Five times more people ‘freeze’ their eggs to save for IVF treatment

The number of people who opt to “freeze” their eggs or embryos has increased fivefold in the UK since 2013, new figures show.

Health officials have documented a surge in the number of IVF “storage cycles” where people undergo fertility treatment and store their eggs or embryos until a later date.

Data from the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) show the number of embryo and egg storage cycles increased by 523 per cent between 2013 and 2018 – from 1,500 cycles in 2013 to just under 9,000 in 2018.

There was a 93 per cent rise in frozen embryo transfer cycles between 2013 and 2018 – up from 13,421 to 25,889 – and an 11 per cent decrease in the number of fresh embryo transfers – from 48,391 in 2013 to 42,835 in 2018.

The rise in the number of patients choosing to freeze their eggs or embryos could be attributed to improved freezing facilities, advances in treatment options, and an increased desire for patients to store their eggs or embryos for future use or for fertility preservation. The latest figures from the fertility authority meanwhile show the multiple birth rate from IVF treatment has reached a record low.

Fertility clinics have been working to a target to reduce the number of women who fall pregnant with twins or triplets – as multiple births are the biggest risk to IVF mothers and babies.

In 2018, only 8 per cent of IVF births resulted in a multiple birth.

The annual HFEA figures also show the number of Nhs-funded treatment varied across the UK, with 60 per cent of cycles funded by the NHS in Scotland.

HFEA chair Sally Cheshire said: “While fertility treatment is never a guarantee for a baby, we are pleased to see that birth rates have increased over the years and the average birth rate is now steady at 23 per cent.

“Whilst this leaves many couples without their longed for family after treatment, these small year-on-year increases are important for the sector to build on.”

The report also details the success of IVF treatments overall.

Around 54,000 patients had IVF treatment in 2018 and the average birth rate per embryo transferred for all IVF patients was 23 per cent.

Age is still a key factor in IVF outcomes, with younger patients reporting higher success rates.

Patients under 35 had a birth rate of 31 per cent per embryo transferred compared with 5 per cent for patients aged 43 and above.