One couple, who have had to pay for their treatment, tell the BBC why they back the decision.

Michael and Jane Gache spent �9,000 on three cycles of IVF because the treatment was not available on the NHS in Berkshire, where they live.

The couple now have a five-month-old son Alexander.

"It was third time lucky for us," says Jane.

The couple say they had no choice but to pay for treatment out of their own pocket.

We actually spent about �9,000 Jane Gache

"In this particular area where we live, we had no choice really," says Michael.

"It is very much a postcode lottery at the moment with some regions funding NHS treatment but in this particular part of Berkshire that is not an option.

"We even asked for drug funding from our local GP but that was not forthcoming so we had no option and we had to fund it privately."

"In total, we actually spent about �9,000," says Jane.

"Of course, a lot of people spend a lot more than that so we consider ourselves fairly fortunate that it wasn't any more than that."

Free on the NHS

The couple say they support the idea of making IVF available free on the NHS.

But they insist it should not be at the expense of treatments for life-threatening conditions.

However, Michael adds: "It is a disorder and it does lend itself to some sort of treatment which is available and the technology is quite well proven, now that we are 25 years on from the first test tube baby.

It shouldn't be entered into lightly Jane Gache

"It shouldn't' be at the expense of life threatening treatment but at the same time you have to ask people what their circumstances are at that particular time.

"If IVF is their highest priority then it should be available."

"We wouldn't really want it to be at the expense of major cancer research or treatment," says Jane.

"But if you speak to couples who can't have children, for them it is a medical problem. They really want to strive to have a family.

"To have that opportunity taken away from them would be very sad."

The couple also agree with NICE's suggestion that couples should be able to have a maximum of three cycles free on the NHS.

"I think three cycles is a fair balance," says Jane.

"It's not too much and perhaps it's not too little."

Think carefully

But they also warned couples against embarking on IVF treatment too quickly or without considering other options.

"Because they may offer it free, it shouldn't be embarked on as the first route to take," says Jane.

"We have first hand experience of the stress and the physical problems particularly a woman has to go through during treatment.

"It shouldn't be entered into lightly. People shouldn't think its free, therefore let's just try that without going doing other avenues and trying other treatments."

Michael shares that view. "It is not a guaranteed process," he says.