Number of IVF patients triples in 30 years, says fertility regulator

Overall, IVF births continue to account for roughly one child in every classroom (1 in 31) across the UK, with most (81%) babies born from IVF treatment using a patient’s own eggs and partner sperm.

However, as patient numbers increase, differences remain – particularly when it comes to birth rates and age when starting treatment.

Worryingly, Black and Asian patients aged 18-37 continue to have lower IVF birth rates than those from White and Mixed ethnic backgrounds, with the biggest difference showing White patients having a birth rate above 35% per embryo transferred (36%) and Black and Asian patients having a birth rate of just 30%. For Black patients, this disparity continues despite starting IVF earlier than in previous years, with the average age at the time of treatment decreasing by around a year from 2019 to 2024.

Although the gap is starting to close for Black patients, they are still starting IVF almost a year later than Asian and White patients. The data also shows that patients from Mixed ethnic backgrounds are starting treatment a year later, increasing from 35 in 2019 to 36 in 2024.

Julia Chain, Chair of the HFEA, said:

“The UK has long been a pioneer in fertility treatment, and with the 50th anniversary of the birth of Louise Brown, the first baby born from IVF, fast approaching, we are pleased to see that more people are starting or growing their families with the help of IVF.

“At a time when national birth rates have fallen to an all-time low, more single patients and female same-sex couples are having IVF, but almost three quarters of patients are having to pay for treatment themselves, ensuring fair and equitable access to treatment for all patients has never been more important.

“The fertility sector has grown significantly over the past 30 years, yet disparities in access to, and outcomes of, treatment remain, and we will continue to highlight these through our data and ongoing call to action.”

Other findings from the report include:

• The number of patients undergoing in vitro fertilisation (IVF) has almost tripled over the last 30 years, from around 19,000 in the early 1990s to 53,000 in 2024.
• Frozen embryo transfers have increased in use, now accounting for almost half (48%) of all IVF cycles carried out in 2024.
• Egg and embryo freezing cycles made up almost 1 in 5 cycles (17%) carried out in 2024. Most (10%) were embryo freezing cycles.
• IVF births have doubled from less than 1.5% of all UK births in 2004 to over 3% in 2024.
• 81% of IVF births were from treatment using a patient’s own eggs and partner sperm. 1 in 5 births were from IVF using donor eggs, sperm, or embryos and DI, accounting for 1 in 137 of all UK births in 2024.
• The average IVF birth rate per embryo transferred was 30% in 2024. Birth rates were highest for patients aged 18-34 at 38%, compared with 8% for patients aged 43-44.
• The proportion of National Health Service (NHS) funded IVF cycles declined from 35% in 2019 to 28% in 2024 in the UK and was lowest in England (25%).

Read the Fertility treatment 2024: Trends and figures report

Ends

For more information or for interviews with a HFEA spokesperson, please contact press.office@hfea.gov.uk or call 020 7291 8226.

For out of hours requests, please call the duty press officer on 07771981920.

Notes to editors

• This report provides an update on fertility treatment and outcomes in the UK and covers the period from 1991-2024 where data is available.
• Throughout this report, when referring to IVF, this includes both fresh and frozen IVF treatments as well as treatments using ICSI unless otherwise stated.
• The HFEA dashboard shows HFEA data from 1991 onwards and is interactive, allowing users to investigate the topics in this report in more detail. Clinic level data can be found on Choose a Fertility Clinic.

About the HFEA

• The HFEA is the UK’s independent regulator of fertility treatment and research using human embryos.
• Set up in 1990 by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act, the HFEA is responsible for licensing, monitoring, and inspecting fertility clinics - and taking enforcement action where necessary - to ensure everyone accessing fertility treatment receives high quality care.
• The HFEA is an ‘arm’s length body’ of the Department of Health and Social Care, working independently from Government providing free, clear, and impartial information about fertility treatment, clinics and egg, sperm and embryo donation.
• The HFEA collects and verifies data on all treatments that take place in UK licensed clinics which can support scientific developments and research and service planning and delivery.
• The HFEA holds records of all donors and children born since 1991. See the HFEA dashboard for more information.
• The HFEA is funded by licence fees, IVF treatment fees and a small grant from UK central government. For more information, visit hfea.gov.uk.