Fertility (update): summary of NICE guidance

Infertility affects about one in seven couples in the United Kingdom1 and can have a severe psychological impact.2 Since publication in 2004 of the original fertility guideline by the then National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE),3 more people are now having fertility treatment, which is increasingly successful.4 5 It is mandatory that this care is appropriate. This article summarises the recommendations relevant to general clinicians from the recent update of NICE’s fertility guideline.6 NICE recommendations are based on systematic reviews of the best available evidence and explicit consideration of cost effectiveness. When minimal evidence is available, recommendations are based on the Guideline Development Group’s experience and opinion of what constitutes good practice. Evidence levels for the recommendations are given in italic in square brackets. ### Information on conception