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IVF for Single Women: Your Options, Timeline, Funding & What to Expect

IVF for single women offers a clear path to parenthood without a partner, combining medical expertise with donor sperm to make conception possible. Whether you’ve always planned to have a child solo, or you’ve decided now is the right time to start your family, IVF can give you the control to move forward on your own terms. This guide walks you through the process step-by-step — from choosing a sperm donor to understanding costs, success rates, and NHS funding — so you can make confident, informed decisions about your next step.

Author

Tassia O’Callaghan

Reviewed by

Kayleigh Hartigan

18 min read

Updated 15th September 2025

Treatment Spotlight:

  • IVF for single women follows the same medical process as IVF for couples, but uses donor sperm instead of a partner’s sperm.

  • Donor sperm can be sourced through your clinic, a registered sperm bank, or a known donor, each with different legal, emotional, and practical considerations. [1]

  • Success rates are similar or slightly higher than average, with UK data showing a 25% live birth rate for fresh embryo transfers and 33% for frozen, depending on factors like age and egg quality. [2]

  • The full treatment process usually takes 4–6 weeks once stimulation begins, though choosing a donor and completing pretreatment tests can extend the timeline.

  • Most single women fund IVF privately, with costs averaging £5,945 per cycle plus fees for donor sperm, medication, and other extras. NHS funding is limited and varies by postcode. [3,4]

What is IVF for single women?

IVF (in vitro fertilisation) is a form of assisted reproductive treatment that helps bring egg and sperm together outside the body, in a carefully controlled laboratory setting. It mirrors what happens naturally during conception — the egg is fertilised by sperm and develops into an embryo — but with one key difference: the process is guided step-by-step by fertility specialists. [5]

For single women, the main difference from IVF for couples is that donor sperm is used instead of a partner’s sperm. The medical steps themselves remain the same.

Here’s how it works:

  • Ovarian stimulation: You’ll take medication to encourage your ovaries to produce more mature eggs in one cycle. These eggs are then collected during a short surgical procedure.
  • Embryo creation: In the lab, your eggs are combined with donor sperm. Any fertilised eggs are monitored as they develop into embryos.
  • Embryo transfer: After 3–5 days of development, one embryo is placed into your uterus to continue growing naturally. Any remaining embryos can be frozen for future treatment, donated to others, or used for approved research.

Treatment Essentials: IVF

Learn more about IVF: the steps involved, how much it costs, understand success rates and risks — all in one convenient, in-depth guide.

Read the guide

Before you start treatment, remember:

  • It’s a medical process, and it’s hands-on. IVF involves hormone medication, which can cause side effects, and a short surgical procedure (under deep sedation or general anaesthetic) to collect your eggs. Rest and recovery time matter just as much as the treatment steps themselves. [5]

  • Donor sperm is essential. You can source this through your clinic, a sperm bank, or a known donor — each option comes with its own legal, emotional, and logistical considerations. If you’re using your clinic’s supply, ask early about any waiting lists. [1]

  • Success isn’t guaranteed. IVF is the most effective fertility treatment available, but it still comes with no promises. In the UK, the average chance of a live birth from an embryo transferred during IVF is 25% (for fresh embryo transfers) and 33% (for frozen embryo transfers) — this can also vary depending on age, diagnosis, and treatment approach. [2]

  • It’s time-intensive. Expect your schedule to flex around appointments, especially during ovarian stimulation, when you might need weekly or even daily scans and blood tests to monitor your follicle growth.

  • Your plan may shift along the way. Clinicians often adapt treatment based on how your body responds, which means your protocol could change right up until embryo transfer.

  • The cost can be significant. Most IVF cycles in England are self-funded — in 2023, the NHS covered just 24% of all cycles. Private costs vary widely between clinics, and donor sperm fees are usually additional. [2]

IVF for single women: Step-by-step

Every IVF plan is personal, but most follow six key stages — from your first tests through to embryo transfer and the wait to find out if you’re pregnant. Here’s what the process usually looks like:

Step 1: Pretreatment

Time: Around 2 weeks (sometimes longer)

Location: Clinic

Your clinic will start with fertility tests to understand your ovarian reserve — essentially, the number and quality of eggs you have available. [6]

These may include:

You’ll then have a follow-up consultation to go through results and finalise your treatment protocol. A nurse will show you how to take your medication, and some clinics may ask you to track your natural cycle first — which can extend the pretreatment phase by a month.

Step 2: Choosing a sperm donor

Time: Varies — from days to months

Location: Home and clinic

You’ll need to decide where your donor sperm will come from — your clinic’s donor programme, an external sperm bank, or a known donor. Each option has different legal, emotional, and practical considerations, so it’s worth taking time to explore what feels right for you.

Questions to ask:

  • Is there a waiting list, and if so, how long?
  • Will you have access to information about the donor now or when your child turns 18?
  • What health screening and genetic testing does the donor undergo?

Your choice will also determine the timeline for starting treatment, so this step often runs alongside or just before pretreatment testing.

Step 3: Ovarian stimulation and monitoring

Time: 2–4 weeks

Location: Mostly at home, with clinic monitoring

Stimulation usually starts on day 1–2 of your period. You’ll inject hormone medication to encourage multiple follicles to grow at the same time. This is different from a natural cycle, where just one follicle usually matures an egg.

Your clinic will track follicle growth with blood tests and vaginal ultrasounds. Some protocols include a “down-regulation” phase beforehand, using medication to pause your natural cycle before stimulation begins.

Step 4: Trigger shot and egg collection

Time: 36 hours from trigger to retrieval

Location: Home and clinic

When your follicles reach the right size, you’ll take a “trigger shot” to help the eggs mature. Exactly 36 hours later, you’ll have a short procedure under sedation or anaesthetic to collect them.

The same day, your chosen donor sperm will be prepared for fertilisation.

Step 5: Embryology and preparing your uterus

Time: 3–5 days

Location: Home and clinic

Your eggs and donor sperm are combined in the lab, and over the next few days, embryologists watch for fertilisation and embryo development in order to grade them.

Meanwhile, you’ll start progesterone to prepare your uterine lining, giving the embryo the best chance of implanting.

Step 6: Embryo transfer

Time: Around 20 minutes

Location: Clinic

If more than one embryo develops, your embryologist will choose the one most likely to succeed. The transfer is quick and usually painless — a thin catheter passes the embryo into your uterus.

Step 7: The two-week wait

Time: 2 weeks

Location: Home

Now it’s over to your body. If the embryo implants, it will continue to develop into a pregnancy. Waiting for test day can be one of the most emotionally intense stages. Many clinics offer counselling, and staying connected with supportive people can help.

How long does IVF for a single woman take?

IVF for a single woman can take anywhere from six weeks to several months, depending on your circumstances.

The treatment itself — from starting ovarian stimulation to taking a pregnancy test — usually lasts about 4–6 weeks. But there are steps before this that can extend the timeline: choosing a sperm donor (which can take days or months, especially if there’s a waiting list) and completing pretreatment tests and consultations (around two weeks, or longer if your clinic asks you to track a natural cycle first).

What is the success rate of IVF for single women?

Recent data from the HFEA shows that single women, along with female same-sex couples, have some of the highest IVF success rates in the UK. In 2022, the average birth rate per embryo transferred for these groups was 40% or higher, compared to 35% for opposite-sex couples aged 18–34. [7]

Why the difference? It’s largely due to the reasons for treatment. Many opposite-sex couples start IVF because of underlying infertility, which can lower success rates. For single women, IVF is often chosen for family building using donor sperm rather than to overcome a medical fertility issue — meaning egg quality and ovarian reserve may be stronger at the outset.

What are the risks of IVF for single women?

IVF is generally considered safe, but it’s still important to know the possible risks.

  • Emotional wellbeing: Hormonal medication, financial pressures, and waiting for results can all take a toll — and going through the process without a partner can make it feel more intense. Building a strong support network can help.

  • Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome (OHSS): A rare reaction to stimulation medication that can cause swelling, pain, and discomfort. Most cases are mild, but severe OHSS can need hospital treatment.

  • Procedural risks: Egg collection involves minor surgery, which carries a small risk of infection or bleeding. Embryo transfer is less invasive but can still cause minor complications.

  • Multiple pregnancy: While most clinics transfer just one embryo, in some situations two may be used, which can lead to twins or more. The HFEA’s One at a Time policy has significantly reduced this risk in the UK. [8]

Are single women entitled to IVF on the NHS?

At the moment, NHS-funded IVF for single women isn’t available everywhere in the UK — and when it is, there are often strict eligibility criteria. [9]

Most Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) in England, and health boards in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, currently require single patients to either:

  • Have an identified medical cause of infertility, or
  • Complete a set number of self-funded donor insemination cycles (often 6–12 rounds of intrauterine insemination, or IUI) before qualifying for NHS-funded IVF. [10,11]

Because policies are set locally, access can vary a lot depending on where you live. Some areas don’t yet fund IVF for single patients at all, while others are beginning to review their rules. Scotland, for example, is exploring whether to extend NHS-funded IVF to single women, but this work is still in early stages.

Even where treatment is available, other criteria can apply — such as age limits, BMI range, non-smoking requirements, and restrictions if you already have children.

If you’re considering NHS-funded IVF as a single woman, the best first step is to check your local ICB or health board’s fertility policy (these are usually published online), and speak to your GP about a referral and what steps you might need to take first, such as IUI.

Private treatment remains the only option for many single women right now, but the landscape is changing — and there’s growing pressure for fairer access across the UK.

Treatment type

Is it available on the NHS?

Typical eligibility criteria

Key considerations

In vitro fertilisation (IVF)

Limited

Infertility diagnosis or 6–12 self-funded IUI cycles, meeting age, BMI, non-smoking criteria.

Postcode-dependent,
with no provision in some regions.

Fertility MOT

Yes (in most areas)

GP referral needed; some areas require 6–18 months of trying to conceive.

Includes AMH/FSH bloods and pelvic scan; donor sperm tests may differ.

Intrauterine insemination (IUI)

Sometimes (not routine)

May cover single women with medical need, but some areas require 6+ self-funded cycles.

Postcode-dependent; many single women must self-fund first.

Egg freezing

Limited

Typically funded only for medical reasons
(such as before cancer treatment)

Elective egg freezing for future use is almost always self-funded.

Surrogacy

Very limited

Offered in rare cases where pregnancy
can’t be carried safely.

NHS surrogacy is rare,
with legal and funding hurdles.

NHS IVF Eligibility Calculator

Our handy tool decodes the NHS postcode lottery, to help you understand if you are eligible for NHS-funded IVF and IUI treatment in England in moments.

Am I eligible?

How much does IVF for single women cost?

In the UK, IVF for single women costs on average around £5,945 per cycle, but prices can range from £4,300 to £9,150 depending on your clinic, location, and what’s included in the package. Some clinics offer all-inclusive bundles, while others charge separately for each stage — so it’s worth asking for a full cost breakdown before you commit. [3,4]

What’s often not included in the advertised price?

  • Fertility assessment (Fertility MOT): Usually required before starting, and costs around £858.

  • Donor sperm: Often sourced from a registered sperm bank, costing £800–£1,500 per vial (averaging £1,230). You may need more than one vial if you have multiple cycles.

  • Medication: Ovarian stimulation and uterine preparation drugs can add roughly £1,500, depending on your protocol.

  • Embryo freezing and storage: Costs vary depending on how many embryos are stored and for how long.

  • Blood tests and genetic screening: Sometimes needed before treatment starts.

  • Counselling: A legal requirement in the UK, but not always included in clinic fees.

If you’re funding treatment yourself, it’s important to factor in these extras — they can easily add several thousand pounds to the base cost. Some clinics offer payment plans, and NHS funding may be available in certain areas if you meet eligibility criteria.

Where can I find a IVF clinic for single women?

Some fertility clinics have particular expertise in supporting single women, offering tailored advice, donor sperm services, and treatment plans designed with your needs in mind.

The easiest way to find the right one is to use our Clinic Match tool — it filters clinics based on your location, treatment needs, and eligibility, so you can see options that are the best fit for you.

If you’d like more personalised guidance, you can also book a call with our fertility clinic expert to talk through your options, compare clinics, and get answers to any questions you have about starting IVF as a single woman.

How does IVF for single women compare to other treatments

Treatment

Who

Hormones

Timeline

Average cycle cost

In vitro fertilisation (IVF)

Single women using donor sperm, with or without known fertility issues

Yes — ovarian stimulation medication required

4–6 weeks from stimulation to embryo transfer

£5,945 per cycle (+ add-ons and £1,230 per donor sperm sample)

IUI (intrauterine insemination)

Single women using donor sperm, with no known fertility issuesSingle women using donor sperm, with or without known fertility issues

Optional — can be done with or without stimulation medication

2–4 weeks from cycle start to insemination

£1,265 (+ £1,230 per donor sperm sample)

ICSI (intracytoplasmic sperm injection)

Single women using lower-quality donor sperm or other fertilisation issues are expected

Yes — same as IVF stimulation

4–6 weeks (part of IVF process)

£7,245 (+ £1,230 per donor sperm sample)

Egg freezing

Single women wishing to preserve fertility for future use

Yes — ovarian stimulation medication required

2–4 weeks from stimulation to retrieval

£3,815 per cycle (+£600 for storage)

Donor insemination (at home)

Single women using known donor sperm outside of clinic setting

None (unless combined with medicated cycle)

Dependent on natural cycle timing

£45 to reimburse the sperm donor for their clinic visit

Surrogacy

Single women unable to carry a pregnancy

May involve IVF with own or donor eggs

Timeline varies depending on matching and legal process

£20,000–£30,000+ including expenses

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Summary

IVF for single women opens the door to parenthood without a partner, offering a safe, clinically guided way to conceive using donor sperm. It’s a process that’s both medical and deeply personal — from choosing your donor and navigating the treatment steps, to making decisions about funding, clinic choice, and what to do next if your first cycle isn’t successful.

The right clinic will offer more than just treatment: it will provide tailored support, transparency around pricing, and guidance that respects your individual goals. Whether you move straight into your next cycle, take time to rest, or explore other paths to parenthood, remember that there’s no one “right” way forward.

If you’re ready to take the next step, use our Clinic Match tool to compare clinics with experience in IVF for single women, or book a call with our fertility clinic expert for personalised guidance.

With the right information, the right team, and the right support network, IVF can be an empowering way to start — or grow — your family on your terms.

IVF for single women FAQs

Which countries allow IVF for single women?

Access to IVF for single women varies widely from country to country — and in many places, the law still creates significant barriers. [16]

In Europe, a growing number of countries now allow single women to have IVF, but it’s far from universal. Countries such as France (since 2021) and Norway (since 2020) have opened treatment to single patients, joining more established destinations like Spain, Greece, Denmark, Belgium, and the UK. These countries typically also allow treatment with donor sperm and, in some cases, donor eggs or embryos. [17]

However, in at least 12 European countries, single women are still barred from IVF altogether — and even more restrict access to other forms of assisted reproduction, like donor insemination. Some regions only permit treatment if you use your own eggs, while others ban access to donor eggs or embryos entirely.

Outside Europe, rules differ just as much. Some countries, such as the USA, Canada, and Australia, permit IVF for single women, though state or provincial laws, clinic policies, and funding rules can still affect access. Others maintain explicit bans or leave the law unregulated, which can make treatment risky or legally uncertain.

What’s the average age for starting IVF as a single woman?

Over the past two decades, single women in the UK have typically started IVF later than both opposite-sex couples and female same-sex couples. In 2023, according to data from the HFEA, the average age for single women beginning IVF was 36, compared to 35 for opposite-sex couples and 33.8 for female same-sex couples. [2]

When it comes to age at first birth through IVF, single women averaged 37 in 2023 — still a year or two older than other groups. This reflects both the time taken to choose a sperm donor and the possibility of multiple cycles before a successful pregnancy.

Should I do IVF alone?

Deciding whether to do IVF on your own is deeply personal — and there’s no one-size-fits-all answer.

For some women, choosing to have a baby without a partner is empowering. It can mean taking control of your timeline, avoiding the uncertainty of waiting for the “right” relationship, and stepping into parenthood exactly when you feel ready. IVF with donor sperm gives you a clear medical route to making that happen.

That said, it’s a big decision — financially, emotionally, and logistically. IVF is demanding even with a support system, so think about who you can lean on for practical help, emotional backup, and honest advice. You’ll also want to consider the costs, your clinic’s success rates, the legal side of using donor sperm, and how you might talk to your child about their conception story in future.

If you’re not sure where to start, you can book a call with our fertility clinic expert for tailored advice. They can walk you through your options, help you compare clinics, and guide you in putting together a plan that feels right for you — so when you decide, you’ll know it’s truly on your terms.

Sources

1. Human Fertilisation & Embryology Authority. Using donated eggs, sperm or embryos in treatment.

2. Human Fertilisation & Embryology Authority. Fertility treatment 2023: trends and figures.

3. Fertility Mapper. Treatment Essentials: Reciprocal IVF. 27th May 2025.

4. Fertility Mapper. The True Cost of Fertility Report. 17th October 2023.

5. Human Fertilisation & Embryology Authority. In vitro fertilisation (IVF).

6. British Fertility Society. What exactly is Ovarian Reserve?

7. Human Fertilisation & Embryology Authority. More single patients and female same-sex couples are having fertility treatment but disparities in access remain, says regulator.

8. Human Fertilisation & Embryology Authority. Our campaign to reduce multiple births.

9. Gov.uk, Department of Health & Social Care. NHS-funded in vitro fertilisation (IVF) in England. Updated 11 September 2025.

10. NHS South West London. Infertility and assisted conception. Page last updated: 15 Nov 2023.

11. NHS. Intrauterine insemination (IUI). Page last reviewed: 25 June 2024.

12. Fertility Mapper. How Much Does IVF Cost in the UK? 23rd September 2024.

13. Fertility Mapper. Treatment Essentials: IUI. 17th October 2023.

14. Fertility Mapper. How Much Does Egg Freezing Cost in the UK? 1st July 2025.

15. Human Fertilisation & Embryology Authority. Home insemination with donor sperm.

16. Human Fertilisation & Embryology Authority. Fertility treatment abroad.

17. Civio. More than half of European countries prohibit access to assisted reproduction for lesbians and almost a third do so for single women. Eva Belmonte, María Álvarez del Vayo, Ángela Bernardo, Carmen Torrecillas, Antonio Hernández, Lucas Laursen. November 2, 2021.