One child in every school class born as a result of IVF
The equivalent of almost one child in every classroom in the UK is now born as a result IVF fertility treatment, new figures suggest.
Almost 21,000 babies were born from IVF in 2023, compared to 8,700 in 2000, the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) said.
The authors of the fertility regulator's latest report wrote: 'IVF births are making up a higher proportion of all UK births over time, increasing from 1.3% in 2000 to 3.1% in 2023.
'This means around one in 32 UK births in 2023 were via IVF – roughly one child in every classroom – compared to one in 43 in 2013.'
The HFEA said that its latest figures show the 'changing landscape' of fertility care in the UK.
Overall, 52,400 patients had ,ore than 77,500 in vitro fertilisation (IVF) cycles at UK fertility clinics in 2023.
Some 11% of births to women aged 40-44 were a result of IVF, increasing from 4% in 2000 and accounting for 0.5% of all births, HFEA said.
The data also reveal a rise in the proportion of women freezing their eggs – a rise from 4,700 in 2022 to 6,900 in 2023 – but the HFEA said that the number of patients using their stored frozen eggs in treatment remains 'low'.
Meanwhile the HFEA also said that in 2023, around 820 babies were born following donor insemination (DI) treatment.
The figures also show a reduction in the number of IVF treatments funded by the NHS.
The proportion of NHS-funded IVF cycles declined from 35% in 2019 to 27% in 2023 in the UK, decreasing most in England, the HFEA said.
More than half (54%) of IVF cycles in Scotland were funded by the NHS in 2023, compared to 49% in Northern Ireland; 33% in Wales; and 24% in England.
The HFEA also raised concerns about racial disparities in IVF.
It said that in recent years, Asian and black patients have had lower birth rates compared to white patients and those from a mixed ethnic background.
Julia Chain, chairwoman of the HFEA, said: 'IVF is helping more people have babies including patients of different ages and family types.
'One in 32 of all UK births are from IVF and 11% of all UK births are to women aged 40-44 who had IVF.
'We are also seeing more single patients and female same-sex couples having IVF.
'These findings highlight the changing landscape of the UK fertility sector and how it could develop in the years to come.
'However, we are very concerned to see that black and Asian patients continue to have lower IVF birth rates compared to other patient groups, and our recent survey found that Asian and Black patients are less likely to report being satisfied with their fertility treatment.'
Data from the Office for National Statistics show that the fertility rate in England and Wales in 2023 was 1.44 children per woman – the lowest level on record.
Commenting on the HFEA data, a spokesperson from the fertility charity Fertility Network UK said: 'This important report from the HFEA reflects how essential fertility treatment has become for growing families in the UK and underlines not just the scientific advances in fertility care, but also the profound social impact of helping people realise their dreams of parenthood.
'Delays in accessing treatment — whether due to long GP referral times or inconsistent NHS funding — can have a devastating emotional and biological impact. We call for fair and timely access to fertility services for all, wherever they live and whatever their background.'
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The Guardian
30 minutes ago
- The Guardian
Equivalent of one child in every British classroom now born via IVF, data shows
The proportion of women giving birth after fertility treatment in the UK has increased by more than a third in a decade, with the equivalent of one child in every classroom now born as a result of IVF, figures show. One in 32 births in 2023 were the result of in vitro fertilisation, up 34% from one in 43 in 2013, according to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA). Overall in 2023, 52,400 patients had more than 77,500 IVF cycles at licensed fertility clinics in the UK, while about 20,700 babies were born via the process, up from 8,700 in 2000, the fertility regulator said. The number of women freezing their eggs also increased sharply, with cycles up from 4,700 in 2022 to 6,900 in 2023. Egg freezing increased most among women in their 30s, but the number using their stored frozen eggs remained low, the report said. IVF births now make up a higher proportion of all UK births, increasing from 1.3% in 2000 to 3.1% in 2023. 'This means around one in 32 UK births in 2023 were via IVF – roughly one child in every classroom – compared to one in 43 in 2013,' the report said. For women aged 40-44, 11% of births were as a result of IVF, up from 4% in 2000, accounting for 0.5% of all births, HFEA said. About 820 babies were born as a result of donor insemination (DI) treatment in 2023. The report also reveals a reduction in the number of IVF treatments funded by the health service. The proportion of NHS-funded IVF cycles declined from 35% in 2019 to 27% in 2023 in the UK, decreasing most in England, the HFEA said. More than half (54%) of IVF cycles in Scotland were funded by the NHS in 2023, compared with 49% in Northern Ireland, 33% in Wales and 24% in England. The HFEA also raised concerns about racial disparities in IVF treatment. In recent years, Asian and black patients have had lower birthrates compared with white patients and those from mixed ethnic backgrounds, according to the report. Julia Chain, the chair of the HFEA, said: 'IVF is helping more people have babies including patients of different ages and family types. One in 32 of all UK births are from IVF … We are also seeing more single patients and female same-sex couples having IVF. These findings highlight the changing landscape of the UK fertility sector and how it could develop in the years to come. 'However, we are very concerned to see that black and Asian patients continue to have lower IVF birthrates compared to other patient groups, and our recent national patient survey found that Asian and black patients are less likely to report being satisfied with their fertility treatment.' The survey also found that of the 80% of fertility patients who spoke to a GP before starting treatment, most waited up to a year to start treatment but 16% waited more than two years. Recent data showed that gynaecology waiting lists were long, Chain said. Anyone with concerns about their fertility should speak to their GP, she added. 'We also encourage all primary care providers to ensure speedy referrals to specialist fertility services, if needed, to ensure the chances of success are as high as possible.' The fertility rate in England and Wales in 2023 was 1.44 children per woman, according to the Office for National Statistics – the lowest level on record.
Sky News
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500 families in Oxford call for maternity unit to be investigated
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And campaigners - calling themselves the Families Failed by OUH Maternity Services - are calling for Oxford to be on that initial list. The unit was rated "requires improvement" in its last inspection by the government's watchdog, the Care Quality Commission, in April 2023. The CQC flagged issues around maintaining patient dignity, and said medicines were not always safely stored and managed. The unit did not manage the control of infection consistently it said, and wards were not always kept clean. One mum told the campaign group she thought she was going to die after being left alone while in labour and denied pain relief. Another said she is reluctant to consider having another child and feels a "profound loss of trust in the NHS". Trust to meet campaign group Yvonne Christley, Chief Nursing Officer at OUH, said she apologised "for not being able to respond in detail about individual patient cases". 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She was sent away to an observation area experiencing intense contractions for more than six hours. In those hours, she said she was abandoned without pain relief and was bleeding. "I felt so alone in the dead of night. My husband had been sent home, and I just wanted someone to talk to, someone to help me. "I was in so much pain labouring but the midwife made me feel like a hypochondriac." She said the situation was escalating, she was becoming dehydrated, and her daughter's heartrate was climbing, yet no one intervened. A registrar who began his shift at 7am, examined her and rushed her immediately to theatre. At this point she was 9cm dilated and the registrar was "shouting at me, telling me not to push." Kate's daughter was her third IVF pregnancy, and she became emotional when she talked about what might have happened, had that registrar not examined her so quickly in the morning. "They gambled with her life," she said. "If my waters had broken and that registrar wasn't there, she would have started to come with her feet first. Both my boys had shot out, so I could be talking now as a mum who lost her child. "It didn't need to even get to that point. After she had given birth, she was left "in a pool of my own blood, just covered in blood" and had to pull herself out of bed to clean up. She said she joined the campaign in the hopes women will be listened to in the future and not have to endure what she did. 'I can't get my baby out' Annika Weldon had three miscarriages before giving birth to her son. "I remember lying on the ward, screaming in pain and none of the other ladies around me were screaming like I was," she said. "It didn't feel right, obviously when you go into labour you expect you are going to be in pain, but I just knew there was something not right." The midwife who checked her when she was in active labour could not tell her if she was 1cm or 10cm dilated, she said. 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