If you are just starting out on your fertility journey, choosing the right clinic can feel like a big decision. With so much information available and so many factors to consider – success rates, costs, location, support – it is easy to feel overwhelmed.
The good news is, in the UK, there is a trusted and transparent way to compare fertility clinics. The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) is the independent regulator of fertility treatment in the UK. All licensed clinics are inspected regularly, and the results – including success rates, patient ratings, and safety standards – are published publicly.
So, if you are looking for guidance on how to choose a fertility clinic, a good place to begin is by looking at what the HFEA recommends, and what matters most to you.
In this article, we will guide you through the key factors to consider when choosing a fertility clinic, with tips on how to make sense of the data and how to decide which clinic feels right for you. We will also explain how Hull & East Riding Fertility meets these standards, so you can feel confident in your next steps.
1. Check the clinic is licensed by the HFEA
When choosing a fertility clinic, your first priority should be making sure it is licensed by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA). In the UK, it is a legal requirement for any clinic offering fertility treatments such as IVF, IUI, egg donation or sperm donation to hold a valid HFEA licence.
Why does this matter? An HFEA licence means the clinic is regularly inspected and held to strict standards of safety, professionalism and ethical practice. Licensed clinics are required to follow national guidelines on everything from patient care and data handling to success rate reporting.
This gives you legal protection as a patient, and confidence that your treatment is being carried out responsibly.
You can check whether a clinic is licensed by visiting the HFEA website, where every licensed clinic has its own public profile with inspection reports, patient ratings and outcomes.
Hull & East Riding Fertility is fully licensed by the HFEA and has been delivering regulated, high-quality fertility care for 40 years. You can view our clinic’s HFEA profile and inspection history here:
Hull & East Riding Fertility HFEA Profile
2. Look at IVF success rates in context
IVF success rates are often the first thing people want to check when choosing a fertility clinic. While these figures can be useful, they are not always as straightforward as they seem – and they certainly don’t tell the whole story.
There are several different ways to present success, such as:
- Live births per embryo transferred
- Births per egg collection
- Births per treatment cycle
Each measure shows a different aspect of clinic performance, and none can predict your individual chances of success. That’s because outcomes depend on many personal factors – your age, your diagnosis, your medical history and the type of treatment you’re having.
This means that a clinic that performs well for one group of patients may not be the best fit for another.
To help patients interpret the numbers, the HFEA includes a ‘reliability range’ alongside each clinic’s success rates. This shows how confident you can be that a clinic’s reported performance is consistent and reliable. Larger clinics tend to have narrower ranges, as their results are based on more data. In contrast, smaller clinics may show more variation from year to year because of the smaller number of cycles performed.
At Hull & East Riding Fertility, we share our success rates openly on our website, but we also echo the HFEA’s advice:
“Information on success rates is of limited value in comparing centres and choosing where to seek treatment.”
This is because no figure, however promising, can account for your unique situation. Instead of focusing only on numbers, it is best to speak directly with your clinic about what to expect based on your own fertility history and test results.
You can view our success rates here, together with a full explanation of how they are presented.
3. Read the fertility clinic’s inspection rating and report
Another important factor to consider when choosing a fertility clinic is how it performs in HFEA inspections. Every licensed clinic in the UK is regularly inspected to make sure it is operating safely and meeting high standards of care.
During these inspections, the HFEA looks at a wide range of areas, including:
- Patient safety and well-being
- Treatment protocols and record-keeping
- Staff training and communication
- Consent procedures and legal compliance
Following each inspection, the HFEA publishes a summary report along with a simple inspection rating:
- Met the requirements of the inspection – or
- Required improvement
These reports give a clear picture of how well the clinic is run behind the scenes – not just in terms of results, but also patient protection, staff professionalism, and overall care quality.
You can find inspection ratings on each clinic’s profile page on the HFEA website, along with links to the full reports. They are free to access and written in plain English, so you can see for yourself how each clinic performs.
Hull & East Riding Fertility has consistently met the requirements of its HFEA inspections. You can view our full inspection history and reports here.
4. Consider patient ratings
While success rates and safety standards are important, they do not tell you everything about what it feels like to be a patient at a particular clinic. That is why the HFEA also collects and publishes patient feedback, giving you a real sense of the day-to-day experience.
Each clinic is given a patient rating out of five stars, based on answers to an anonymous questionnaire. These scores reflect what patients think about:
- How well they were informed
- How involved they felt in decisions about their care
- The support they received throughout treatment
- The overall experience at the clinic
This kind of feedback can be just as valuable as clinical data because it gives you an idea of how the clinic treats its patients. In what is often an emotional and uncertain journey, kindness, communication and consistency can make a real difference.
At Hull & East Riding Fertility, we are proud of our strong HFEA patient rating, and we regularly review feedback to improve the service we offer. You can read our latest patient ratings here. In addition to the HFEA data, we also carry out our own Patient Satisfaction surveys and consistently receive overall satisfaction scores of more than 96%. You can read more about our patients’ experiences on our website.
5. Think about practicalities
When choosing a fertility clinic, it is easy to focus on statistics and forget about the day-to-day practicalities. But the reality is that fertility treatment can involve frequent clinic visits – especially during IVF – so convenience and accessibility really do matter.
Location and travel
The closer a clinic is to home, the easier it is to manage appointments without adding unnecessary stress. This is particularly important during treatment cycles, when timing and flexibility are vital. Hull & East Riding Fertility is conveniently located in Hessle, just outside Hull, with easy access to all major routes in Yorkshire & Lincolnshire.
Waiting times
Some clinics offer NHS-funded treatment, but NHS waiting times can vary depending on your location and eligibility. Private treatment typically offers more flexibility with start dates, which can be an important factor if timing is sensitive for age or medical reasons. At Hull & East Riding Fertility we offer treatment to both NHS funded and privately funded patients, with little or no waiting times.
Cost and transparency
Private fertility treatment is a significant financial commitment, so it is important to understand exactly what is included in the costs you are quoted. Some clinics may advertise low starting prices, but it’s unlikely that medication, consultations or additional procedures are included in that figure. Look for a clinic that is upfront about costs and offers clear, itemised pricing.
At Hull & East Riding Fertility we have very clear and transparent pricing and will provide you with an individual costed treatment plan once we have agreed the right treatment for you.
Ease of communication
Being able to get answers quickly, whether through a phone call, email or patient portal, can make the whole experience feel more manageable. At Hull & East Riding Fertility, we pride ourselves on offering responsive, personal communication and ongoing support throughout your fertility journey.
Taking these practical factors into account alongside clinical performance will help you choose a clinic that not only meets high standards, but also fits with your lifestyle, budget, and emotional needs.
6. What kind of support does the clinic offer?
Fertility treatment is not just a medical process; it is often an extremely emotional one too. That’s why choosing a fertility clinic that offers the right support can make all the difference.
A good fertility clinic will provide more than just treatment. It will offer access to emotional support, counselling, and a team that understands the pressures and decisions you may face along the way. Knowing you have someone to talk to, whether that’s a clinician, a counsellor or a patient Care Coordinator, can ease anxiety and help you feel more in control.
Continuity of care also matters. Seeing familiar faces, having clear points of contact and knowing who to turn to when you have questions can help build trust at what can be a vulnerable time. Equally, the way a clinic communicates, how clearly they explain your options, how they handle setbacks, and how well they involve you in decisions, can have a lasting impact on your experience.
At Hull & East Riding Fertility, we believe that feeling fully supported, provided with sufficient and honest information and listened to is just as important as the clinical side of care. We have partnered with dedicated, experienced fertility counsellors and have a specialist team of professionals, all ready to offer tailored support from your first visit right through treatment and beyond.
Why choose Hull & East Riding Fertility?
Choosing a fertility clinic is a deeply personal decision, and it can feel overwhelming at times. By looking at the right factors – HFEA licensing, success rates in context, inspection reports, patient experience, practicalities, and emotional support – you can make a more informed choice that feels right for you.
At Hull & East Riding Fertility, we are proud to tick all the right boxes:
- Fully licensed and regulated by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA)
- Rated 4.5/5 for patient experience based on HFEA patient feedback
- Consistently meet high standards in safety, systems, and support, with an inspection rating of 5/5
- One of the UK’s most established private fertility clinics, licensed since 1986 and helping many thousands of people to fulfil their dream of having a baby for 40 years.
We are East Yorkshire’s only registered clinic providing specialist infertility investigations and personalised treatment, both self-funded and NHS. For self-funding patients, there is no need for a GP referral.
We place personalised care and patient wellbeing at the heart of everything we do. Whether you are just starting to explore fertility options, or are ready to begin treatment, our team is here to support you every step of the way. Please get in touch to let us know how we can help you.