HFEA.gov.uk uses cookies to deliver content and make improvements to the website. Accept Configure Menu toggle News and press releases Browse all the latest news and press releases from the HFEA. Press enquiries If you are a member of the media, you can contact our press office on 020 7291 8226 or by email. For urgent queries outside of normal working hours, please call 07771981920. These numbers are for members of the media only. Click to show and hide content 2021 news and press releases 24/11/21 - Fertility treatment continues to become safer as serious incidents continue to fall Fertility treatment is continuing to become safer with quality of care improving across UK clinics, despite the impact of the pandemic, according to the fertility regulator’s annual compliance report. 02/11/21 - Regulator calls on fertility patients to help shape future UK fertility treatment HFEA launches national patient survey as part of Fertility Awareness Week (1-5 November) 27/10/21 - Update to the 9th edition Code of Practice is now available This new version of the Code of Practice contains updated information and guidance for clinics. 06/09/21 - HFEA responds to new gamete storage limit This is great news for patients, giving them more time to make important decisions about family planning. 05/08/21 - Join our new Patient Engagement Forum We're building a new Patient Engagement Forum seeking views and experiences of fertility treatment. 15/06/21 - Media statement from the HFEA in response to new BPAS Fertility report We welcome this new report from BPAS Fertility. Our data confirms that fertility treatment is enabling more female same-sex couples to have a genetically linked family. 10/06/21 - HFEA backs new consumer law and advertising guidance for IVF clinics The fertility regulator, HFEA, backs new guidance from the Competition and Markets Authority addressing concerns over unclear pricing and misleading success rates. 01/06/21 - HFEA response to the Women’s Health Strategy This submission provides the formal response from the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) to the government’s open consultation on the Women's Health Strategy 01/06/21 - New business plan for 2021-2022 We have published our new business plan for 2021-2022. This sets out how we will deliver our strategic vision of regulating for excellence: shaping the future of fertility care and treatment 27/05/21 - IVF cycles surpass 1 million and UK fertility treatment is more successful than ever 30th anniversary report highlights advances in fertility treatment and care. 18/05/21 - HFEA responds to concerns over treatment package deals The HFEA responds to the Safe Campaign's concerns over fertility treatment package deals. 19/04/21 - New HFEA Chair writes open letter to fertility patients Julia Chain, Chair of the HFEA, has written an open letter to fertility patients to introduce herself as the new Chair. 29/03/21 - HFEA @ 30 online event - past and present Authority members reflecting on the last 30 years Watch the event with past and present Authority members discussing the last 30 years of the HFEA. 23/03/21 - Fertility treatment less successful for ethnic minority patients, new figures reveal We've published our new report 'Ethnic diversity in fertility treatment'. 12/03/21 - Julia Chain appointed as new chair of the HFEA We are delighted to welcome Julia Chain as the new Chair of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA). 05/02/21 - Study using HFEA data to understand the long term health of women and their babies after fertility treatment Researchers at the University of Oxford are conducting a study to better understand the long term health of women and their babies after fertility treatment. 22/01/21 - New members appointed to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority Find out who the new members of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority are. Click to show and hide content 2020 news and press releases 30/11/2020 - Fertility treatment continues to become safer as number of incidents fall in UK clinics We have published our annual State of the Sector report. 11/11/2020 - We have published our new business plan for the final six months of the current financial year. We delayed publishing our business plan for the 2020/21 business year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead, we published a plan for the final six months of the 2020/2021 business year from October 2020. 03/11/20 - CMA launches draft guidance on consumer IVF law for consultation Following engagement with the wider fertility sector, including the HFEA, the CMA has today launched its draft guidance for UK IVF clinics to ensure they are aware of their obligations under consumer protection law. 14/10/2020 - Opening the Register (OTR) and Donor Sibling Link (DSL) services reopening Following the suspension of the Opening the Register (OTR) and Donor Sibling Link (DSL) services in April 2020 we are pleased that from Tuesday 20 October 2020 we will be reopening for new applications. 01/10/2020 - 2020-2024 strategy published We have published our new strategy for 2020-2024. It outlines our vision, ambitions and objectives as an organisation for the upcoming years. 22/09/2020 - New figures show how different people are using IVF We have published our ‘Family formations in fertility treatment’ report, which looks at IVF and DI statistics for heterosexual, female same-sex and single patients in the UK. 30/06/2020 - 2018 trends in fertility treatment We have published our latest annual dataset Fertility Trends: ‘UK statistics for IVF and DI treatment, storage, and donation’. 13/05/2020 – Our response to the Department of Health and Social Care’s public consultation on gamete and embryo storage limits We have submitted our response to the storage limit consultation calling for the Department of Health and Social Care to consider increasing the length of time patients can store their gametes and embryos. 11/05/2020 - A second open letter to fertility patients - Sally Cheshire CBE, Chair HFEA Coronavirus (COVID-19)and fertility treatment 01/05/2020 - Reopening of fertility services We are pleased to announce that a clear exit plan was agreed at our meeting of the board on 30 April 2020 and fertility clinics can apply to reopen in the week commencing 11 May 2020. 25/03/2020 - Storage limit for frozen eggs, sperm and embryos extended during coronavirus outbreak Anyone who has frozen their eggs, sperm and embryos will be able to extend their storage for an additional two years under new government plans to support those going through fertility treatment during the global coronavirus pandemic. 23/03/2020 - An open letter to fertility patients - Sally Cheshire CBE, Chair HFEA An open letter to all who are currently undergoing or were planning fertility treatment at this difficult time from our Chair, Sally Cheshire 18/03/2020- HFEA business continuity in light of coronavirus (COVID-19) With the current situation with the coronavirus pandemic, we have taken action to manage any implications of the outbreak on our work. 11/03/2020 - Sally Cheshire CBE has been reappointed as HFEA Chair until 2021 We are pleased to announce that Sally Cheshire’s term as Chair of the Authority has been extended until March 2021. 02/03/2020 - Department of Health and Social Care launches public consultation on gamete and embryo storage limits Over the next 10 weeks we will be considering the regulatory issues surrounding the current 10-year statutory storage period for gametes and embryos, and formulating our response to this consultation. 25/02/2020 - MoU with CMA Memorandum of Understanding between the Competition and Markets Authority and Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority on consumer protection issues in the human fertilisation and embryology sector in the UK 07/02/2020 - Launch of new project by the Competition and Markets Authority into the IVF sector We are very pleased to be working with the Competition and Markets authority (CMA) on a new project to develop guidance for IVF clinics in the UK to make sure they treat their patients fairly. 02/01/2020 - DNA tests are the Christmas gift that keeps on giving, but unexpected results can bring you more than you bargained for. More people than ever want to find out about their genetic make-up and with our appetite to dive deep into our DNA and ancestry becoming increasingly popular, it’s not surprising that DIY DNA testing kits are on the Christmas list for many this year. 2019 news and press releases Click to show and hide content 2018 news and press releases Click to show and hide content 2017 news and press releases Click to show and hide content 2016 news and press releases Click to show and hide content 2015 news and press releases Click to show and hide content ; ; Review date: 5 November 2023 Send to a friend Print this page Follow us on Twitter Opens in new window Get in touch Facebook Opens in new window Get information Find a Clinic Treatment options Donors and donation Fertility preservation About the HFEA News and press releases Privacy, cookies and accessibility Accessibility statement Freedom of information Complaints Work for us For clinics Clinic Portal Applying for a clinic licence Applying for a research licence PGT-M conditions Research and data Our data Guide to the anonymised register Research publications