If you have been exploring the subject of IVF, and you have discovered that you are not eligible for NHS-funded treatment, your attention will no doubt have shifted to the question of how much does IVF cost privately. In this article, we will seek to answer that question for you, as well as sharing our knowledge on what you can expect in terms of IVF cost variations depending on the type of treatment that is recommended for you.
IVF treatment plans will vary from one patient to the next. Everyone is different and circumstances often differ, which means unique investigations and/or procedures will be required, and this will have a direct influence on IVF cost.
Therefore, when considering their potential private IVF cost, UK patients simply trying to get an idea of what will be involved should begin with a treatment costs example.
You should be aware that there is an industry-wide requirement for IVF treatment costs to be transparent. This means that you should always be able to openly access the typical fees charged by any fertility clinic you are considering using, and there should never be any hidden charges.
Costs are divided into pre-treatment investigations and charges for the actual treatment cycle. Some patients will already have had recent investigations, so if these are in date, then usually only the IVF treatment cost will apply.
Can the cost of IVF in the UK be covered by the NHS?
The provision of NHS-funded IVF treatment varies across the country, and will depend on local policies.
As of 1 July 2022, Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) took over responsibility for commissioning health and care services across England, replacing Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs).
This move has had varied ramifications for patients of NHS trusts in England in terms of access to NHS-funded IVF treatment. In some areas, access to treatment has been made consistent, which has opened up treatment possibilities for some patients who were previously ineligible. In others, a newly introduced single policy has seen access for some residents reduced.
Not all ICBs have completed their reviews, so you may therefore find that different areas within an ICB (old CCG boundaries) still have different criteria from one another. For example, within Humber & North Yorkshire ICB, if your GP is located within the old Hull CCG area, the number of funded treatment cycles differs from that of a patient with a GP in the East Riding area. These discrepancies are likely to change over time.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) fertility guidelines make recommendations about who should be able to access NHS-funded IVF treatment in England and Wales.
However, it is down to the ICBs to make the final decision about who can have NHS-funded IVF in their local area, and their criteria may be stricter than those recommended by NICE.
It is worth looking at the fertility treatment policy stipulated by your local ICB so that you are clear on your potential eligibility to have your IVF cost covered by the NHS.
Important advice:
All of this information applies only to IVF treatment. Everyone is entitled to NHS-funded fertility investigations, for which they should approach their GP in the first instance for a referral to a fertility specialist. Waiting lists for NHS referrals may apply, however.
Fertility investigations do not have to wait; if you would like to arrange for Hull & East Riding Fertility to carry out these investigations on a private basis, please contact us.
What is involved in a typical IVF cycle, and what is the cost of IVF on a treatment-by-treatment basis?
Costs for pre-treatment investigations
Currently, the average cost of IVF UK pre-treatment consultations and investigations will cover an initial and follow-up consultation; scans and blood investigations; semen evaluation (if applicable) and pre-treatment blood investigations.
Cost for IVF treatment
IVF treatment costs will vary depending on the individual treatment plan recommended. These may be:
- IVF (In-Vitro Fertilisation) – costs typically include treatment scans, support counselling sessions and a post-treatment consultation and pregnancy scan
- ICSI (Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection) – a supplementary cost to standard IVF treatment applies
- FET (Frozen Embryo Transfer) – costs typically include treatment scans, support counselling sessions and a post-treatment consultation and pregnancy scan
- Embryo Glue – often included as an option within a Costed Treatment Plan
Treatment drugs and medication will also form part of the IVF treatment cost, and these will again vary depending on the individual treatment plan.
There will also be an HFEA fee which is payable for each cycle of IVF or ICSI that reaches egg retrieval, and for all FET treatments. The HFEA (Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority) is the licensing authority for all fertility clinics and centres carrying out assisted conception procedures and human embryo research.
Because fertility treatment fees are subject to change, please use this link to access current examples of a typical pre-treatment and treatment cycle of IVF and the associated IVF treatment costs.
Considering your next steps on your fertility journey?
If you have been trying to get pregnant for a year without success, you should approach your GP in the first instance, so that they can refer you both for investigative tests. Women aged 36 and over, and anyone who’s already aware they may have fertility problems, are wise to see their GP sooner.
You may also seek private fertility advice, for which there is no need to arrange a GP referral. But do bear in mind that all patients, whether or not self-funded, are entitled to NHS funded fertility investigations, which can help reduce the overall cost of IVF treatment. Asking about NHS waiting times may help you decide whether to arrange investigations on a private basis.
Hull & East Riding Fertility has helped create thousands of babies since it was founded in 1986. Offering a range of services for those seeking fertility assistance, we are East Yorkshire’s only registered clinic providing specialist infertility investigations and personalised treatment, for both self-funded and NHS patients.
We also offer a range of investigatory and fertility treatment planning services at our two satellite fertility clinics in York.
You will find all our IVF treatment costs completely transparent, and typical treatment examples as well as a full list of costs can be accessed here.
We would be delighted to welcome you at any of our clinics to discuss your needs. Please get in touch to let us know how we can help you.