University College London Hospitals

For patients under 35, University College London Hospitals reports a live-birth rate of 57%, well above the national average of 38% for that age band — a difference of 19 percentage points. That is the only age band with published figures for this clinic, so there is nothing yet to compare for other ages. The clinic runs a low volume of cycles, so smaller caseloads can swing more from year to year than a large centre's figures would. Worth asking how consistent this result has been across recent years.

The headline figure is a live-birth rate per embryo transferred, taken from HFEA-verified regulated data covering 2016 to 2018. Before comparing it with another clinic, it is worth checking two things: whether the quoted rate is per embryo transferred or per cycle started, since those can differ quite a bit, and which years the figure covers, as clinics update at different times. Those two checks make a real difference to whether two numbers are actually comparable.

A few questions worth raising directly with the team: what is included in the quoted price and what add-on costs are typical; what their live-birth rates were for your specific age group in the latest HFEA data; and how many cycles like yours they carry out each year, given the caseload here is on the smaller side. A good consultant will welcome these questions rather than brushing past them.

University College London Hospitals lists an indicative starting price of £2,500. That figure is rarely the whole story — medication, freezing and storage, and any add-ons tend to sit outside the headline number and can add up depending on your treatment plan. Before booking, it is worth asking the clinic directly: what is not included in this price?