14 April 2021

Innovation in conception: London Women’s Clinic, number one IVF centre in London

It has been more than 40 years since the birth of the world’s first ‘test-tube’ baby. While there have been few moments in the fertility landscape more ground-breaking than the arrival of Louise Brown, the advancements of the last four decades have seen a huge change in the way we approach fertility.

Today, around 20,000 babies are born via IVF in the UK alone each year, with rising success rates due mainly to continuous innovation and improvement in areas such as the egg freezing process.
A brief glance at the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority’s (HFEA) clinic rankings will show that the number one centre in London is London Women’s Clinic, with a clinical pregnancy rate of 45% for every embryo transferred in women under 35 years of age and 38% in those older.

These impressive results – in routine IVF patients – were similarly found in treatments using eggs supplied by a donor. Egg donation is an increasingly common treatment for infertile women whose ovaries are unable to produce suitable eggs, perhaps because of an early menopause or ovarian problem. For these women, a donor egg is their only reasonable chance of having a baby.
The increase in the uptake and success of egg donation is due largely to developments over the last decade in the technology used to freeze eggs. The fast-freezing technique of vitrification, developed in Japan in the 2000s, is now used worldwide at clinics including the London Women’s Clinic and its Harley Street partner the London Egg Bank, with remarkable results. Vitrification is the preferred method for freezing embryos prior to transfer and for freezing eggs prior to fertilisation.
For the London Egg Bank, the ability to freeze eggs without damage to their micro-architecture – which was for many years one of the greatest challenges of reproductive medicine – has been the defining principle for its recent range of treatments. Those treatments now include elective egg freezing for the preservation of fertility and the supply of frozen donor eggs, resulting in London Egg Bank being the largest bank in the country with around 5,000 eggs currently available for donation. Indeed, never before in the UK have donor eggs been more plentiful or from a more varied selection of donors.

A revolution in egg donation

‘Only a few years ago most egg donation patients from Britain had to travel overseas to Spain, Ukraine or Cyprus for their donor eggs,’ explains the London Egg Bank’s medical director Professor Nick Macklon. ‘There, donors were more numerous and the supply of eggs more abundant. But all that changed with vitrification and the technology to freeze and thaw eggs without damage.’ So the London Egg Bank, with a new generation of UK-based donors, is now the largest egg bank in the country, and able to meet the treatment demands of all its patients unable to produce their own eggs. It has been more than 40 years since the birth of the world’s first ‘test-tube’ baby. While there have been few moments in the fertility landscape more ground-breaking than the arrival of Louise Brown, the advancements of the last four decades have seen a huge change in the way we approach fertility. London Women’s Clinic offers patients the latest in modern technology within warm and contemporary surroundings.

No longer is overseas treatment necessary, no longer is there a need for long waiting lists or transfers in a ‘fresh’ treatment cycle. The bank of frozen donor eggs can be consulted in an online catalogue and personal preferences for ethnicity or background matched.
Such a wide range of donors is reassuring to many infertile patients who need donor eggs, says the London Egg Bank’s director of nursing Mimi Arian Schad. ‘Egg donation is a big step,’ explains Mimi, ‘and can’t be undertaken lightly. Most egg donation patients have tried IVF before and are now at a stage in life when their ovaries are simply unable to produce the good quality eggs necessary for natural conception.
We can remove many of the problems which egg donation patients used to worry about – long waiting lists, traveling abroad, selecting a suitable donor. And these patients are also gratified to know that all our donors are UK citizens and meet the donor requirements of the HFEA. That means a thorough screening procedure, and security for patients, who may not receive that same assurance from a foreign clinic.’
The regulatory requirements of the HFEA in Britain ensure that all treatments are carried out according to a nationally governed and evidence based code of practice.
Figures show that egg donation is now the most popular fertility treatment in Europe, with the latest figures showing higher live birth rates than those recorded for routine IVF and ICSI, where a woman has used her own eggs. The explanation is simply that donor eggs usually come from healthy young donors without fertility problems and before any age-related decline in their own
natural fertility. This is reflected at London Egg Bank, where donors have an average age of 24.
The latest European figures show that almost two-thirds of egg donation patient recipients are 40 years or older. In these women, ovarian function is often no longer what it was several years ago. But there is some good news for them, for what studies have shown beyond doubt – as in all forms of IVF treatment – is that success for the recipient patient depends more on the age of her donor’s eggs than on her own chronological age. For example, the rate of successful pregnancy for a 43-yearold woman is around 50-70% with donor eggs, but only around 5% with her own eggs. Coupled with various studies which acknowledge that frozen eggs perform just as well as fresh eggs in terms of producing a clinical pregnancy, a woman’s chances at starting a family using assisted reproduction are more hopeful than ever before.

a woman’s chances at starting a family using assisted reproduction are more hopeful than ever before

The rise in social egg freezing

Another aspect of egg freezing which has gained traction in recent years is that of ‘social’ egg freezing, where women freeze their eggs in order to have a fertility backup plan if they find themselves struggling to get pregnant in future. ‘There is a huge increase in women choosing to freeze their eggs in order to try for a child at a
later date – whether it be due to career commitments, financial reasons or finding a suitable partner. By freezing their eggs, our patients feel that they have a wider range of options when it comes to family planning.’ says Professor Macklon.

Marta Wolska, LEB Operations Manager adds, ‘Social egg freezing is becoming increasingly common, with some companies such as Google, Apple and Facebook even offering it to employees so they can have greater control of their fertility options. This is due in part to the encouraging success rates seen regarding clinical pregnancy from frozen eggs, and underlines how far we have come from those initial pioneering fertility treatments of years gone by when routine egg freezing was still just an idea.’

What the future holds
Reproductive medicine in the UK has come a long way since its early years. We are at a point in time where patients no longer need to travel abroad to find a suitable egg donor and where egg freezing and vitrification processes are more successful than ever before in helping to produce a clinical pregnancy. London Women’s Clinic predicts that more women will embrace social egg freezing as a back-up fertility option, while advances in the vitrification process can ensure continuous rising success rates for IVF patients.

As the largest egg bank in the country and the most successful IVF clinic in relation to pregnancy rates per embryo transfer, the London Women’s Clinic and London Egg Bank are at the vanguard of assisted reproduction. The sheer volume of egg donations and vitrification seen by the team ensures an ever-increasing expertise that cannot be matched by smaller clinics, which may only occasionally perform more technical procedures.
Its ‘freeze and share’ programme – where donors can donate half of their eggs from a cycle in exchange for discounted IVF, allows women across the financial spectrum to access fertility treatment at a time in their life which suits them, and which can offer the best possible chances of starting a family.
Much has been achieved, even in the past decade just with the introduction of vitrification alone. The next decade looks set to be just as innovative, if not more.

Professor Nick Macklon
Medical Director of London Women’s Clinic

All of our blog posts are written, edited, or produced by the London Women's Clinic Content Team. This is a collaboration between our expert writers, health editors, and the leading researchers and senior doctors at our Harley Street clinic.

‘We started our IVF process with LWC around a year ago. It felt very daunting and a long road ahead, and the entire team were so supportive and explained everything so clearly. When we were undergoing the egg retreival and transfer, the team were so kind and we felt really looked after. We have now welcomed our little girl and after years of trying, we wouldn't have gotten here without the support and guidance given by LWC. Thank you all!’

Alice Maker

22 January 2026, LWC London Bridge

‘Dr Suraya made our appointment a really enjoyable experience. She made us both feel at ease and was so knowledgeable throughout the scan. Dr Suraya is a real asset to LWC’

Liz Troup

22 January 2026, LWC London Bridge

‘I received excellent care from all the staff at London Women's Clinic, we felt very welcomed as a same sex couple. We are so grateful to have been able to have our wonderful daughter. I would definitely recommend the clinic to anyone starting fertility treatment!’

Megan Knox

21 January 2026, LWC Canterbury

‘I've recently completed a round of egg freezing with London Women's Clinic harrow and I couldn't recommend them as a clinic more. Carla and Ana-Maria quite literally held my hand throughout the entire process, making me feel really relaxed and supported. It's made such a stressful experience super positive and if anyone is thinking of using them, I'd absolutely recommend them!’

Brooke Day

19 January 2026, LWC Harrow

‘I undertook Kind IVF, which even though is nurse led as opposed to consultant led, the care, professionalism and knowledge is there. The nurses consult with consultants during your protocol, so the difference really is you see the nurses instead. The medication doses are less and less medication, but this doesn't mean it will be less effective, it is an option worth exploring, as the cost is less and can open the door when more traditional ivf is out of reach. I am currently pregnant having gone through the kind ivf protocol one time.’

APINTOF MEGAN

19 January 2026, LWC London Bridge

‘Exceptional service from start to finish. Highly recommend Harley street team for looking after us. Absolutely loved your service and care. Thank you London woman's clinic :)’

Anh Nguyen

19 January 2026, LWC Harley Street

‘The team at the Cambridge LWC branch have been incredibly supportive, encouraging and helpful throughout our journey, and have been with us through the ups and downs. It's a very safe and inclusive space, and we feel very well cared for. We can't recommend them enough! Sarah and Jacqui’

Sarah Peace

16 January 2026, LWC Cambridge

‘We will be forever grateful to London Women's Clinic Bromley for helping us achieve what once felt impossible -- welcoming our beautiful, healthy baby boy in November 2025. Our IVF journey was emotional, overwhelming at times, and deeply personal, but from the very first appointment we were met with nothing but kindness, compassion, and unwavering support. Every step was clearly explained, we were kept fully informed throughout, and there was always someone available to answer our questions or simply reassure us when we needed it most. We never once felt like just another patient -- we felt truly cared for. Dr Malini, Sarah, Nicky (Nikita) and Dom were exceptional and will always hold a very special place in our hearts. Their warmth, patience, and genuine kindness made the process so much easier to cope with. They made us feel safe, comfortable, and supported during some of the most vulnerable moments of our lives. Every nurse, embryologist, and member of staff we encountered was wonderful. We honestly cannot recommend London Women's Clinic Bromley enough to anyone struggling with fertility or facing similar challenges. The dedication, empathy, and expertise of this team has changed our lives forever. We hope to take the clinic up on their offer to visit with our little miracle, who we are endlessly thankful they helped bring into this world. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Lucy & Sayed ’

Lucy morgan

16 January 2026, LWC Bromley

‘My journey with egg freezing in the LWC has been amazing. I had started consultations with another provider before but didn't feel comfortable there, and I'm SO GLAD I listened to my instinct and went to this clinic! The whole team was so knowledgeable and supportive throughout, but also just lovely. I would recommend the clinic, ESPECIALLY if you are worried about the process and feel emotional, the understanding and support here is way beyond what I was hoping for!!!’

Charlotte M

15 January 2026, LWC London Bridge

‘My journey with the LWC in London Bridge + Harley Street has been outstanding. The team is so lovely, I felt welcomed and understood from the first to the last call and through every appointment in between. I would recommend it to every friend!’

Charlotte M

15 January 2026, LWC Harley Street

‘Nicki has a beautiful and excellent personality, she was so kind, polite and sweet. I felt so happy after the scan . Bless her. Right woman for the job.’

Steave Oyinloye

15 January 2026, LWC Bromley

‘Nikita was fab - really put me at ease with my scan and able to relax. Feel very supported’

S S

15 January 2026, LWC Bromley

‘Just had my scan with Nikki and she was very informative and made me feel very comfortable.’

Lisa

15 January 2026, LWC Bromley

‘Nikita was excellent and mindful during our initial scan/consultation explained everything well.’

james harris

15 January 2026, LWC Bromley

‘Myself and partner have had a lovely experience with LWC Canterbury they are thoughtful and caring. Always made us feel comfort and welcome even through the difficulties that we have faced on our journey, however we will be forever grateful for all they have done and are contiuing to do.’

Natasha Elliott

14 January 2026, LWC Canterbury

‘This was my first fertility treatment, and I cannot express enough how thankful I am to have chosen LWC and to have been treated at the Harrow clinic. I would highly recommend it to anyone considering starting their fertility journey! From the start, I appreciated how transparent the admin team was about all the costs involved at every stage, giving clear ranges when the decision depended on how the treatment would go. I am also extremely grateful for their support in helping with securing financing, even when I decided to move forward at short notice. They took the time to schedule calls to answer my questions, and I truly felt listened to and cared for as a patient. At the Harrow clinic, I experienced an exceptionally caring and positive environment. All the nurses were highly professional while also being incredibly comforting and supportive. I would especially like to thank Ana Maria, who was there throughout the process, offering practical advice based on her own experience, a hug when needed, and making the entire journey feel much more like home. I would also like to thank Carla for her positivity, high energy, and encouragement during difficult moments, and Laura for her empowering and reassuring approach to the injections. Dr Goswami was also outstanding--extremely professional and clear in her advice. She carefully adjusted the treatment to aim for the best possible outcome while prioritising safety and minimising risks. I am also very grateful for the support groups organised by the clinic. Through these, I met incredibly brave and empowered women and couples. Sharing this journey with some of them made the experience far more bearable and positive. Thank you to everyone at the Harrow clinic and LWC for your incredible support!!’

Marina Riabiz

14 January 2026, LWC Harrow

‘We had a very positive experience at this IVF clinic and would highly recommend it. From the very beginning, we felt well supported and looked after throughout the entire journey. A special thank you to Safak, our patient coordinator, who was incredibly helpful and always very quick to respond. We would also like to thank Princess, the receptionist, as well as the Italian receptionist whose name we unfortunately don't remember, for always being kind and welcoming. We are extremely grateful to Dr Suraya, who performed many of our scans and was exceptional throughout the process, and to Dr Rao, who followed our journey step by step with great care, professionalism and attention. Finally, a big thank you to all the nurses, especially Hannah,Ella and Paige, for their support, kindness and professionalism. Overall, we felt very well cared for and supported, and we truly recommend this clinic to anyone considering IVF!’

Alicia Gioia

12 January 2026, LWC London Bridge

‘The reception staff are amazing nothing is to much trouble. Always answered any queries we had. The whole team were brilliant from our first initial appointment too our very last. They made us feel so comfortable.’

Rachel Powell

12 January 2026, LWC Bristol

‘We don't know where to begin, this place truly is wonderful. So so comforting and welcoming. Every single staff member went above and beyond and really felt like family. We couldn't be more appreciative of everyone who helped us on our way to creat our little one, who is cooking away nicely at 20 weeks. From choosing a sperm donor to my egg collection and then to getting my wife pregnant with the embryos a few months later, it was so stress free and we felt supported every single step of the way. We can't thank all the lovely wonderful ladies at the Brentwood clinic enough for what they have helped us achieve- and of course the amazing people at the Harley street clinic for doing the procedures who were just as welcoming! Thank you all so so much, we can't wait to bring our little man to meet you all when we are ready to try for baby number 2 xxxxx’

molly bannister

9 January 2026, LWC Brentwood

‘Following a seminar I attended at LWC, I arranged a consultation with Dr. Naware who specialises in fertility for women over 40. It was a refreshing experience. Dr. Naware is empathetic, kind and thorough. The follow up from the clinic was excellent, with Safak, Patient Coordinator, providing regular updates.’

A Patel

9 January 2026, LWC London Bridge

‘We are incredibly grateful to London Women's Clinic - Canterbury for their outstanding care and support throughout our IVF journey. Both the Canterbury and Bromley teams surrounded us with genuine kindness, understanding, and constant attention. We always felt listened to and truly cared for, and the level of professionalism was exceptional at every stage. Thanks to their dedication and hard work, we had the chance to welcome our beautiful little daughter into the world. We cannot recommend this clinic highly enough.’

Natalia Twardochleb

8 January 2026, LWC Canterbury

‘We can't recommend the London Women's Clinic enough. My partner and I are a same-sex female couple and are currently pregnant with our baby due in July -- after only two attempts. From the moment we chose the London Women's Clinic, the experience was incredible. The Harrow branch in particular felt so welcoming and supportive. Carla Lang, Ana-Maria, Laura Adagbon, and Dr Gill were absolutely amazing -- accommodating, kind, friendly, and genuinely caring. They went above and beyond throughout our entire journey, even responding to emails outside of working hours, which meant so much to us. We had previously completed blood tests and scans at another clinic but didn't feel it was the right fit. The London Women's Clinic didn't push us to repeat everything unnecessarily -- they accepted our previous tests, which really showed that they are not money-driven. On that note, their pricing is also very affordable compared to other clinics. Dr Gill is incredibly thorough and precise, taking so many factors into account when planning treatment, which gave us complete confidence. Our insemination was carried out at the Harley Street London Women's Clinic by Dr Yogita Date, who was equally wonderful. She made us feel comfortable, supported, and genuinely wished us luck during the procedure. Overall, this clinic felt more like family than a medical service. Even now, they continue to check in on us and our pregnancy, which says everything about the level of care they provide. We are beyond grateful and wouldn't hesitate to recommend the London Women's Clinic to anyone starting their fertility journey.’

Maisie Thomas

8 January 2026, LWC Harrow

‘The team at LWC Harley Street have been outstanding. They have supported my wife and I through our IVF journey at every step, keeping us informed and making the entire journey feel seamless. A special thanks to Dr Serra, Nurse Mimi, Vita and the rest of the LWC team that have helped us along the way. We are now 20 weeks into our pregnancy and LWC have continued to follow up to ensure all is well. A big thank you once again and we highly recommend LWC Harley Street to anyone considering IVF.’

Keyur Nakum

29 December 2025, LWC Harley Street

‘Cannot fault the ladies here at all. I felt so so welcome and looked after during the visit and consultation. The nurses were so compassionate and lovely, and I really felt like I was being listened to and understood. Would recommend to anyone looking to start a fertility journey/make some enquiries into their fertility healthxx’

Ellie Brown

19 December 2025, LWC Canterbury

‘Myself and my partners experience with LWC in Canterbury has been AMAZING! They have been so supportive and friendly throughout our whole IVF journey and gave us no stress throughout any part of it. Would very highly recommend as our first round of ISCI IVF worked ’

Mia Summers

19 December 2025, LWC Canterbury