Let’s Make IVF More Accessible for All

By Dr Thanos Papathanasiou, CEO & Medical Director, Bourn Hall

The pioneers of IVF and founders of Bourn Hall fertility clinic envisioned a world in which every hopeful couple could build a family. Making IVF access in the UK clearer and kinder is how we honour that purpose today.

In my recent BioNews article, I suggest raising national ambition-from around 1 in 32 IVF-conceived births towards something closer to 1 in 10, as seen in countries such as Denmark and Israel. The point isn’t to chase numbers; it’s to remove avoidable barriers so that people who want children can reach help when they need it. People come to us through different routes: some pursue NHS IVF funding, others choose self-funded IVF for flexibility or timing. Our clinical standards are constant; we explain options so you can choose what fits your circumstances.

Local limitations: variation in access

Across the UK, access to fertility treatment in the UK varies. Local Integrated Care Boards work within tight annual budgets and must balance many priorities. Eligibility rules differ-how many cycles are funded, age limits, and whether previous children are considered-so patients’ routes are not always the same.

Local vs national strategy

A more joined-up, nationally guided approach-developed with local partners-could:

• enable long-term, expert-led planning
• ensure consistent eligibility and standards across the country
• reduce administrative burden through coordinated purchasing
• draw on models that already work well in other HFEA-regulated services
• Make IVF a national priority

Elevating IVF as a national priority would make routes to treatment clearer and fairer. It would also be economically sensible over the long term and would help address today’s low fertility rate.

Economic perspective

• IVF is cost-effective:
• Public cost per IVF child: ~£13,000-£16,000
• Lifetime tax contribution: over £100,000 per child
• Compared with many interventions, IVF delivers benefits that unfold over decades.

A note on fertility rates

• The UK fertility rate is 1.44 (below the replacement level of 2.1).
• IVF will not solve population trends alone, but it ensures that those who want children are not blocked by infertility.

Common concerns-practical answers

• Uncontrolled demand? Experience elsewhere shows an initial rise followed by stabilisation under organised access.
• Fairness? Infertility affects around 1 in 6 adults and is recognised as a health condition.
• Ethics and safety? IVF in the UK is tightly regulated by the HFEA and widely used worldwide.