IVF in 2026: The Facts Every Patient Should Know Before Starting Treatment
Based on the latest data from the UK's fertility regulator, the HFEA
If you're considering IVF, you're not alone — and the latest figures from the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) make that clearer than ever. Their landmark Fertility Trends 2024 report, the most comprehensive overview of UK fertility treatment published to date, reveals a picture that is both encouraging and, in places, sobering. Here's what it means for you.
More People Than Ever Are Having IVF — And It's Working
The headline figure is striking: the number of people having IVF in the UK has nearly tripled
in 30 years, rising from around 19,000 patients in 1994 to over 53,000 in 2024. Today, roughly one in every 31 children born in the UK was conceived through IVF. This is no longer a niche treatment — it is a mainstream path to parenthood.
The most common type of IVF remains treatment using a patient's own eggs and their partner's sperm, accounting for 81% of all IVF births. Success rates have also improved, with average birth rates per embryo transferred now sitting at around 30% — a meaningful increase on previous years.
What Are the Chances of Success?
Success in IVF depends on many factors, but age remains the most significant. The data is clear: starting treatment earlier gives you the best chance of success. This isn't a reason to panic — but it is a reason not to delay unnecessarily if you have concerns about your fertility. If you're in your late 30s or beyond and have been trying to conceive for some time, speaking to a specialist sooner rather than later is one of the most impactful steps you can take.
Ethnic Disparities in IVF Outcomes: A Conversation Worth Having
One of the most important — and troubling — findings in this year's report is the ongoing
gap in IVF success rates between different ethnic groups. White patients currently see a birth rate of 36% per embryo transferred, while Black and Asian patients see a rate of 30%. For Black patients in particular, this disparity persists even though many are now starting IVF earlier than in previous years.
These gaps are not explained by age alone, and the HFEA has issued an ongoing call to action to the sector to investigate and address the causes. If you are from a Black or Asian background, it is entirely reasonable to ask your clinic what steps they are taking to support patients from diverse communities — and what their own outcome data shows.
What If You Need a Donor?
For patients who need donor eggs or sperm, the report offers some useful context. The number of new UK egg donors has grown by 6% over the past decade, while new sperm donors have increased by 26% — though much of the sperm donor growth reflects imports from overseas banks rather than a surge in UK donors, who have remained at a steady 300–400 per year.
This means that if you are considering treatment with donor sperm or eggs, planning ahead matters. Waiting times for donors can vary, and understanding your options early — including the difference between UK and overseas donors, and what that means for your future child's right to access information about their origins — is an important part of the process.
A specialist consultation is the best place to have that conversation in the context of your specific situation.
Knowledge Is the First Step
Reports like this one matter because they remind us that IVF is not a single experience — outcomes vary by age, by ethnicity, by clinic, and by individual circumstance. The data is a starting point, not a verdict.
If you are considering IVF, the most valuable thing you can do right now is ask questions. What do the statistics mean for someone your age? What should you look for in a clinic? What does a realistic journey look like for you specifically? Those conversations can feel daunting, but they are far better had early — before decisions are made under pressure. Book a consultation today — and start with the facts that matter most to you.
Source: HFEA Fertility Trends 2024 Report. Published June 2026.
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