The HFEA's quarterly newsletter on fertility treatment data |
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Welcome to the Summer 2025 ‘Data research update’ from the HFEA! |
New HFEA report – Fertility Trends 2023 |
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As fertility rates fall, our annual data report shows that fertility treatment is helping more people in the UK have babies. IVF births are making up a higher proportion of all births over time, from 1 in 44 in 2013 to 1 in 32 in 2023 – around one child in every classroom.
The report covers a broad range of topics, including patient demographics, treatment types, pregnancy and birth rates, and family types. It also shows the success made across the sector in reducing the UK’s multiple birth rate to a record low of 3.4% - one of the lowest in the world. |
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However, disparities in both outcomes and funding for fertility treatment still exist. In recent years, Asian and Black patients have had lower birth rates (27% and 25% respectively) than White patients and patients from a mixed ethnic background (33% and 30% respectively). Additionally, the proportion of NHS-funded IVF cycles declined from a UK average of 35% in 2019 to 27% in 2023, decreasing most in England.
Visit our website to read the full report and to access the underlying dataset.
The next planned HFEA publication will be the ‘State of the fertility sector 2024/25' report in Autumn 2025. Previous editions can be found on our website. |
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Updates to the HFEA dashboard |
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The award-winning HFEA dashboard has been updated to include 2023 data and additional information.
We’ve added a new feature to the pregnancy and birth rate pages which allows users to filter information by ‘previous birth(s)’. Additionally, we have updated our ‘egg/sperm source’ information to make it easier to combine different treatments. |
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Updates from the HFEA Scientific and Clinical Advances Advisory Committee (SCAAC) |
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The SCAAC met in June to discuss developments in science and clinical practice.
This included health outcomes for fertility patients, the impact of the microbiome on fertility and treatment, the use of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) in patients without severe male factor infertility, and the impact of drugs that lower blood sugarson fertility treatment. The committee also considered an application to add platelet-rich plasma (PRP) for intrauterine and intraovarian infusion/injection to our rated treatment add-on list.
Further details of this and previous meetings, including agendas, papers and minutes, are available on the SCAAC webpage. |
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Recent HFEA presentations on national fertility Register data |
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The HFEA run a Horizon Scanning meeting at ESHRE every year |
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The HFEA run an annual meeting at ESHRE, bringing together international experts and regulatory bodies to discuss the latest issues and breakthroughs in fertility treatment and human embryo research.
By identifying advances early, the HFEA can consider any legal, ethical and scientific implications, which are then covered in more detail by our committees including the Scientific and Clinical Advances Advisory Committee. This informs future decisions on licencing, clinic guidance and ongoing work to ensure the public has access to reliable information. Topics discussed at this year’s meeting included the future use of mitochondrial donation beyond preventing inherited disease, emerging techniques in male fertility preservation, and the use of robotics and automation in assisted reproductive technology.
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Publications using HFEA Register data |
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A list of publications issued in the last year resulting from research using HFEA data can be found below, with earlier papers found on our website. |
- Williams, C.L., Bunch, K.J., Stiller, C., Murphy, M.F.G., Botting, B.J., Davies, M.C., Luke, B., Lupo, P.J., & Sutcliffe, A.G. (2024) Langerhans cell histiocytosis in children born after assisted reproductive technology. Reproductive BioMedicine Online. 49(6).
- Purkayastha M, Sutcliffe A, Brison DR, et al. (2024) Perinatal health in a cohort of children conceived after assisted reproduction in the UK: a population-based record-linkage study. BMJ Open; 14:e091910.
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Other publications using HFEA data, including the anonymised dataset |
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Datta, A.K., Nargund, G., Wilding, M. et al.(2025) Embryo utilisation rate and transferable embryo to oocyte ratio correlate positively with livebirth rate but negatively with oocyte number: analysis of 14,156 fresh IVF/ICSI cycles. Journal of Ovarian Research 18, 112
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Zhang, Y., Jia, Q., Liu, Y., Guan, Y. (2025) Insemination methods for embryos transferred in frozen-thawed embryo transfer cycles do not impact reproductive outcomes in couples with non-male factor infertility.Scientific Reports, 15, 13630
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Kondowe, F.J.M., Gittins, M., Clayton, P., Brison, D.R., & Roberts, S.A. (2025) Bias due to non-consent in assisted reproductive treatment cohort studies: consent for disclosure to non-contact research in the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority register. Human Reproduction. deaf045.
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Tighe, J., Broughton, S., Roberts, R., Kasaven, L. S., Cutting, R., Bridges, E., Ng, A., Evans, A., Theodorou, E., Ben Nagi, J., & Jones, B. P. (2025). Effectiveness and safety of consecutive single embryo transfer compared to double embryo transfer: results from the UK HFEA registry. Human reproduction, deaf028.
- Datta, A.K., Campbell, S., Diaz-Fernandez, R., & Nargund, G. (2024) Livebirth rates are influenced by an interaction between male and female partners’ age: analysis of 59 951 fresh IVF/ICSI cycles with and without male infertility. Human Reproduction. deae198.
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Paffoni, A., Vitagliano, A., Corti, L., Somigliana, E., & Viganò, P. (2024) Intracytoplasmic sperm injection versus conventional in vitro insemination in couples with non-male infertility factor in the ‘real-world’ setting: analysis of the HFEA registry. Journal of Translational Medicine.22(687).
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We rely on researchers to let us know when they have published research using HFEA data. If you have a publication to contribute to the bibliography, please contact us at register.research@hfea.gov.uk. |
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| Editorial statement
Data research update is an official electronic newsletter of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority, is produced by the HFEA and provides a roundup of news and information on the Register data and Register Research Panel activity. No part of this publication may be reproduced without prior permission. You can view our privacy policy on our website.
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