IVF shortage driving Yorkshire couples to Manchester

5th October 2012

This information was correct at the time of publishing. It may not reflect our current practices, prices or regulations.

A Manchester fertility clinic has reported rising numbers of infertile couples from across Yorkshire willing to travel the distance to secure treatment.

Manchester Fertility, which has been helping people have families for over 25 years, have had a record 88 new cases from across the region in the past nine months alone - an average of almost ten a month.

Couples are travelling from areas including Sheffield, Halifax – including the Calder Valley region -  Huddersfield, Wakefield, Doncaster and Ripon, with the highest numbers coming from Bradford and Leeds.

Dr Gidon Lieberman, from Manchester Fertility, says: “An average of around ten cases a month may not seem like much, but when you consider how far these people are travelling to see us, especially when you take into account the need for multiple trips during a single typical IVF cycle, it’s considerable.

“We do attract people from wide distances – such as the Isle of Man and even Cumbria – but it’s the first time we’ve really noticed such an influx from the Yorkshire area in particular.”

The boom in Yorkshire patients comes on the back of  IVF NHS cuts in the region, as North Yorkshire and York Primary Care Trust continues to withhold funding for IVF, forcing many couples to turn to private IVF clinics like Manchester Fertility.

Manchester Fertility has consistent success rates across its extensive range of infertility treatments, including those using donor sperm and donor eggs – for which the clinic has no waiting list - IVF, ICSI and expertise in surgical sperm retrieval procedures for infertile men.

Dr Lieberman adds: “It does seem like these cuts have been a catalyst and couples who are having to pay for their own treatment are now willing to travel any distance to get the right help they need to have a child.

“We see many people who have been caught in the postcode lottery of NHS IVF, who consider options such as our egg-sharing programme to fund their treatment - if they’re eligible it gives them a subsidised cycle of IVF for £870 if the woman donates half of her eggs.

“Many couples who do get IVF on the NHS also don’t realise that you can request for your funding to be transferred to private IVF clinics, which is something we are seeing more of as people look to have their treatment at a clinic of their choosing, rather than their local NHS unit.”

For more information visit www.manchesterfertility.com

ENDS October 2012

Notes to editors:

  • Regional breakdown of cases from Manchester Fertility’ data:

Area

No. of cases Jan-Sept 12

Bradford

29

Leeds

22

Huddersfield

10

Sheffield

8

Halifax

7

Wakefield

7

Doncaster

4

Ripon

1

 

  • Manchester Fertility (www.manchesterfertility.com), based in Manchester city centre, has over 25 years experience in treating all forms of infertility and is now one of the UK’s leading private infertility clinics 
  • Over 4,000 babies have been born to date thanks to the expertise of the team which includes embryologists, andrologists, urologists, consultants and counsellors, many of whom are leaders in their field 
  • Latest IVF/ICSI success rates for the clinic (July 2011 – June 2012): 40% of women aged under 35 achieved pregnancy; almost a third of older women (aged 40-42) achieved pregnancy. Pregnancy rates are only recorded by Manchester Fertility once a foetal heartbeat is confirmed by ultrasound scan. More detailed results can be found here: https://www.manchesterfertility.com/about/success-rates/ 
  • Manchester Fertility treats all patients who need help to get pregnant, including single women and same-sex couples 
  • It has its own successful dedicated egg and sperm donor recruitment programme www.manchesterdonors.com – the clinic has no waiting lists for donor sperm or donor eggs and all donors are from the UK 
  • Treatments at Manchester Fertility include IVF, Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI), egg-sharing, egg-freezing, sperm-freezing, intrauterine insemination, treatment using donor eggs, surgical sperm retrieval and guidance with surrogacy 
  • In a recent patient satisfaction survey, 100% of patients felt they had been treated with dignity and respect during their treatment at Manchester Fertility 
  • Manchester Fertility’ consultants work with patients to decide the best treatment option in an open, honest and transparent way – patients will only ever receive the treatment best suited to them and their unique needs; all costs are communicated clearly to patients with no ‘hidden extras’ 
  • Staff at the clinic are known for their personal, empathic approach and have a unique understanding of the ups and downs of fertility treatment thanks to years of experience in helping people overcome infertility.

Last updated: 27th January 2020