A 25-year-old woman with unexplained infertility for 2 years undergoes IUI. Before each cycle, hysterosalpingography (HSG) showed patent tubes bilaterally. The NICE 2023 fertility guidelines recommend IVF for unexplained infertility. For women under 40 with 2 years of unexplained infertility, what is the recommended number of IVF cycles offered in the NHS?

• A 1 full cycle
• B 2 full cycles
• C 6 IUI cycles before IVF is offered
• D 3 full cycles ✓

Explanation

NICE Clinical Guideline 156 (updated 2023) on fertility recommends that women under 40 with 2 or more years of unexplained infertility, or who have not conceived after 12 cycles of IUI, should be offered 3 full IVF cycles on the NHS. A full cycle includes all fresh and frozen embryo transfers from one egg collection. For women aged 40–42 with similar criteria, 1 full IVF cycle is offered. This guideline-based number is a commonly tested NEET PG fact.

Reference: Shaw's Textbook of Gynaecology, 17th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.