NHS LOTHIAN | OUR SERVICES
Edinburgh Fertility Centre
We offer a comprehensive list of treatments for fertility issues. Aiming to offer the highest standard of care we have among the highest success rates in Scotland.
Welcome to the Edinburgh Fertility Centre
We’re based at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, which is a University Teaching Hospital. We aim to offer the highest standard of care and we have among the highest success rates in Scotland.
We offer NHS and self-funded treatment at our centre, offering a comprehensive list of treatments for fertility issues. Our team of experts, led by our highly experienced Consultants, are committed to providing you with a tailored and compassionate service to support you through your fertility journey with us.
We are now accepting referrals to our self-funding treatment.
Centre of Excellence
We’re very proud of our service and success rates, and are committed to driving continual improvement to achieve the best possible outcome for your treatment. You can see more detailed information of our success rates on our Success Rates page.
The HFEA states that information on success rates is of limited value in comparing centres and choosing where to have your treatment. For a full list of clinics within the UK and their success rates, please visit “Choose a Fertility Clinic” on the HFEA website.
Quality Standards
We’re licensed by the Human Fertilisation & Embryology Authority (HFEA), the UK’s independent regulator which oversees the use of gametes and embryos in fertility treatment and research. We take pride in maintaining a high standard across all of our services by participating in internal and external assessments as well as inspections of our services.
Data Protection
As part of NHS Lothian, The Edinburgh Fertility Centre complies with all NHS Lothian policies and procedures as well as those set by the HFEA, General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the Data Protection Act (DPA) 2018 and the Gender Recognition Act (GRA) 2004.
Changes in the Law for
Storage of Sperm, Eggs and Embryos within the UK
On the 1st of July 2022 the law governing the statutory storage period which allows for the 10 year storage of for sperm, eggs and embryos will change to allow for storage for up to 55 years. While this is a welcome change, this may have an impact if you currently have sperm, eggs or embryos in storage or if you are in the process of coming through to store or have treatment at fertility centre.
New consent forms have been issued by the HFEA on the 1st of July which will replace the existing consent forms. In order to have the option to store your sperm, eggs or embryos for up to 55 years, we will be asking all patients to complete these new forms. Additionally, we may also ask those of you who have already completed consents or are attending for further treatment cycle to complete these new forms in order to ensure the 55 year storage option is available to you, should you wish to use it.
If your partner is deceased and has sperm, eggs or embryos in stored with us, you will need to be aware that a storage review is required every 10 years by a medical practitioner to allow the sperm, eggs or embryos to remain in storage up to the number of years consented to in their consent form completed when they initially stored. Due to this change in the law, your storage options may change.
The Edinburgh Fertility Centre has taken steps to identify deceased patients affected by this change and have extended storage where possible. We will be in contact with you over the coming weeks to discuss your intensions/wishes for the stored sperm, eggs or embryos. If you have wish to contact us directly about your deceased partner’s stored sperm, eggs or embryos, please phone us on 0131 242 1666.
