More than 2,200 people got involved during the six-week consultation on IVF cycles in Greater Manchester.
It ran from Wednesday 18 June to Tuesday 29 July 2025. Those who took part either:
- completed a survey
- emailed or texted their views
- attended a focus group or workshop
- shared their thoughts at one of our pop-up stalls
People strongly supported standardising the number of cycles across the whole of Greater Manchester (GM). However, there was widespread frustration and concern about changing to a GM-wide one cycle plus an additional attempt should this be cancelled or abandoned (known as the 1+ option).
Many cited clinical evidence and personal experiences that only one cycle was insufficient for most women to achieve a successful pregnancy.
Some described the first IVF cycle as a ‘trial run’ or ‘exploratory’, with further cycles offering the opportunity for ‘bespoke treatment’. The impact any change could have on an individual’s mental health was also raised, as was the price of further private treatment being unaffordable and out of reach for many couples.
There was a strong feeling that the offer should be ‘levelled up’ to meet NICE (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) guidelines. They currently recommend a three-cycle offer.
We are very grateful to everyone who took the time to respond to this consultation. These findings, along with clinical evidence, will inform the final service model.
For more information on the consultation, and to read the full and summary consultation reports, visit our consultation website. You can also contact: gmhscp.engagement@nhs.net or 07786 673762 (call, text or WhatsApp).
