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IVF Treatments Rise Once Again As Fertility Regulator Prepares For A New Era

 The number of women undergoing IVF treatment has risen once again, according to the latest figures released by the fertility regulator, the Human Fertility and Embryology Authority (HFEA) today. 

As the regulator prepares for the introduction of the amended Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990 (coming into force on 1st October), it reveals that 36,861 women received IVF treatment (all forms) in UK clinics in 2007, compared to 34,855 in 2006 - an increase of 5.8%.  The number of IVF treatments also increased by 5.8% from 44,275 in 2006 to 46,829 in 2007.

The latest figures also reveal once again the impact of age on IVF success.  For women aged 35 or under (using their own fresh eggs) 32.3% of treatments resulted in a live birth.  For women aged over 44 undergoing the same treatment, the live birth rate was 3.1%.

Donor insemination (DI) treatments fell by 8.3%, from 4,225 in 2006 to 3,876 in 2007.  There was a slight rise in overall DI live birth rates with 11.4% of treatments resulting in a live birth compared to 10.8% in 2006.

The figures are published as the HFEA prepares to launch its new "Choose a Fertility Clinic" website, an online service that provides patients with detailed information about the UK's 114 licensed fertility clinics and the treatments they offer. 

The site will go live on Thursday 1st October 2009, the day the new Act comes into force. 

Prof Lisa Jardine, Chair of the HFEA, said:

"Fertility treatment is big business in the UK. People can spend thousands of pounds in the hope of having a baby. It is only right that people have access to as much information as possible to help them make a choice about where they go for their treatment. 

"Choose a Fertility Clinic should be the starting point for anyone considering fertility treatment as it will help them understand their options, their chances of success and how to go about choosing the right clinic to meet their needs.

"Every patient is different and most clinics have live birth rates around the national average.  These factors make it even more important for patients to see in detail what each clinic has to offer."

Choose a Fertility Clinic is the result of extensive consultation with patients and the fertility sector. The site provides detailed information about each clinic including:

• the treatments available
• areas of special interest or research
• facilities and staff 
• eligibility and funding
• donor services and recruitment
• screening and storage

The new site presents clinic statistics for different treatments in comparison to the national average, allows patients to look at figures in greater detail than was previously available and helps patients understand what their chance of success will be.