# Private fertility consultation costs: from first visit to a plan https://www.med-easy.co.uk/guides/private-fertility-consultation-costs/ Publisher: Med Easy Source material checked: 2026-10-20 Editorial information; no registered-clinician review is claimed. General UK healthcare information. Country-specific rules and provider examples retain the limits stated in the text. Fees are dated examples, not live quotes. ## Short answer Separate the cost of a fertility consultation from investigations and any later treatment plan. Ask which records and tests are needed before the appointment, whether existing results can be used and what the written summary includes. If treatment is proposed, obtain a fully costed plan covering medicines, procedures, storage, reviews and relevant cancellation terms. A fertility consultation is an opportunity to understand options and discuss a plan. Its price is not the price of fertility treatment. Compare the initial appointment on its own terms, then ask for a separate written estimate if investigations or treatment are proposed. ## Key points - The first appointment does not price an entire treatment pathway. - A fully costed plan should distinguish required elements from optional additions. - NHS funding depends on the applicable local and national arrangements. ## Define what the first appointment covers Ask whether the advertised appointment is with a doctor, nurse or another member of the team, how long it lasts and whether it includes reviewing existing records. Check if the fee covers one person or a joint appointment, and whether a written summary and a follow-up discussion are included. If tests are promoted alongside the consultation, request the names and separate costs. Ask which tests are required before the appointment, whether existing results can be used and how recent those results need to be. This helps avoid paying twice for information a clinic could already review. Section link: https://www.med-easy.co.uk/guides/private-fertility-consultation-costs/#define-what-the-first-appointment-covers ## Keep consultation, investigation and treatment budgets separate Use three headings when collecting quotes: the first consultation, the proposed investigations, and any later treatment. Do not add a treatment package to your budget until you understand what it contains and whether it is the option actually being discussed with you. The HFEA’s costs guidance explains that clinic prices vary and package inclusions differ. It recommends obtaining a fully costed treatment plan. A headline figure may leave out medicines or storage, so comparison needs the detailed plan rather than the largest number on a promotional page. Section link: https://www.med-easy.co.uk/guides/private-fertility-consultation-costs/#keep-consultation-investigation-and-treatment-budgets-separate - [HFEA’s costs guidance](https://www.hfea.gov.uk/treatments/explore-all-treatments/costs-and-funding/) ## Ask for a complete treatment estimate if you proceed If treatment is proposed, ask the clinic to identify the required components and distinguish them from optional additions. Depending on the plan, questions may include charges for medicines, monitoring, procedures, laboratory work, storage, counselling and later appointments. Ask what happens financially if a planned stage does not go ahead. The CMA’s fertility consumer guide highlights the importance of clear inclusions and price information. Request the terms for deposits, cancellations, refunds and any package eligibility conditions before paying. A multi-stage package should explain exactly which stages it funds and which circumstances change the price. Section link: https://www.med-easy.co.uk/guides/private-fertility-consultation-costs/#ask-for-a-complete-treatment-estimate-if-you-proceed - [CMA’s fertility consumer guide](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/fertility-treatment-a-guide-to-your-consumer-rights/a-guide-to-your-consumer-rights) ## Check the clinic, not just the headline offer Use the HFEA’s clinic tool to check a UK clinic offering regulated fertility treatment and review the information available about it. Confirm the exact clinic location and which organisation will provide each part of your care if several businesses are involved. Published success statistics do not predict an individual outcome, and differences between clinics can reflect the people they treat. This guide makes no treatment-success claims. Alongside the clinical discussion, consider practical matters such as travel, appointment availability, communication and the support offered if plans change. Section link: https://www.med-easy.co.uk/guides/private-fertility-consultation-costs/#check-the-clinic-not-just-the-headline-offer - [HFEA’s clinic tool](https://www.hfea.gov.uk/choose-a-fertility-clinic/) ## Check NHS options before making financial assumptions NHS fertility funding depends on where you live and on the relevant eligibility rules. The HFEA explains that arrangements differ across the UK and, within England, local funding decisions matter. Ask your GP or local service about your position instead of treating a national recommendation as a guarantee of funded treatment. Before a private consultation, prepare a list of the questions you want answered and bring relevant records through the clinic’s secure process. Ask for time to read any proposed plan rather than treating the first appointment as a commitment to buy a package. Explore NHS and private care boundaries , use the cost checklist , or return to Find care . More explanations are available in our free healthcare information library . Section link: https://www.med-easy.co.uk/guides/private-fertility-consultation-costs/#check-nhs-options-before-making-financial-assumptions - [NHS and private care boundaries](https://www.med-easy.co.uk/guides/private-and-nhs-care/) - [cost checklist](https://www.med-easy.co.uk/guides/private-healthcare-cost-checklist/) - [Find care](https://www.med-easy.co.uk/find-care/) - [free healthcare information library](https://www.med-easy.co.uk/healthcare-information/) ## Questions to ask - Does the consultation fee cover one person or a joint appointment? - Which existing results can the clinic accept before ordering new tests? - Are medicines, monitoring, laboratory work and storage separately priced? - What refund or cancellation terms apply if a treatment stage does not proceed? - Have I checked the clinic’s HFEA information and relevant NHS funding route? ## Frequently asked questions ### Is an initial fertility consultation a commitment to treatment? Treat the appointment as an opportunity to discuss the situation and possible next steps. Ask for the proposed plan and costs in writing, including any conditions attached to a package. You can request time to understand the inclusions before deciding whether to pay for another stage. https://www.med-easy.co.uk/guides/private-fertility-consultation-costs/#faq-1 ### Why might two fertility packages have very different prices? They may include different tests, medicines, procedures, laboratory work, storage periods or follow-up. Compare the detailed plans rather than the package names alone. Ask which items are necessary for the proposed care, which are optional and what happens financially if a planned stage changes. https://www.med-easy.co.uk/guides/private-fertility-consultation-costs/#faq-2 ### Can clinic success rates tell me my personal chance of success? Published figures describe groups of patients and do not predict an individual outcome. Ask the clinician to explain how your circumstances relate to the information being discussed. Use HFEA clinic information as one part of checking the service, alongside the care plan, costs and communication arrangements. https://www.med-easy.co.uk/guides/private-fertility-consultation-costs/#faq-3 ## Sources - [HFEA: choose a licensed fertility clinic](https://www.hfea.gov.uk/choose-a-fertility-clinic/) — NHS or public authority - [HFEA: fertility costs and funding](https://www.hfea.gov.uk/treatments/explore-all-treatments/costs-and-funding/) — NHS or public authority - [CMA: fertility treatment consumer guide](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/fertility-treatment-a-guide-to-your-consumer-rights/a-guide-to-your-consumer-rights) — NHS or public authority ## Related guides - https://www.med-easy.co.uk/guides/private-healthcare-cost-checklist/ - https://www.med-easy.co.uk/guides/private-and-nhs-care/ - https://www.med-easy.co.uk/guides/prepare-for-healthcare-appointment/