International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics

Women over the age of 40 may get free in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) treatment on the NHS in a bid to reduce "age discrimination".

In the future, health trusts may have to scrap the age limitations for IVF to avoid being sued under laws in place to protect against age discrimination.

Instead of placing an age limit, organisations may have to decide how many free IVF cycles a woman is entitled to based upon how many eggs they have left.

Josephine Quintavalle from Comment on Reproductive Ethics said: "We are talking about making it easier for older women to have children – putting children at higher risk of abnormality."

According to the British Fertility Society, at some point in their reproductive lives, at least 25 per cent of couples experience a period of infertility which will last longer than a year.

At least one in six will seek treatment or advice from a hospital infertility specialist.

Posted by David Smith