Last week the government made a commitment as part of the new Women's Health Strategy for England:

"Over the life of this strategy, we will work with NHS England to address the current geographical variation in access to NHS-funded fertility services across England. Female same-sex couples are able to access NHS-funded fertility services in a more equitable way...

We are also aware that the interpretation and implementation by the NHS of the access criteria for female same-sex couples has also been variable, placing greater financial burdens on female same-sex couples, and, in some instances, led to difficult choices about family formation. We will relieve those additional burdens, so that there is no requirement for self-funding and the NHS treatment pathway for female same-sex couples will start with 6 cycles of artificial insemination, prior to accessing IVF services if necessary."

This is wonderful news for some but not for others; the strategy is less clear about accessibility of treatment for single females, females over 35 and females with a higher BMI count. For that reason, I'm going to keep this petition going with the aim of England one day being in line with the rest of the UK allowing at least one attempt of IVF/IUI treatment for ALL females.