Human Fertilisation Embryology Authority: HFEA sets fees for single embryo IVF treatment

Human Fertilisation Embryology Authority   (National)

The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) today announced it will redefine the fee it charges clinics for IVF following a single embryo transfer.

The move recognises that patients who transfer only one embryo per round of treatment should not be penalised within the existing scheme.

From 1 October 2010, the new arrangement will see clinics pay the HFEA fee of £104.50 for a patient’s initial treatment cycle using single embryo transfer. If the first cycle is unsuccessful, each additional frozen embryo transfer will not be charged.

Currently, clinics pay the HFEA for each cycle of IVF they carry out. Many clinics pass this fee onto patients. The extra cost can influence patients to have multiple embryos transferred in a single cycle, increasing the risk of a multiple pregnancy.

Speaking today, Chair of the HFEA Prof Lisa Jardine said:

“We want to send a positive message to patients and clinics that we are doing everything in our power to promote low risk single embryo transfer fertility treatment.
“Redefining the HFEA fee demonstrates our commitment to ensuring we remove obstacles that discourage patients from choosing single embryo transfer for their treatment.”

Ends.

Notes to editors

* The HFEA does not charge individual patients for fertility treatment. Clinics, both NHS and private, pay a fee to the HFEA towards the costs of being regulated and inspected. The fee is based on the number of treatments clinics carry out. Currently the fees are:
* £104.50 for each cycle of in vitro fertilisation (IVF)
* £52 for each cycle of donor insemination.
* The HFEA is the independent regulator for IVF treatment and embryo research. Our role is to protect patients and the public interest, to drive improvement in the treatment and research sectors and to provide information to the public and policymakers about treatment and research.

* The HFEA was set up in August 1991 as part of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990.  The HFEA’s principal tasks are to license and monitor clinics that carry out in vitro fertilisation (IVF), artificial insemination (AI) and human embryo research. The HFEA also regulates the storage of gametes (eggs and sperm) and embryos.

* Chair of the HFEA Professor Lisa Jardine is available for follow up interviews. Please contact the HFEA press office for more information.

Links to more information

* Multiple births review page
http://www.hfea.gov.uk/530.html

* HFEA fees
http://www.hfea.gov.uk/1899.html

* One at a time is a professionally-led site aimed at reducing the risks of multiple pregnancies from fertility treatment.
www.oneatatime.org.uk

For further information please contact the HFEA press office.

Contacts

NDS Enquiries
Phone: For enquiries please contact the above department
ndsenquiries@coi.gsi.gov.uk