Fertility preservation · 5 min read
Fertility preservation simply means taking steps now to protect your ability to have a biological child later. It can be a medical necessity, a precaution, or a personal choice — and the right option depends on your age, circumstances and goals.
In the UK, fertility preservation is regulated by the HFEA. Following changes to the law in 2022, eggs, sperm and embryos can now be stored for up to 55 years, in 10-year renewable blocks — a meaningful expansion that gives patients far more flexibility.
Eggs are collected after a short course of hormone medication and frozen using vitrification — a rapid cooling technique that helps protect the egg's structure. They can be thawed and fertilised years later as part of an IVF cycle. Read more in our guide to egg freezing explained and when to freeze your eggs.
Sperm freezing is the longest-established form of fertility preservation and is straightforward, low-risk and quick to arrange. Frozen sperm can be used in IUI, IVF or ICSI. See our sperm freezing guide for more detail.
Embryos are created in the laboratory by fertilising eggs with sperm, then frozen — usually at the blastocyst stage — for use in a future cycle. The HFEA notes that frozen embryo transfers now account for the majority of IVF transfers in the UK, with success rates broadly comparable to fresh transfers. Read more in our guide to embryo development.
The NHS can fund fertility preservation when there is a clear clinical reason — for example before chemotherapy, radiotherapy, certain surgeries, or for conditions linked to early menopause. This is often called "oncofertility" when it relates to cancer care. Acting before treatment begins is important, as some therapies can affect fertility quickly.
Some gender-affirming treatments can reduce fertility. The HFEA and NHS both recognise fertility preservation — including egg, sperm or embryo freezing — as an option to discuss before hormone therapy or surgery begins, so that having a biological child later remains possible.
Choosing whether — and how — to preserve your fertility is a personal decision. A consultation that includes appropriate fertility testing is the best way to understand what will give you the most realistic chance in the future. You can read more about how we work on our treatments page.
