Waiting times for NHS gynaecology appointments are causing women to lose out on the opportunity to access IVF, leading to the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG), and the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) to voice concerns.
In England, gynaecology waiting lists rose from 286,008 in February 2020 to 456,938 in January 2022, as highlighted in a report by RCOG. Before the COVID-19 pandemic 66 patients waited more than a year for treatment, but now almost 25,000 were waiting a year and 1300 had been waiting for two. These figures did not reflect 'hidden referrals' data analysis firm Lane Clark & Peacock said, referring to women who have not sought help yet. If they were included the waiting list could exceed 850,000 the BBC reported.
Fatima Hussain, consultant gynaecologist and RCOG spokesperson told Refinery29, 'We have the longest waiting lists in gynaecology across all the medical specialities… don't forget that fertility is a ticking clock. I've got patients who've missed their IVF deadlines because some areas have postcode lottery, they can't get funding beyond 35. Their fertility is declining with age and they've already been referred in to us late.'
The UK's fertility regulator, HFEA has also voiced its concerns over these long NHS wait times. Rachel Cutting, director of compliance and information at the HFEA told Refinery29, 'We are concerned that delays in referral or treatments for gynaecological conditions may delay fertility treatment. As success of having a baby after fertility treatment declines with age, lengthy delays, especially for women over the age of 35, may significantly reduce their chance of fertility treatment.'
These delays are resulting in women having to consider alternatives to NHS treatment. A 37-year-old woman at Homerton Hospital in London had her first IVF cycle cancelled this year with no rescheduled date. She told Hackney Gazette in response to this, 'It affects you quite significantly because you do not know how long you'll have to wait for treatment. My life is on hold now' She is now looking at financing treatment privately in face of this uncertainty over when the treatment will occur.
These delays are affecting women's mental health as well. A recent survey by RCOG of 837 women waiting for gynaecology care revealed that 80 percent felt their mental health had worsened due to these long waiting times.
President of the RCOG, Edward Morris told Refinery29: 'Many women and people are left feeling anxious that their fertility may be affected, others are in distress that they cannot conceive, and this can have a detrimental impact on women's mental health and their relationships. The impact on fertility needs to be properly considered, and more support is needed to ensure that every woman who wants children has the best possible chances of conceiving.'
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