Government seeks women's views on reproductive health in England

The UK government has launched a survey seeking women's views on reproductive health issues, including fertility services.

Announced just over one year after the launch of the Women's Health Strategy, the Women's Reproductive Health Survey for England covers a wide range of reproductive health issues. However, questions remain over what this might mean for fertility services and patients.

The minister for the Women's Health Strategy, Maria Caulfield, said: 'Women should always have a say in their own healthcare, whether that's in managing pregnancy and fertility or dealing with the challenges of the menopause in the workplace.'

This survey is open to women, and people described as female at birth, who are aged 16-55 and living in England, and covers a range of issues including periods, contraception, fertility, pregnancy, and menopause.

The survey includes questions on fertility such as: 'In the last year, have you received any of the following treatments [IVF, ICSI, gamete donation, etc] to help you become pregnant?' and 'How satisfied were you with the care you received when accessing your treatment?'.

The Women's Health Strategy, launched in 2022, announced plans to improve equitable access to fertility services in England. One of the 'ten-year ambitions' included was: 'to address the current geographical variation in access to NHS-funded fertility services across England', 'end... non-clinical eligibility criteria', and ensure 'female same-sex couples are able to access NHS-funded fertility services in a more equitable way' (see BioNews 1152).

Since then, the government has launched an 'IVF tool' so people can look up information about the availability of NHS-funded IVF treatments in their area in England. However, access to fertility services remains under the control of local integrated care boards, many of which still offer fewer than the NICE-recommended three IVF cycles, and continue to restrict access with non-clinical criteria (see BioNews 1199).

It remains unclear how the outcomes of this survey will contribute to achieving the aims of the strategy in improving access to fertility treatment.

Women's Health Ambassador Professor Dame Lesley Regan said: 'We need to make healthcare work for women and girls – and for it to fit around their lives. There's no point bolstering services if they cannot be accessed, or the support available does not work for them and meet their needs.'

The survey is open for six weeks from 7 September 2023.