Skip to content
pollie

Guide

Choosing a clinic

Every UK fertility clinic must be licensed and inspected by the HFEA, so you can compare them on the same measures. Here's how to read them.

Reading the numbers

Births per embryo transferred

The HFEA's headline measure. It rewards transferring one embryo at a time, which is safer. It doesn't include people who never reach transfer.

Births per egg collection

Closer to 'my chance per round of IVF' – it counts every transfer (fresh and frozen) from one egg collection. Includes PGT-A, excludes donor eggs.

Compared with the national average

The HFEA labels each rate 'above', 'consistent with' or 'below' the national average, allowing for clinic size. Small differences of a few percentage points are usually chance – 'consistent' is a good result.

Reliability range

The range the clinic's true rate probably sits in. Small clinics have wider ranges – that doesn't mean they're worse.

Multiple birth rate

Twins and triplets carry real risks for parents and babies. The HFEA target is 10% or lower; the UK average is about 3%.

Inspection rating

The HFEA inspectors' score out of 5, based on how well the clinic meets standards for safety, the lab, consent and patient information. It's linked to how long the licence runs.

Patient rating

Patients' and donors' scores out of 5 for overall experience, privacy and dignity, understanding and empathy – plus whether they paid what they expected. Look at how many ratings there are.

Example: how a clinic's rate is shown

Under 38 – births per embryo transferred37% vs UK 35%
Likely range 32–42% · 896 treatmentsIn line with UK

This clinic Likely range UK average

This clinic's rate (37%) is a little above the UK average (35%), but the UK average sits inside its likely range – so it's 'consistent with' the national average. That's normal and a good result.

Beyond the numbers

  • Location and travel

    IVF can mean 6–10 visits in a few weeks. A satellite clinic near you may do scans locally.

  • NHS or private

    If you're NHS-funded, your area may limit which clinics you can use.

  • Treatments you need

    Not every clinic offers donor eggs, embryo testing or surgical sperm retrieval.

  • Donor waiting times

    These vary a lot by clinic and by donor ethnicity – check the clinic profile.

  • How you're treated

    Look at patient ratings for empathy, dignity and understanding, and how many people rated.

  • Price transparency

    Check 'did you pay what you expected' and ask for a written, fully costed plan.

Questions to ask

Results

  • What are your birth rates for people my age and situation?
  • How many cycles like mine do you do each year?
  • What's your multiple birth rate?

Costs

  • Can I have a fully costed, written treatment plan – including drugs, scans, blood tests, ICSI, freezing, storage and the HFEA fee?
  • What happens to the cost if my cycle is cancelled or changes?
  • Do you offer packages, refunds or multi-cycle discounts – what are the conditions?

Care

  • Will I see the same doctor or nurse throughout?
  • Who do I contact out of hours?
  • Is counselling included, and how many sessions?
  • Are you open at weekends for scans and egg collection?

Add-ons

  • Which add-ons do you offer and how are they rated by the HFEA?
  • Why would you recommend this add-on for me?

Donors

  • What are your current donor waiting times for my ethnicity?
  • Do you recruit UK donors or import from abroad?
  • Can I reserve sperm or eggs for siblings?

Practicalities

  • Can some monitoring scans be done at a satellite clinic nearer to me?
  • Do you have a BMI or age limit?
  • Is there step-free access and parking?

Unhappy with a clinic? Complain to the clinic first; if that doesn't resolve it, you can contact the HFEA.

Find and compare clinicsWhich add-ons work?

Sources