The concerning disparity of IVF costs, which can see some private IVF clinics charge 140% more than others for a single IVF cycle, is revealed today following in-depth analysis of 81 providers across the UK

Patients who experience fertility problems may not qualify for NHS treatment, depending on the criteria. NHS provision also varies; nearly 90% of Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) don’t offer the recommended three full IVF cycles to eligible women under 40 and nearly one quarter of all CCGs have introduced additional age restrictions, with 6 CCGs refusing IVF to women over 35*.

This explains why many people have to opt for private treatment.

Nationally, the average cost of a single cycle of IVF is £3,659 – with medication charged on top. London is among the top five most expensive regions with an average price of £3,623.

Table 1 – top five most expensive regions for one cycle of IVF (excluding medication):

The study, carried out by strategic insight agency Opinium Research, identified that on a like-for-like basis, £4,800 is the highest advertised price for a single cycle of IVF in London.