GPs

Requirements for eligibility

Auckland and Northland clients must pass the following Northern Region Fertility Services (NRFS) criteria to access a publicly funded First Specialist Appointment (FSA). Please note this criteria and language are set by the New Zealand Government.

• Has been unsuccessful with pregnancy after 12 months of intercourse.
• The woman must be under the age of 40 at the date of referral with a BMI less than 35 on the first specialist appointment date and 32 or under on the treatment start date.
• The man must be under the age of 55 years at the date of referral with a BMI less than 40 on both the first specialist appointment date and the treatment start date.
• Cannot have two or more children (of any age, including adopted or from previous relationship if living at home at least half the time).
• Both parties need to be NZ citizens or NZ residents or have a valid work visa for over two years.
• Both parties must be non-smokers for three months minimum prior to treatment.

Single or lesbian women and gay men:

• Single or lesbian women can be eligible for a referral to publicly funded fertility services if they have clear biological causes of infertility. Examples of biological causes of infertility include:
  • Anovulation or very irregular periods (<20 or >42 days).
  • Known tubal infertility.
  • Severe endometriosis.
• Publicly funded services may be provided if the woman is not pregnant after at least 12 cycles of donor insemination treatment, of which six must be in a NZS8181 certified clinic. All cycles must be performed on the same woman.
• Other eligibility criteria for treatment also applies for single or lesbian women (age, BMI, etc.).
  A gay man with azoospermia can be eligible for a referral to publicly funded fertility services.

Transgender peoples:

• A couple, where either one or both persons are transgender and cannot achieve a pregnancy together, are eligible for a referral to publicly funded fertility services if they meet the other eligibility requirements (age, BMI, etc).

Referrals for public or private appointments

You can refer your patients for public or private FSA appointments. If you are arranging a public referral, the height and weight information for both partner needs to be recorded and the following tests are required:

• Semen analysis.
• Antenatal blood screening.
• Current smear.
• HIV, Hep B, Hep C (male and female).
• FSH (or AMH) and estradiol level day two to four of cycle (within six months).
• Progesterone level six to eight days before menses.

You will then forward the referral to the NRFS for a public FSA.

Public referrals

Public referrals should be sent by e-referral. Go to MyHealthLink Portal for e-referral forms or email .

Criteria for publicly funded treatment are the same across Aotearoa. Clients need to obtain at least 65 points using the fertility CPAC tool. The CPAC score can only be calculated by a fertility specialist.

Clients can also access private fertility treatment while waiting for their public treatment to start.

Current wait times

First Specialist Appointment (FSA): approximately five months from referral.

Orientation appointment: approximately 15 to 18 months from placement on a waitlist.

Treatment: three to four months from your orientation appointment.