CARE Fertility vs CREATE Fertility 2026: Prices, Success Rates & Locations
Compare CARE Fertility and CREATE Fertility for IVF in the UK. Prices, success rates, locations, and treatment approach — conventional vs mild/natural IVF.
Important context
IVF success rates vary by age, diagnosis, treatment type, use of donor eggs, embryo transfer approach and patient selection. TreatCompare summarises published clinic-level data for comparison and research purposes only. It is not medical advice and should not be used as the sole basis for choosing a clinic. Patients should verify current figures, treatment suitability and pricing directly with the clinic.
- Source type
- TreatCompare compiled research
- Primary source
- Provider-published information and TreatCompare research
- Reporting period
- 2026-04-29
- Last updated
- 2026-04-29
- Figure type
- Mixed sources
- Use
- Research and comparison only
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CARE Fertility and CREATE Fertility are two of the most recognised IVF clinic groups in the UK. They take fundamentally different approaches: CARE is the UK's largest private fertility group (11 clinics, conventional high-stimulation IVF), while CREATE (5 clinics) specialises in natural and mild IVF protocols that use fewer drugs and cost less per cycle.
Quick comparison
| CARE Fertility | CREATE Fertility | |
|---|---|---|
| UK clinics | 11 | 5 |
| Locations | Birmingham, Bristol, Cambridge, Derby, Dublin, Edinburgh, Exeter, London, Manchester, Northampton, Sheffield | London, Birmingham, Bristol, Manchester, Chelmsford |
| IVF from | £3,795 | £3,200 (stimulated) / £1,800 (natural) |
| Approach | Conventional stimulation | Natural and mild IVF specialists |
| HFEA licensed | Yes | Yes |
| Success rates (under 35) | At or above national average (32%) at most centres | Comparable per embryo transferred; lower per cycle started due to fewer eggs collected |
| Add-ons offered | Extensive — PGT-A, ERA, EmbryoGlue, endometrial scratch, time-lapse | Selective — time-lapse, PGT-A available |
| Funding options | Self-pay, NHS contracts (select locations), finance plans | Self-pay, finance plans |
Success rate source: HFEA national data. National average birth rate per embryo transferred for patients under 35 is approximately 32%. Individual clinic rates vary by year and patient mix.
CARE is one of the few UK clinic groups with NHS contracts at select locations — so some patients can access CARE centres through NHS-funded cycles, depending on their ICB. CREATE operates self-pay and finance plans only.
Pricing comparison
| Treatment | CARE Fertility | CREATE Fertility |
|---|---|---|
| Natural IVF cycle | Not a core offering | From £1,800 |
| Mild stimulation IVF | Not a core offering | From £3,200 |
| Standard IVF cycle | From £3,795 | From £3,950 (full stimulation) |
| IVF with ICSI | From £4,795 | From £4,450 |
| Egg freezing cycle | From £3,495 | From £3,200 |
| Frozen embryo transfer | From £1,495 | From £1,400 |
| PGT-A (per embryo) | From £400 | From £400 |
| Initial consultation | From £250 | From £200 (includes scan) |
All prices exclude stimulation drugs (typically £800–2,500 depending on protocol). CREATE's mild and natural protocols use fewer drugs, reducing total out-of-pocket cost. Request a full itemised quote before starting treatment.
CARE Fertility: treatment profile
Founded in 1997, CARE Fertility operates 11 clinics from Exeter to Edinburgh. It is the largest private fertility group in the UK.
- Conventional high-stimulation IVF is the standard protocol, aiming to maximise eggs collected per cycle
- PGT-A (preimplantation genetic testing) is a particular area of expertise — CARE was an early adopter
- NHS contracts at several locations
- Wide geographic reach — 11 clinics cover most of England and Scotland
- Comprehensive add-on menu including EmbryoGlue, endometrial scratch, and time-lapse imaging
- Research-active — publishes studies in reproductive genetics and embryology
CREATE Fertility: treatment profile
Founded by Professor Geeta Nargund, a campaigner for milder IVF protocols. CREATE operates 5 clinics focused on reducing the physical, emotional, and financial burden of fertility treatment.
- Natural cycle IVF (no stimulation drugs) from £1,800 — the most affordable IVF price point in the UK, used for patients who respond poorly to drugs or prefer minimal intervention
- Mild stimulation IVF uses lower drug doses (typically 5–9 days of stimulation vs 10–14 days), producing fewer eggs but at lower total cost
- Lower drug spend — total cycle cost including medication is often £1,500–3,000 less than conventional IVF
- 5 clinics in London (St Paul's), Birmingham, Bristol, Manchester, and Chelmsford
- Selective with add-ons — fewer optional extras than conventional clinics
- Philosophy-driven — designed around reducing OHSS risk and drug exposure
CREATE's natural IVF from £1,800 is the lower-cost HFEA-licensed IVF price point in the UK. The trade-off is fewer eggs per cycle — some patients need more cycles to reach a live birth than they would on conventional stimulation.
Differentiators summarised
CARE emphasises: conventional stimulation, maximising egg yield per cycle, PGT-A expertise, wide geographic coverage, NHS contracts at some locations, comprehensive add-on menu.
CREATE emphasises: lower drug exposure, natural and mild protocols, lower cost per cycle, reduced OHSS risk, smaller add-on menu aligned with minimising intervention.
Both are HFEA-licensed and publish outcomes to the national register. Neither is categorically better — they serve different patient preferences and clinical situations.
NHS-funded IVF at these clinics
NICE recommends up to 3 NHS-funded IVF cycles for eligible women under 40, but provision varies dramatically by area. Many ICBs fund only 1 cycle, and age, BMI, and waiting-time criteria differ across the country.
CARE holds NHS contracts in some regions. CREATE is self-pay only. Whether you can access NHS-funded treatment depends on your local ICB's commissioning.
Use our NHS IVF eligibility checker to see what your local area offers.
Compare UK fertility clinics
Compare CARE, CREATE, and other HFEA-licensed UK fertility clinics on pricing and treatment approach.
Compare fertility clinic pricesRelated guides
- IVF Cost UK Guide — full breakdown of advertised vs true cost
- Egg Freezing Cost UK — cycle, drug, and storage pricing
- NHS IVF eligibility checker — check your local ICB funding
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between CARE Fertility and CREATE Fertility?
CARE Fertility is the UK's largest private fertility group with 11 clinics, using conventional high-stimulation IVF protocols. CREATE Fertility operates 5 clinics specialising in natural and mild IVF protocols that use fewer drugs and cost less per cycle. Both are HFEA-licensed and publish outcomes to the national register.
How do CARE Fertility and CREATE Fertility compare on price?
Standard IVF starts at £3,795 at CARE and £3,950 at CREATE for full stimulation. CREATE also offers natural cycle IVF from £1,800 and mild stimulation from £3,200, which CARE does not. ICSI is £4,795 at CARE versus £4,450 at CREATE; egg freezing is £3,495 versus £3,200. All prices exclude stimulation drugs (typically £800-£2,500 depending on protocol).
What is natural IVF and how much does it cost at CREATE Fertility?
Natural cycle IVF uses no stimulation drugs and costs from £1,800 at CREATE — the lower-cost HFEA-licensed IVF price point in the UK. The trade-off is fewer eggs per cycle, so some patients need more cycles to reach a live birth than they would on conventional stimulation. It is used for patients who respond poorly to drugs or prefer minimal intervention.
Where are CARE Fertility and CREATE Fertility clinics located?
CARE Fertility has 11 clinics in Birmingham, Bristol, Cambridge, Derby, Dublin, Edinburgh, Exeter, London, Manchester, Northampton and Sheffield. CREATE Fertility has 5 clinics in London (St Paul's), Birmingham, Bristol, Manchester and Chelmsford. CARE has wider geographic coverage across England and Scotland.
Can I get NHS-funded IVF at CARE Fertility or CREATE Fertility?
CARE holds NHS contracts in some regions, so some patients can access CARE centres through NHS-funded cycles depending on their ICB. CREATE operates self-pay and finance plans only. NICE recommends up to 3 NHS-funded cycles for eligible women under 40, but many ICBs fund only 1 cycle and criteria vary dramatically by area.
Which clinic offers more IVF add-ons, CARE or CREATE?
CARE Fertility offers an extensive add-on menu including PGT-A, ERA, EmbryoGlue, endometrial scratch and time-lapse imaging, and was an early adopter of PGT-A (preimplantation genetic testing). CREATE is more selective — time-lapse and PGT-A are available, but the smaller add-on menu aligns with the clinic's philosophy of minimising intervention and OHSS risk.
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Compare IVF, egg freezing, and fertility treatment prices from HFEA-licensed UK clinics.
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