COUPLES struggling to have a baby are being promised more support.

West Essex Primary Care Trust has agreed a new policy which will increase the number of NHS-funded fertility treatment cycles available for childless couples.

The new National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidance on In-Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) will be implemented at across the NHS East of England (EoE) region from next April.

It means couples who experience difficulty conceiving, and who meet recommended eligibility criteria, will have the possibility of receiving up to three fresh cycles. The policy recommends a maximum of six embryo transfers in total.

Dr Robert Winter, medical director at EoE, said:"This is good news for couples who are having difficulty starting a family.

"The increase in the number of NHS funded cycles of IVF will mean that childless couples will now have a much better chance of conception."

Consultant obstetrician and gynecologist Peter Greenwood said: “Around one in seven couples could be affected by infertility.

"The implications can be devastating for some, sometimes with unseen consequences for mental health and wellbeing.

"We are offering a potentially big improvement in the lives of many couples in the region, where IVF is clinically the right solution and has the potential to succeed.”

People experiencing problems with conception should see their GP in the first instance.

For more information, visit www.escg.nhs.uk.