New data from the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) reveals that reported incidents, near misses, and cases awaiting classification at UK fertility clinics rose by 19 percent in the 2025/26 reporting period, driven largely by low-severity administrative errors. Despite the increase, the regulator confirmed that treatment remains very safe across licensed facilities.
In Plain English: The Clinical Takeaway
- Safe Treatment Rates: Over 99 percent of all fertility cycles in the UK are carried out without any reported incidents.
- Administrative Reporting: The rise in clinic filings stems mainly from low-severity Grade C events, which are primarily clerical mistakes rather than clinical failures.
- Transparent Culture: Regulatory officials attribute the increase in reported cases to clinics becoming more responsible, transparent, and responsive to shared safety guidance.
The 2025/26 HFEA Report and Incident Breakdown
According to the Fertility Sector 2025/26 report published by the HFEA, clinics recorded a total of 942 incidents, near misses, and cases awaiting classification. The vast majority of these events fell into Grade C, the lowest severity category, which predominantly captures administrative errors. Near misses—defined as occurrences that caused no direct harm but possessed the potential to do so—also climbed for the third consecutive year.
Conversely, the most serious category, known as a Grade A incident, involved just one single event during the period, compared to none in the previous year. In that specific Grade A occurrence, embryos belonging to more than five patients failed to develop as expected. An exhaustive investigation by the clinic and regulator could not establish a definitive cause, and no formal regulatory action was ultimately required.
Fertility patients can be reassured that treatment in UK licensed clinics remains very safe, with over 99 percent of cycles carried out without incident.
Peter Thompson, chief executive of the HFEA, noted that the increase in the number of incidents reported reflects a sector that is becoming more responsible and transparent. Thompson added: While this report shows an increase in the number of incidents reported to the HFEA over the last year, this reflects a sector that is becoming more responsible and transparent when things do go wrong.
| Metric / Category | 2025/26 Data | Comparative Context |
|---|---|---|
| Total Incidents and Near Misses | 942 reported cases | 19 percent increase from previous period |
| Grade A Serious Incidents | 1 recorded event | Up from zero in the previous year |
| Severe Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome | 83 cases | Occurred in less than 0.2 percent of egg collection cycles |
| Clinic Non-Compliances | 141 identified across inspections | Ten more than the previous year; seven categorized as critical |
Ovarian Hyperstimulation Risks and Regulatory Oversight
The regulatory audit also documented 83 cases of severe or critical ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS), a potentially life-threatening complication of fertility treatment involving systemic fluid shifts and enlarged ovaries. These severe medical events occurred in less than 0.2 percent of all egg collection cycles performed during the timeframe.
Inspections conducted by the HFEA identified 141 non-compliances, representing an increase of ten from the prior year, with most inspected clinics receiving at least one citation. Seven of these were classified as critical non-compliances, the most serious level. To refine how minor issues are tracked, the regulator altered its standards: since 1 June 2025, deviations that pose no significant clinical risk are recorded simply as observations rather than formal non-compliances.
Future Regulatory Challenges and Patient Feedback
Beyond clinic incidents, patient feedback gathered by the HFEA remained broadly positive, with the majority of respondents stating they would recommend their clinic and that staff consistently offered privacy, dignity, and empathy. The regulator also reported measurable progress in reducing administrative backlogs and improving response times for information requests from donors, donor-conceived individuals, and parents.
However, broader structural hurdles remain. In its 2025/26 Annual Report and Accounts, the HFEA emphasized that the underlying legislative framework governing fertility and embryology regulation has failed to keep pace with rapid scientific, clinical, and societal changes, noting a lack of legislative progress during the past reporting year.
References
- Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority. Fertility Sector 2025/26.
- Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority. Annual Report and Accounts 2025/26.
- Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority. Senior Management Team: Peter Thompson.
