidance and advice to improve health and social care” and it offers a set of criteria for patients requesting Intrauterine Insemination.

HSC said it made the move to follow those guidelines at the end of last year.

“In December 2017 we reviewed our policy in relation to offering Intrauterine insemination to couples struggling to conceive. This review looked at the latest NICE guidelines, which stated that Intrauterine insemination should be considered for the following patients only:

  • people who are unable to, or would find it very difficult to, have vaginal intercourse because of a clinically diagnosed physical disability or psychosexual problem who are using partner or donor sperm
  • people with conditions that require specific consideration in relation to methods of conception (for example, after sperm washing where the man is HIV positive)
  • people in same-sex relationships

“A decision was taken that the Guernsey policy should follow the NICE guidelines, which were updated following evidence that Intrauterine insemination offers no advantage over normal sexual intercourse for people with unexplained infertility, mild endometriosis or mild male factor infertility.”

This means that couples suffering unexplained infertility, or explained infertility in some cases, are now not eligible for the treatment while some people with physical disabilities that prevent sexual intercourse, people with conditions such as HIV, or same-sex couples are eligible.

While it isn’t known how many people will be affected by this policy change, we know that in 2016 HSC performed 58 IUI preps for 26 couples and in 2017, 77 preps for 30 couples.

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IVF, which is a type of assisted reproductive technology, in which an egg is fertilised outside of the body and then implanted into the uterus, is not currently funded by the States of Guernsey. However, HSC has said it is something that is being considered as part of a much wider review of drugs and treatments available for use in the island. 

The statement from HSC said:

“Additionally, as identified in the Partnership of Purpose policy letter, the Committee intends to carry out a review of drugs and treatments. Whether funding should be available for IVF will form part of that review.”