The United Kingdom, the birthplace of the world’s first test-tube baby (Louise Brown), led the way in pioneering in vitro fertilisation globally. Nowadays, it is one of the biggest IVF markets in Europe and it can boast some of the world’s best fertility clinics, acclaimed IVF experts and one of the most comprehensive regulatory mechanisms for assisted reproduction. When we top it with convenient travel arrangements from practically everywhere in the world and the fact that the UK is a native English speaking country, it becomes clear why this country is ranked high on the list of leading destinations for IVF treatment.
There are over 70 IVF clinics registered across the UK currently and the most renowned ones are located in the country’s capital city – London. The UK clinics are known not only for the world-class treatment standards but also due to the fact that they are strictly regulated by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA), a public body ensuring that fertility clinics and research centres comply with the law. What’s interesting, the majority of fertility patients in the UK are still the domestic ones. They can choose between two options: either pay for private treatment or see if they are eligible for free treatment through the National Health Service (NHS). However, fertility treatment funded by the NHS varies across the UK and the waiting lists in some areas can be quite long.
IUI in the UK
Intrauterine insemination (IUI) is legal in the UK and is widely available from private fertility clinics. The costs of IUI in the United Kingdom range from about EUR 800 to 1,800 for a cycle of IUI. If you want to reduce costs, you should know that many fertility clinics offer packages of 3 IUI cycles at a cost of approximately EUR 2,650 which is cheaper than purchasing single cycles. Fertility specialists suggest you should prepare for at least three cycles to achieve success (though results may vary depending on individual patients’ cases).
Egg Donation in the UK
Egg donation in the UK is allowed by the law. The biggest and the most important difference in the UK’s IVF legislation (as compared to other European destinations) is the rule of donors’ non-anonymity. It means that people conceived through egg donation have the right to apply to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) to receive non-identifying information on their donors when they reach the age of 16. When they are 18 years old, they have free access to all of the information the clinic submitted at the time of the donation.
The fact that egg donation is non-anonymous requires both donors and recipients to fully realise the consequences of their decision and the impact it may have on their future as well as the future of the donor-conceived children. Prior to the treatment, donors and recipients have to fill out the consent forms, which ensures all parties involved are fully aware of the implications of their actions. According to the HFEA guidelines, clinical staff should be present when filling out the forms to answer any questions or doubts and, additionally, IVF clinics must offer counselling to the patients throughout the process in order to help them realise all the possible risks and consequences.
In the UK, egg donation (as well as sperm and embryo donation) is offered to infertile heterosexual couples, single women and same-sex couples (both female and male). What’s important is a lack of legal age limit for patients and thus, the UK’s fertility clinics set their own limits for treatment. Generally, private units allow women up to the age of 55 and fertility treatments funded by the NHS are offered to women up to the age of 42.
Egg Donors in the UK
Egg donors in the UK must be between the age of 18 and 36. They have to undergo extensive testing for certain genetic disorders and sexually transmitted infections, such as HIV I & II ab & antigen, hepatitis B core & antigen, hepatitis C ab, HTLV I & II ab, gonorrhoea, chlamydia and syphilis. Some clinics may set additional eligibility criteria, such as e.g. minimum and maximum Body Mass Indexes (BMIs). Egg donors in the UK should also take implications counselling, where they can explore their emotions and expectations about the process of providing their own gametes so that other people could start their dream family.
As egg donation in the UK has been non-anonymous since April 1st, 2005, egg donors have been required legally to be identifiable to any person or persons conceived as a result of their donation. The information submitted by clinics includes the donor’s age, blood type and Rh factor, ethnicity, education completed, hobbies, physical characteristics (height, weight, eye and hair colour), athletic and musical skills and the number of children. Egg donors don’t have any legal rights or obligations towards their genetic children but they can choose the number of children and families created from their donated eggs (the maximum number is ten). In the UK, paying for egg donation is illegal. However, egg donors can receive compensation of up to £750 per donation ‘cycle’ to cover their costs (like travel, accommodation and childcare).
Embryo Donation in the UK
Similarly to egg donation, embryo donation in the UK is allowed and non-anonymous. In the case of embryos donated to fertility treatment, egg donors are required to be between 18 and 36 years old and sperm donors – between 18 and 45. They need to undergo the same health checks that any other sperm or egg donor would have to undergo. Embryos donated to research or training purposes aren’t subjected to any eligibility criteria. According to the Code of Practice by HFEA, the maximum number of embryos to transfer is 3.
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IVF Laws in the UK
The UK offers a wide choice of fertility treatments, including ICSI, surrogacy, embryo donation and IVF (with either own gametes, sperm donation, egg donation or both egg and sperm donation). Preimplantation Genetic Testing for Aneuploidies (PGT-A, previously known as PGS) is allowed but it is considered an IVF add-on. Preimplantation Genetic Testing for Monogenic/Single-Gene Disorders (PGT-M) and Preimplantation Genetic Testing for Chromosomal Structural Rearrangements (PGT-SR) are allowed and prescribed if there is a history of a serious genetic condition or inherited chromosome abnormalities. Surrogacy is allowed as well as social freezing of oocytes. Frozen eggs and embryos can be stored and the standard storage period established by HFEA is 10 years. This period can be extended in certain circumstances for up to 55 years (after a medical review), in 10-year increments. The UK’s IVF legislation prohibits sex-selection for reasons other than medical.
Egg Donation Success Rates in the UK
In the UK, HFEA collects individual clinic success rates and publishes them on its website: https://www.hfea.gov.uk/choose-a-clinic/clinic-search/. Additionally, there are the HFEA’s fertility treatment reports published every year and it is where patients can find i.e. national pregnancy rates for fertility treatment. According to the publication ‘Fertility treatment, 2017: trends and figures’ (released in May 2019), the overall IVF birth rate per embryo transferred (PET) was 22%. The highest birth rate PET for treatments with donor eggs and donor sperm was 30%.
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Safety and Quality of IVF Treatment in the UK
The two most important pieces of IVF legislation in the UK are the Human Fertilisation and Embryology (HFE) Act 1990 (as amended) and the HFE Act 2008. In 2004, the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority Regulations 2004/1511 enabled donor-conceived children to access the identity information of their sperm/egg/embryo donor after reaching the age of 18. Nowadays, UK fertility clinics and human embryo research centres have to comply with both of the HFE Acts and also the HFEA’s Code of Practice. The latter provides guidance to help clinics deliver safe, effective and legally compliant treatment and research. Additionally, all the assisted reproductive laws and directives in the UK are in line with the European Union Tissue and Cells Directives (EUTCD) and NICE guidelines – evidence-based recommendations for health and care in England.
IVF in UK Question and Answers
What is the cost of IVF in the UK?
Access to funded IVF treatment is patchy in the UK and is dependent upon your location. Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) who are responsible for developing regional policies regarding access to treatments can choose to offer no funded cycles or up to three. There are in excess of 90 private IVF clinics in the UK offering cycles that range from £2,500 to £5,000. This cost usually includes scans, egg collection, embryology and embryo transfer. Medication, tests and additional procedures are not normally included in the cost of a cycle and are charged separately.
How much does it cost to freeze your eggs in the UK?
The average age of mums in the UK has gradually increased to just over 30 over with many women now choosing to have a baby in their late thirties or beyond. More and more women in the UK are making the decision to preserve their fertility by freezing their eggs so they have the possibility of becoming a mother later on in life. The cost of the procedure averages between £3,500 and £4,500 for one cycle of treatment. However, you will have to pay an annual fee to keep your eggs stored (from £200 to £500).
How much does embryo donation cost in the UK?
Embryos are usually donated by couples or women who have successfully had their baby or babies from IVF and who want to help other parents-to-be. Donors are not paid apart from basic expenses, so they give their embryos voluntarily. However, clinics may offer benefits for embryo donors by giving discounts on their treatment, reduced storage charges or quicker access to treatment. Embryo donation costs are approximately £3,000 - £3,500 which does not include medication costs which can vary between £700 and £2,000.
What is the cost of IVF with donor eggs in the UK?
Egg donor treatment in the UK is costly and is amongst the highest anywhere in Europe with treatment prices starting at around £5,000 per cycle. This price however does not include additional costs, such as donor expenses, donor waiting list fees, embryo cultivation, certain medication or any necessary blood, uterine, or sperm analysis tests. Taken together treatments can easily rise to above £10,000.
How much does donor sperm for IVF cost in the UK?
Donor sperm is much less costly than donor eggs. If purchased from a bank costs can run from £750 to £1,000 and may be subjected to additional delivery costs. Clinics mainly purchase sperm directly from banks and offer inclusive treatment packages – in these cases all donors are screened for infections and inherited diseases. The cost of packages varies but expect to pay between £800 to £1,300 per cycle for donor insemination and potentially in excess of £4,500 for IVF treatment with donor sperm.
