Same-sex couples are still having to pay thousands of pounds before they can access NHS fertility treatment, BBC News has found. In England, the NHS will fund in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) for heterosexual couples who have been trying for a baby unsuccessfully for at least two years and meet certain other criteria such as age and weight. But same-sex couples are often expected to demonstrate their infertility before the NHS will fund IVF – and to do so must pay privately for between three and 12 rounds of artificial insemination. Couples say they have spent more than £20,000 on the treatment. Last year, the government promised fairer access to NHS fertility treatment for same-sex couples and single women, saying they would no longer need to privately fund rounds of artificial insemination before becoming eligible.