9 expert tips for choosing a fertility clinic – from success rates to red flags

With a super-engaged following on Insta, Sophie’s (The Infertile Midwife), advice comes from personal experience, having been through the process of choosing a clinic twice herself.

Today, she shares her thoughts on fertility support, teams and clinics – and how to narrow down the options to best suit your needs.

Whether you’re completely new to fertility or considering a different clinic for your next steps, choosing where to have treatment is one of the biggest decisions you’ll make on your TTC journey. It can feel daunting, especially when you’re faced with so much information and so many options. To help make the process feel more manageable, here’s my guide to choosing a fertility clinic and finding one that feels like the right fit for you.

1. Look at IVF success rates through the HFEA

The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) is the UK’s independent regulator of fertility clinics. While clinics often highlight their own success rates on their websites, these statistics can sometimes be presented in different ways, making it difficult to compare providers directly.

The HFEA allows you to compare IVF success rates across clinics using the same data source and methodology. The organisation also inspects clinics to help ensure they are operating safely and meeting the required standards.

Many clinics will prominently display their pregnancy rates, but it’s worth paying close attention to live birth rates too, as these can provide a more meaningful indication.

2. Know your travel preferences

During an IVF cycle, you may find yourself visiting your clinic every day or every other day, so it’s important to think carefully about travel times and how treatment will fit around your everyday life.

Consider the practicalities of getting to and from appointments, alongside work, family commitments and everything else you have going on. If travelling between home, the clinic and your workplace is likely to leave you feeling exhausted, it may be worth considering a clinic closer to home.

Fertility treatment can be physically and emotionally demanding, so anything you can do to reduce additional stress and fatigue is worth factoring into your decision.

3. Attend open evenings

Many fertility clinics host open evenings, giving prospective patients the opportunity to meet members of the team – including fertility specialists – and get a feel for the clinic environment.

While these events aren’t usually the place to discuss your personal circumstances in detail, they can be incredibly helpful for learning more about a clinic, understanding its approach to care and deciding whether it feels like the right fit for you.

4. Ask others about their experience

If you know someone who has undergone treatment at a particular clinic, it can be helpful to ask about their experience.

That said, I’d always take any personal recommendation with a pinch of salt. While hearing about someone else’s journey can provide useful insight, you don’t want their opinion to steer your decision too heavily.

Instead, focus on broader questions such as: What was it like being a patient there? Were the staff kind and supportive? How good was the communication? These types of insights can be valuable.

I’d avoid comparing treatment details too closely, as their fertility diagnosis, treatment plan and circumstances may be very different from your own.

 treatment cycle can be exhausting, both on a physical and emotional level, so make sure you aren’t burning the candle at both ends.

5. Book a consultation

While most clinics charge for an initial consultation, some offer free introductory sessions. A consultation gives you the opportunity to speak directly with a fertility specialist, who can review any existing test results and discuss potential treatment options based on your individual circumstances.

There’s no obligation to commit to a clinic after a consultation, but it does allow you to explore the finer details of your case and assess whether the clinic’s approach feels right for you.

If you’ve had previous treatment, take as much information with you as possible. You can request your medical notes from your existing clinic, which can help provide a fuller picture of your fertility history. I always arrive armed with a list of questions and make plenty of notes during the consultation so I can reflect on everything afterwards.

6. Review the costs carefully

Sadly, with NHS-funded fertility treatment limited in many areas, cost is often an important factor when choosing a clinic.

Take time to look closely at each clinic’s pricing structure and ask whether there are any additional costs that aren’t included in the headline price. For example, some clinics charge extra for procedures such as blastocyst culture.

It’s also worth asking about medication. Many clinics allow patients to purchase fertility drugs from external pharmacies, which can sometimes work out more cost-effective than buying directly through the clinic.

7. Consider a specific fertility specialist

One thing I found particularly helpful was not only researching clinics but also identifying which fertility specialist within that clinic we wanted to see.

This may sound like an extra layer of research, but doctors working within the same clinic can have very different areas of expertise and approaches to treatment. Most clinics provide biographies of their specialists, outlining their backgrounds, interests and areas of specialism.

For example, if your main concern is diminished ovarian reserve, it may not make sense to see a doctor whose primary area of expertise is PCOS, and vice versa. Finding a specialist whose experience aligns with your diagnosis can be incredibly valuable.

8. Take your time

This is an important decision, so try not to rush it.

Make a list of pros and cons for each clinic, discuss your options with your partner if you have one, and talk things through with someone you trust. Giving yourself the time and space to weigh up your choices can help you feel more confident in your final decision.

9. Trust your instincts

I genuinely believe that choosing a fertility clinic is a bit like buying a house – it has to feel right.

A clinic may tick every box on paper, but if something is making you hesitate, it’s worth paying attention to that feeling and asking yourself why. The right clinic should not only meet your practical requirements but also feel like a place where you’ll be supported throughout your journey.

Up next – Cliníca Tambre share the top 5 reasons patients decide to switch clinics