When I Say IVF is a Business, This is What I Mean…
You’re probably reading this because you’ve either endured the journey of IVF unsuccessfully or you’re on the bandwagon currently and something feels off. Here’s why your gut is telling you that there is more that lies beneath.
Let’s talk about the IVF industry:
Globally, the fertility business is worth a staggering £25 billion, and it’s projected to grow exponentially in the coming years. On the surface, this seems like a beacon of hope for families struggling to conceive. But beneath the glossy brochures and success stories lies a harsher reality: IVF is a business first, and a solution second.
I know this first-hand. A close contact of mine was considering investing in a fertility company, drawn by the promise of supporting couples in their journey to parenthood. But after analysing the business model, they couldn’t ethically go ahead. The reason? The data revealed that successfully getting people pregnant wasn’t the top priority. Instead, the business relied heavily on multiple cycles, which are significantly more lucrative than achieving a successful pregnancy in fewer attempts.
Let’s break it down:
🔸 Financial Incentives of Multiple Cycles: IVF clinics charge per cycle, with each round costing an average of £5,000-£10,000. Clinics often claim success rates that justify multiple cycles, but these numbers can be skewed by selectively reporting data (e.g., only including younger patients or excluding certain cases).
🔸 Add-ons and Upselling: Many clinics push additional treatments, such as genetic testing or “embryo glue,” promising higher success rates—yet there’s limited scientific evidence to back these claims. These upsells can add thousands of poundsto the cost per cycle.
🔸 Emotional Exploitation: Couples often feel they have no choice but to keep trying, emotionally and financially drained, because every failure feels like they’re one step closer to success. The business model thrives on this hope, rather than offering transparency about realistic outcomes.
Evidence of Ethical Concerns in IVF
1️⃣ Commercialised Medicine: A 2021 report in BMJ highlighted concerns about fertility clinics prioritising profit over patient care, with many promoting costly add-ons without sufficient evidence.
2️⃣ Limited Regulation: In many regions, the IVF industry operates with minimal oversight, allowing clinics to set prices and success claims with little accountability.
3️⃣ Global Trends: The business is booming in countries like the US and UK, where IVF is largely privatised, creating a perfect storm of financial opportunity and emotional vulnerability.
The Real Question
If the ultimate goal is to help people create families, why isn’t there more emphasis on transparency and ethical practices? Why aren’t clinics focused on minimising cycles through optimised treatment?
What Can You Do?
• Research clinics thoroughly: Look for ones with a strong focus on patient care, not just flashy marketing.
• Ask about success rates and evidence-based practices: Challenge clinics to back up their claims with data.
• Advocate for transparency: The industry needs reform to ensure ethical treatment of patients.
When I say IVF is a business, this is exactly what I mean. It’s an industry that profits from hope, but often at the expense of ethics. Share this post to help others understand the complexities behind the glossy promises—and to start a conversation about change.
If you’re keen to seek another option that takes care of your emotional, financial and physical health then let’s book a call and make a plan HERE