Professor Dame Clare Gerada prompt there was an excessive amount of effort being put into “destigmatising” the life stage.
She additionally admitted she tells sufferers who have been experiencing infertility to hunt personal assist as a result of ready lists are so lengthy.
Describing the menopause, she stated: “On the entire it isn’t an sickness, it’s only a course of you undergo.”
She added that she had “by no means thought of the menopause to be a stigmatising course of”.
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The president of the Royal School of GPs was talking at an occasion hosted by infertility charity the Progress Instructional Belief.
She stated: “We’re in horrible state round fertility remedy for women and men on this nation.
“Sadly, with most of my sufferers, I’ve to advise them to go privately due to ready instances on the NHS.”
Infertility impacts one in six {couples} attempting to conceive and analysis exhibits it impacts each women and men equally.
Official NHS tips state ladies aged beneath 40 with infertility must be supplied three cycles of IVF remedy.
However a postcode lottery means simply 13 p.c of areas supply this, it was stated.
Restrictions in numerous areas imply sufferers who’re overweight, people who smoke or whose companions have beforehand had youngsters will not be eligible for remedy, relying on the place they reside.
Dame Clare stated that in her expertise “no one will get three cycles”.
She added: “It’s pretty fortunate in case you get one cycle. And over time that I’ve been a GP, the principles have modified a lot that even I’m confused.”
Sarah Norcross, director of the Progress Instructional Belief, stated: “Even these sufferers who do finally obtain remedy have their probabilities of IVF success jeopardised, both due to delayed NHS investigations or as a result of they’re having to save lots of up and go personal.”
The Nationwide Institute for Well being and Care Excellence is reviewing its tips on fertility remedy, which have been revealed in 2013. A revised guideline is anticipated in 2024.