Soaring Numbers of Single Women Opt for IVF as Treatment Becomes More Accessible
According to the UK’s fertility regulator, the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA), the number of single women undergoing in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) treatment has significantly increased over the past decade, with a tripling in the proportion of IVF cycles carried out for single women, rising from 2% of all treatments in 2012 to 6% in 2022.
Between 2012 and 2022, the total number of single women seeking IVF or donor insemination treatment skyrocketed to over three times the initial figure, from 1,400 to 4,800, highlighting a substantial shift in the demographics of individuals seeking fertility treatment.
The HFEA’s report also revealed that single women and lesbian couples have achieved the highest birth rates after undergoing IVF treatment, although this success is largely undermined by the financial barriers that these individuals face in accessing fertility treatment. In contrast to heterosexual couples between the ages of 18 and 39, who received NHS funding for their first IVF treatment in 52% of cases, less than a fifth of single women and lesbians received such funding.
Simon Blake, chief executive of Stonewall, emphasized that LGBTQ+ individuals continue to encounter substantial financial obstacles in their pursuit of fertility treatment, stating, "Unlike heterosexual couples, 90% of integrated health care boards in England require LGBTQ+ couples to self-fund at least six cycles of artificial insemination before they are eligible for NHS IVF treatment, making it unaffordable for many and obstructing their ability to start a family."
Furthermore, the HFEA’s report highlighted a significant disparity in egg freezing treatments, with almost all individuals freezing their eggs between 2018 and 2022 being single women. In contrast, only one in ten egg freezing treatments were among heterosexual couples, who were more likely to thaw eggs for treatment compared with single women.
The report also shed light on the rising trend of families using surrogacy, with heterosexual couples accounting for 39% of surrogacy cycles in 2022, while "other family types" made up the remaining 61%. This data underscores the evolving landscape of family structures and the increasing diversity of individuals seeking fertility treatment.
Julia Chain, chairwoman of the HFEA, urged commissioners of fertility services to re-examine existing eligibility criteria and assess whether they are inadvertently restricting people’s access to treatment, while also encouraging healthcare providers to ensure that the information they provide reflects the diversity of families and patients accessing treatment.
