A guide to choosing fertility clinics: How to pick the one for you

No matter what stage of your fertility journey, if you’ve had concerns about not getting pregnant yet and are wondering if it’s time to seek advice, the thought of choosing a fertility clinic from the hundreds available is no doubt causing you worry and concern. Whilst there is a lot to consider when it comes to selecting a fertility clinic we want to put your mind at ease and provide you with some essential advice to make your life and your decision easier.

The Harley Street area is the heart of the medical district in London, and you will find plenty of top-tier fertility or IVF clinics in the vicinity. Whilst many people choose to seek fertility advice through the NHS, for others this may not be possible as a result of not fitting the eligibility criteria for treatment. As such, many individuals and couples who are concerned about their fertility or who have been trying to get pregnant for some time without success end up turning to private fertility clinics. In fact, the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority suggests, in its preliminary trends and figures report for the year 2021, that private funding, for patients in the UK in the age group 18 to 34, is continuing to increase with 63% of all IVF cycles funded privately. 

Taking the first step towards seeking help for fertility 

First things first, how do you know when it’s time to seek advice from a fertility doctor? According to Patient.info, around 84% of women will fall pregnant naturally within 12 months of trying if not using contraception. Although the reality is that this is different for everybody. Generally speaking, if you are under 35 and have been trying to get pregnant naturally for 12 months but haven’t had any success, this is the point at which you should seek help. By getting pregnant naturally we mean having sex every few days without protection. If you are over the age of 35, have a medical condition that might impact fertility, or have a family history of fertility problems, you should seek advice as early as possible as time is a crucial factor in the success of fertility treatment. 

Considerations when researching fertility clinics 

It’s not uncommon to feel overwhelmed about the amount of different things to bear in mind when selecting a fertility clinic and so below we have detailed some of the most important factors to help make your selection easier. 

Location of the clinic

Fertility treatment, in particular, IVF requires many trips to and from the clinic, especially when it comes to the stage of the cycle where the ovarian follicles are being stimulated with medication as this requires you to be monitored very closely and regularly by your fertility doctor. A private clinic means you have freedom of choice over where you are travelling to and can factor in your work and home to make the clinic location more convenient for you.

Eligibility criteria

In order to have IVF on the NHS stringent eligibility criteria need to be met. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommends that when it comes to fertility treatment, women should be offered IVF if they are under the age of 43 have been trying to get pregnant for two years with regular unprotected sex; or have had 12 cycles of artificial insemination with six of those using Intrauterine Insemination (IUI). Despite this, local eligibility criteria may be even more strict; it is this that is referred to as the ‘postcode lottery’. 

Specialisms

Some fertility clinics will specialise and may be more appropriate for certain individuals or couples. For example, certain fertility clinics specialise in treating older women, women who have had failed IVF in the past, or who have certain medical conditions that may make getting pregnant more difficult. If this is something that may impact you it is important to consider a clinic’s specialism as this may have a significant impact on the success of your fertility journey. 

The team and atmosphere of the clinic

IVF, or indeed any fertility treatment, is intense and can be challenging both physically and emotionally. As such, it is important that you feel well supported by your chosen clinic. In this regard, when looking at clinics you should consider patient testimonials, how your clinic deals with you over the phone, and should even consider visiting in person before making a decision so that you can meet the team and the doctors that may be overseeing your care. Remember, you’ll potentially be spending a lot of time with them.

Success rates

According to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA), the average pregnancy rate for IVF using frozen embryo transfers was 36% per embryo transferred in 2021. Preliminary 2021 IVF birth rates on average using fresh embryo transfers for patients between 18 and 34 were 33% per embryo transferred. Although success rates are definitely certainly a factor to consider, they are just one small part of a much larger picture and success rates alone do not dictate your clinic choice. They should be considered in balance with other factors. Clinic success rates will not dictate your own chance of success.

Cost of treatment

Of course we cannot talk about fertility treatment without touching on pricing. It is no secret that fertility treatment can be costly. IVF in particular is a time-intensive procedure that  often requires expensive fertility drugs to get the best results. An average IVF cycle these days costs around £5,000. However many people require additional services and tailoring of treatment to match their individual health issues and so it is not possible to estimate an exact cost. Fertility testing costs should also be factored in, as well as the cost of fertility medications. Your chosen clinic will discuss everything about costing and payment plans with you if you choose to go ahead. 

Finding the right fertility clinic for you and your family 

We hope that this guidance is helpful in terms of you selecting a fertility clinic in London and giving you peace of mind about what to consider and bear in mind. We wish you the best of luck on your fertility journey and hope you achieve your dream of expanding your family.