by Colleen Reid, Mindful Mum, 28th December 2011

IVF expert, Alison Murdoch head of Newcastle Fertility Centre at the International Centre for Life, has called for change in pricing of IVF to stop the exploitation of families who are desperate to conceive.

Currently, the price of a round of IVF treatment sits at approximately £2000 on the NHS or £3500 in private clinics. Academic Lord Robert Winston has said that in order to break even, the treatment should cost just £700 and felt women were being charged three times the actual cost of their treatment.

Speaking on BBC’s Today programme yesterday, Alison Murdoch said that most NHS treatments were “grounded” with the NHS setting the pricing for them, whereas IVF was an exception that didn’t have a tarrif attached to it.

The National Institute for Clinical Excellence recommends that eligible women ranging in age from 23 to 39 should be offered three cycles of treatment on the NHS but primary care trusts vary on how they follow the guidance.

For more information on IVF treatment, availability and how to assess your chances of success, have a look at our IVF Treatment guide.

Photography: Images Money @Flickr