Exploring your options

If you're reading this page, you're probably somewhere between hoping things might still work out and accepting that they might not. That's an exhausting place to be.

We can't fix the system. But we can lay out what comes next, as clearly as we can, so you're not left guessing.

Private IVF in the UK typically costs between £5,000 and £8,000 per cycle. Medication adds another £1,000 to £1,500 on top. It's a lot. But there are ways to manage it.

• Payment plans. Many clinics offer interest-free instalments or monthly payment options. Always check what's included in the headline price (consultations, scans, medication, embryo storage often cost extra).
• Multi-cycle or shared risk packages. Some clinics offer refund guarantees if treatment doesn't result in a baby after a set number of cycles. These require larger upfront payment but reduce overall financial risk.
• Grants and charitable funding. The Fertility Foundation offers IVF grants for people on low incomes in the UK. Eligibility criteria apply and demand is high, but it's worth checking.

The HFEA's costs and funding page has impartial guidance on what to expect financially. If you're comparing clinics, their clinic search tool lets you compare success rates and services side by side.

If you've been refused NHS funding, you can challenge it. The process isn't quick or easy, but it exists.

1. Ask for written reasons. The clinic or ICB should explain exactly why you were refused. Get this in writing. It's your starting point.
2. Check the policy was applied correctly. Small details matter: your age on the date of referral (not today), which version of the policy was used, whether your circumstances were fully considered. Mistakes do happen.
3. Use the ICB's internal appeals process. Most ICBs have one, though the details vary. You'll typically need to submit additional evidence (medical reports, GP letters) and wait for a panel review.
4. Escalate to the Ombudsman if needed. If you've exhausted local processes and believe there was maladministration (an error, unreasonable delay, or unfairness), you can complain to the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman. Their service is free.

A word of honesty: appeals don't often succeed unless there's a clear error in how the policy was applied. That said, if you believe the decision was wrong, it's worth pursuing. Just don't put the rest of your life on hold waiting for it.

When NHS funding isn't on the table, the weight of it sits differently. It can feel like the door has closed. It hasn't, but you might need some time and some people around you before you can see what's next.

• The Fertility Foundation provides grants, emotional support, and information for people facing infertility in the UK.
• BICA (British Infertility Counselling Association) has a directory of fertility-trained counsellors. You can search by postcode and contact them directly.
• The IVF Network runs online communities and expert Q&A sessions covering all stages of the fertility journey.
• Your GP can refer you to NHS-funded counselling if you're struggling with anxiety or low mood related to fertility. You don't need to be in crisis to ask.

If you're in distress right now, the Samaritans are available 24/7 on 116 123 (free to call, won't show on your phone bill).