Under 40s could benefit from the IVF proposals

Draft guidance from the National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) says that at least three "attempts" should be paid for by the NHS.

The advice - if taken up by ministers - could end the "postcode lottery" for fertility treatment in England and Wales.

Anne-Toni Rodgers, Nice's corporate affairs director, heralded the new money and standards of care the guidance aims to introduce, but warned couples it would not mean tackling infertility would become simple.

The watchdog will issue its final recommendation in February next year.

Strict criteria

Not everyone would be eligible for free treatment.

Women of 40 and over are not included on the grounds that the chances of success are dramatically reduced at this age.

In addition, unless there is a diagnosed cause which gives a couple no chance of conceiving, women under 23 will have to pay if they want treatment.

IVF: STEP BY STEP GUIDE How do doctors make a "test tube baby"? In pictures

As well as three "fresh" cycles - in which a woman is given drugs so that multiple eggs can be harvested and fertilised, there could be other opportunities for free treatment.

Any surplus embryos left over from the "fresh cycles" can be frozen and then thawed for use later - further boosting the chance of a pregnancy.

However, a maximum of two embryos will be put back at any one time in order to reduce the chance of a multiple pregnancy.

'No social judgement'

Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Ms Rodgers said she thought the new guidance would make a big difference.

"Money will become available and care will be standardised for men and women with infertility problems".

But she said the guidance was "based on clinical evidence - not around the social values of whether it's appropriate to keep trying for a baby".

And she warned couples that they were still likely to have to wait years before infertility was established and NHS treatment became available.

"It isn't going to be successful for everyone," she said.

The final decision on whether to provide free fertility treatment on the NHS remains with the Department of Health in England, and Welsh health officials.

The guidelines are on the website now and people can send us their views until 22 September - then we're going to incorporate those views into the final product Anne-Toni Rodgers Nice corporate affairs director

It is still possible that any recommendations for free treatment could be thrown out on the basis of cost by ministers.

With each fresh cycle of IVF costing in the region of �3,000, the NHS faces a bill running into hundreds of millions of pounds should the expected demand materialise.

Many couples are not in areas which currently fund any fertility treatment on the NHS - and cannot afford private treatment.

Can we afford it?

Similar government-funded schemes in other European countries have vastly increased the number of cycles per head of population carried out each year.

It is still uncertain whether the NHS could cope with a surge in demand for free IVF should the scheme be introduced.

Most cycles are carried out in the private sector, and it is likely that the government would have to contract out NHS fertility work to those clinics in order to have any chance of meeting demand.

However, experts warn that a large increase in investment for staff training would be needed.

Professor Alison Murdoch, chairwoman of the British Fertility Society, said she hoped the draft guidance will lead to an end to the IVF postcode lottery.

"We are delighted that there is now official recognition that the trauma suffered by couples unable to conceive is a legitimate call on NHS resources.

"Hopefully, the guidelines will now see an end to postcode prescribing cause by facilities which are wide ranging across the country."

Dr Simon Fishel, director of Centres for Assisted Reproduction, one of the largest IVF clinics in the country, welcomed the NICE ruling.

"It has been a long time coming. We have been the poor relation compared to many western countries.

"It is essential infertility is recognised and supported."

But he added: "This could take several years. We have no idea if the guidelines will be taken up by the government and how long it will take."

Liberal Democrat health spokesman Dr Evan Harris warned that making IVF available free on the NHS will be costly.