The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) does not charge individual patients for fertility treatment.  The fees are paid by the clinics, both NHS and private, towards regulation and inspection costs

Currently the clinics pay HFEA for each cycle of treatment the costs of which are often passed on to the patient. The extra cost can influence patients to have multiple embryos transferred in a single cycle, increasing the risk of a multiple pregnancy.

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.

Prof Lisa Jardine, Chair of the HFEA 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.”