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Egg freezing is a method of preserving a woman’s fertility so she can try and have children at a later date. This page explains how the process works, its success rates and risks.

Last updated: 8 April 2016

Review date: 8 April 2018

Some people who are having fertility treatment have embryos which are not transferred in their IVF cycle. Find out how your embryos can be frozen for use in later treatment or to donate to research, training or someone else.

Last updated: 13 May 2016

Review date: 13 May 2018

Sperm freezing is the most successful method of preserving a man’s fertility so he can try and have a child(ren) at a later date. It's also used to store sperm so it can be used in someone else's treatment. Find out more about what sperm freezing involves and how long you can store your sperm for.

Last updated: 13 May 2016

Review date: 13 May 2018

Embryo testing and treatments can be used by people who have serious inherited diseases in their family and want to avoid passing the disease onto their children. Find out what your options are and how to get started.

Last updated: 8 April 2016

Review date: 8 April 2018

Pre-implantation genetic testing can be used by people who have a serious inherited disease in their family to avoid passing it onto their children.

Last updated: 5 April 2016

Review date: 5 April 2018

PTT, also known as ‘saviour siblings’, is a technology which can be used in some cases to help children with very serious blood disorders.

Last updated: 5 April 2016

Review date: 5 April 2018

Pre-implantation genetic testing for monogenic or single-gene disorders (PGT-M) can currently be used to avoid over 1,700 genetic conditions. For some of these conditions, you can also use pre-implantation tissue typing (PTT). Find out which conditions PGT-M and PTT has been approved for and what to do if you want to avoid a condition that’s not on the list.

Last updated: 20 July 2016

Review date: 20 July 2018

Scientists need eggs, sperm and embryos to carry out research to understand and improve fertility treatments. Without this kind of research treatments like IVF wouldn’t exist, and without future research there can be no advancements in treatments, technologies and knowledge.

Last updated: 8 April 2016

Review date: 8 April 2018

Thinking about using donor sperm at home? It may seem cheaper and easier than having treatment at a clinic, but there are some important issues to consider.

Last updated: 18 November 2016

Review date: 18 November 2018

Thousands of people in the UK have been conceived with the help of donated eggs, sperm or embryos. If you're considering requesting information about your donor or donor-conceived siblings, we strongly recommend you get support first. Find out more about your support options on this page.

Last updated: 17 June 2016

Review date: 17 June 2018