Funding

When it comes to paying for fertility treatment, you can either be eligible for treatment on the NHS, or you can pay for your own treatment, i.e. be a private patient.

NHS treatment

Provision of treatment on the NHS varies across the UK, but the NHS aims to offer women between the ages of 23 and 39 one cycle of IVF, assuming you meet their eligibility criteria. 

Your GP can give you information about the criteria operating in your region. There can be restrictions based on medical reasons (such as whether you are a suitable candidate for IVF, of whether fertility drugs or IUI might be more suitable in your circumstances).  There may also be restrictions for people who already have children. 

Waiting lists for NHS-funded treatment vary, but can be long.  If you have been trying for a baby for a while, especially if you are over 30, it's important not to delay going to your GP if you are hoping to have treatment on the NHS, as you will need a referral from your GP and may have to wait some time for treatment.  Treatment can take place at your local hospital or, sometimes, at a private clinic if they have a contract with your local Primary Care Trust or Health Board.

Assuming you are eligible for NHS-funded treatment, you will still have to pay normal prescription charges for your fertility drugs (unless you are exempt from paying prescription charges).

Private treatment

If you are planning to pay for your own treatment, the costs will depend on what treatment you are having ? a single attempt at IUI is significantly cheaper than a cycle of IVF, for example, as it is a much simpler procedure. 

It is up to private clinics to set their own prices for treatment, and these do vary, with a single cycle of IVF costing anything from £4,000 to £8,000.  Because clinics are businesses, costs are not regulated by the HFEA or any other official body.  However, since clinics are in competition with each other for patients, prices tend to be fairly similar. 

When discussing prices with clinics, it's important to find out exactly what the price includes.  Some may include consultation fees and any recommended tests in their overall price, others may not. Some clinics may offer some free counselling, and others may charge for this.  Fertility drugs are usually extra, and can be very expensive. 

Why do I pay a fee to the HFEA?

The HFEA does not charge any individual patient for fertility treatment.  Clinics, both NHS and private, pay a fee to the HFEA towards the costs of being regulated and inspected. This is based on the number of treatments they carry out, and is currently £104.50 for each cycle of IVF and £52 for each donor insemination cycle.  

Some private clinics pass this fee onto their patients as an additional item on the bill. Others cover this cost in their overall treatment fees, just as they do the other costs of running a clinic.  If you are paying for treatment, ask you clinic what their practice is. 

The benefit to you, as a patient, is that you know that an HFEA-licensed clinic is complying with the law and is providing safe and appropriate treatment.  We also publish inspection reports for each clinic.