When choosing a Fertility clinic, many patients focus on success rates, treatment options and costs. These are all important considerations, but there is another question worth asking before you begin:
Who will actually be looking after me at each stage of my treatment?
Different fertility clinics organise care in different ways. Some follow a consultant-led model, where the same experienced fertility consultant remains closely involved throughout your journey. Others use a multidisciplinary team approach, with different clinicians and nurses involved at different stages of treatment.
Neither approach is inherently better medicine. However, continuity of care can influence your experience of treatment, the way information is communicated, and how supported you feel throughout the process.
Key takeaways
Continuity of care refers to how consistently the same healthcare professional or team remains involved throughout your fertility journey.
In a consultant-led model, one named fertility consultant oversees your care, reviews your progress, makes treatment decisions and remains your main point of contact throughout key stages of treatment.
In a multidisciplinary team model, care is shared across a team of doctors and nurses. While treatment decisions remain medically supervised, patients may see different professionals at different appointments.
Continuity is therefore not about the quality of medical care itself. It is about who delivers that care and how information is communicated between team members.
The main difference between care models is who you see throughout your treatment journey.
| Stage of Treatment | Multidisciplinary Team model | Consultant-Led Model |
|---|---|---|
| Initial consultation | Consultant | Consultant |
| Treatment planning | Shared team input | Same consultant |
| Monitoring Scans | Various clinicians or nurses | Same consultant whenever possible |
| Medication adjustments | Team-based decision making | Same consultant |
| Egg collection | IVF unit team | IVF unit team |
| Embryo transfer | IVF unit team | IVF unit team |
| Pregnancy scan and follow-up | Various clinicians or nurses | Same consultant |
The medical treatment itself may be very similar. What differs is the level of personal continuity and familiarity throughout the process.
Fertility treatment can be emotionally and physically demanding. Patients often attend multiple appointments over several weeks or months, discussing highly personal information and making important decisions along the way.
When the same clinician remains involved throughout treatment, patients may benefit from:
For many patients, feeling known, understood and supported has value in itself, regardless of the eventual outcome of treatment.
The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) National Patient Survey 2024 HFEA's National Patient Survey 2024, highlighted the importance of communication and coordination within fertility services.
Interestingly, coordination and administration received the highest levels of dissatisfaction compared with other aspects of care.
This suggests that while patients appreciate high-quality clinical treatment, they also place significant value on: Clear communication, Efficient organisation, Consistent points of contact and Feeling supported throughout their journey. These are precisely the areas where continuity of care can make a noticeable difference.
Coordination and administration, not the medicine itself, received the highest levels of dissatisfaction compared with other aspects of care in the HFEA's 2024 survey.
It is important to understand what continuity of care does and does not influence.
Continuity of care has not been shown to improve pregnancy rates or live birth rates. These outcomes are influenced by clinical factors including: Female age, Egg reserve, Sperm quality, Embryo quality, Womb and pelvic health, and the appropriateness of treatment protocols
A consultant-led approach should therefore not be viewed as a guarantee of improved outcomes.
What it may affect is the patient experience surrounding treatment, including communication, coordination and personalised support.
Before committing to treatment, consider asking:
A clinic that can clearly explain its care model allows you to make an informed choice about what is most important to you.
No. Pregnancy and live birth rates are primarily influenced by clinical and biological factors such as age, ovarian reserve and embryo quality. Continuity of care affects the patient experience rather than the biological success of treatment.
No. Both models can deliver excellent clinical care. The difference lies in how care is organised, who you see, and how communication is managed throughout treatment.
Many patients value having a single clinician who understands their circumstances, remembers previous discussions and provides consistency throughout treatment.
Absolutely. Any fertility clinic should be able to explain who you will see at each stage of treatment and how decisions are made throughout your cycle.
Why do some IVF steps have to happen at a different, licensed clinic?
Egg collection and embryo transfer are HFEA-licensed activities, tied to the premises where they take place. A satellite site can run consultations, scans and bloods, but you will need a licensed unit with its own laboratory and embryology team for these two steps, regardless of which clinic you are registered with.
Success rates matter, but they are not the only factor worth considering when choosing a fertility clinic.
Before you begin treatment, ask one simple question:
"Who will be looking after me at each stage of my fertility journey?"
The answer will not change your biology, but it may significantly influence your experience of treatment. For many patients, knowing they are supported by a familiar clinician who understands their individual story can make all the difference during what is often one of life's most challenging journeys.
If you would like to learn more about JIVA Fertility's consultant-led approach to care, our Consultant team book a consultation would be delighted to discuss how we support patients through every stage of their fertility journey.
For more on each stage of treatment, see our step-by-step IVF process guide, our explainer on NHS-funded IVF cycles in West Yorkshire, and our comparison of IVF vs ICSI.
Disclaimer
We make every reasonable effort to ensure that the information contained in this article is accurate and up to date at the time of publication. However, medical knowledge, clinical guidelines, research findings, and statistics may change over time, and inadvertent errors or omissions may occur.
The information provided is intended for general educational purposes only and should not be relied upon as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Readers should consult a qualified healthcare professional regarding their individual circumstances.
Where statistics, research findings, or third-party information are referenced, we aim to cite reputable sources. We do not guarantee the completeness, accuracy, or continued availability of information obtained from third-party sources.
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