two women in a clinic talking about IVF and infertility

The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority is the UK's independent regulator overseeing the use of gametes and embryos in fertility treatment and research.

The HFEA licenses fertility clinics and centres carrying out in vitro fertilisation (IVF), other assisted conception procedures and human embryo research.

For patients & their supporters

Choose a fertility clinic

Compare and contrast fertility clinics based on your needs.

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Find out the entire fertility process, step by step, from how to get started to what will happen at the fertility clinic.

Research what infertility is and see what different treatment options are available.

...more for patients & their supporters

For donor-conceived people & their parents

© Yuri Arcurs - Fotolia.comThousands of people in the UK have been born with the help of donated eggs, sperm or embryos.

If you are donor conceived, you are entitled to approach the HFEA to find information about where you came from and if you have any siblings also conceived by donation.

..more for donor-conceived people & their parents

For donors

People donate for many different reasons, including those who already have children of their own and want others to be able to experience the joy of being a parent.

Find out what you should be considering before donating sperm, eggs or embryos and read about how to start the process.

...more about donating

For clinic staff & other professionals

The latest guidance, HFEA forms and procedures for staff members of HFEA licensed clinics. Download the Code of Practice and the latest inspection reports. Logon to read the latest Alerts.

 

...more for clinic staff

For media & researchers

HFEA press releases and news for those interested in keeping up with what’s going on in the fertility sector.

Useful background information and statistics on the HFEA for anybody researching fertility and the HFEA.

...more for media & researchers

Latest from the HFEA

28.1.10
The HFEA have released the latest clinic treatment data. The figures cover live birth data for the period 01/04/07 – 31/03/08 and pregnancy rate data from 01/04/08 – 31/03/09. Visit our ‘Choose a Fertility Clinic’ service to see the latest figures.

...Choose a Fertility Clinic
11.1.10
Trish Davies is to step down from her position as Director of Compliance on 31 March 2010....read the statement
4.1.10
The HFEA has today for the first time decided to publish the report and Licence Committee minutes relating to Grade A incidents. Two of which occurred earlier last year at Guy’s Assisted Conception Unit. ...read the press release
14.12.09
Incident at Guy's: the facts - The HFEA have issued a response to a report in the Independent on Sunday (13.12.09)...read the statement

Understanding fertility clinic success rates

person drawing a graphWhat do clinic success rates really mean? Are they that different between clinics?

...read about clinic success rates

 

What are the risks of multiple pregnancy from fertility treatment?

1 October 2009

     

The new Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act came into effect on 1 October.

...find out what this means for your clinic

Parenthood laws

Dictionary definition of 'law'

The law on legal parenthood following fertility treatment 
changed on 6th April 2009.

The change affects both fertility treatment patients and clinics. 

...read more about the law change

Sex selection

The term ‘sex selection’ is used to refer to various processes that allow you to choose the sex of an embryo.

In the UK sex selection is only allowed for medical reasons.

...read more about sex selection

Code of Practice now online

Get up to date information from the 8th Code of Practice quickly with easy
navigation and an improved search.

 

...read the 8th Code of Practice

Support is absolutely vital...infertility treatment can be such a solitary experience.

Caroline, 35, and her husband Andrew have unexplained infertility.

...read Caroline's story