Ancestry, Ethnicity, IVF Outcomes: Why Do Some Patients Fare Better than Others?

The most recent PET (Progress Educational Trust) event – 'Ancestry, Ethnicity, IVF Outcomes: Why Do Some Patients Fare Better than Others?' – explored disparities in access to IVF, and differences in experiences and outcomes of fertility treatment.

Sarah Norcross, director of PET, chaired the event. She began by highlighting the difficulties that black women sometimes face getting GPs to take their fertility concerns seriously, and the fact that this is one of the possible causes of differences in IVF success rates between black and white women.

Norcross then introduced the first panel speaker, Baroness Geeta Nargund, who was recently appointed to the House of Lords (see BioNews 1319). She is also a member of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA), and pro-chancellor (health equality) at the University of Portsmouth.

Baroness Nargund presented HFEA findings on ethnicity and fertility treatment, based on data from 2021, which revealed alarming disparities in access to IVF (see BioNews 1220). This included black patients starting treatment later on average, being the least likely to receive NHS-funded cycles (41 percent compared with 53 percent for white patients), and experiencing the lowest IVF birth rates (23 percent versus 32 percent).

Ethnic disparities in satisfaction across several aspects of care – including the quality of information provided, the degree of dignity and privacy afforded to patients, and the overall level of care received – were outlined. Baroness Nargund concluded by reflecting on what should be done to improve this situation. Her suggestions included increasing state funding for treatment and research, improving information and awareness among healthcare professionals, and developing clinical policies that factor in ethnicity.

The second speaker was Dr Patricia Hamilton, a lecturer in sociology at the University of York, and author of the book Black Mothers and Attachment Parenting (buy from Amazon UK). She discussed her research, which involved semi-structured, in-depth interviews with black women who have accessed fertility treatment, and also with fertility professionals (see BioNews 1287). Two key themes that have emerged from this research were delays in accessing treatment, and ways that these delays might be related to the impact of racism.

Dr Hamilton provided deeply troubling accounts of women's experiences with healthcare professionals. She concluded that disparities in IVF outcomes stem not only from a lack of fertility awareness, but also from dismissive clinical attitudes and racist stereotyping.

Next was Professor Asif Muneer, professor of urology and surgical andrology at University College London, and also chair of the British Fertility Society's Andrology Specialist Interest Group. Professor Muneer began by discussing various possible causes of male infertility, and then moved on to why many men find it difficult to seek medical guidance. He highlighted how stigma around male infertility – especially within certain ethnic groups – can compounded by problems such as long waiting times and the NHS postcode lottery for IVF (see BioNews 1326).

Professor Muneer concluded by sharing some take-home messages. He encouraged men to seek fertility assessments earlier, while also emphasising the need for healthcare services to offer earlier fertility assessments, and to expand their specialist units. He also highlighted the importance of educational campaigns that attend to the needs and concerns of ethnic minorities.

Next was Jonathan Luwagga, an advocate for male fertility awareness and an ambassador and peer advocate at the Fertility Alliance. He shared his personal experiences of fertility problems, highlighting difficulties that he faced trying to access fertility services. He also discussed particular forms of social and cultural shame experienced by black men, who sometimes find themselves characterised as hyperfertile and stigmatised if they fail to live up to this stereotype.

Luwagga shared examples of his advocacy work, including a trip to Uganda, where he witnessed first-hand how stigma deters men from seeking fertility-related healthcare, as many perceive fertility problems to be an exclusively female issue. He concluded by emphasising the importance of raising awareness and challenging the stigmatisation of infertility.

The penultimate speaker was Dr Edmond Edi-Osagie, medical director of Aurora Reproductive Healthcare and health education volunteer at the Caribbean and African Health Network. Dr Edi-Osagie considered issues that work against reproductive justice in the UK, including the fact that black women continue to have poorer IVF outcomes than others. He discussed various factors that influence IVF outcomes and disproportionately affect black women, including comorbidities and environmental and lifestyle issues.

Dr Edi-Osagie concluded by arguing for improved education (for patients, professionals and policymakers alike), for an increase in public funding of IVF, and for a reduction in waiting times.

The final speaker was Yvonne John, activist and author of the book Dreaming of a Life Unlived (buy from Amazon UK). She offered a moving account of her experiences with fertility services, including being dismissed by GPs and having to wait for months between tests. When she later researched the experiences of others, she found that her experience was unfortunately far from unique among black women. Her central argument was that meaningful improvement must begin with establishing a system that it feels safe to seek care from.

An in-depth discussion followed these presentations, with attendees asking about aspects such as how ethnicity is defined within various fields of research, and which public health interventions are most likely to improve outcomes. Ultimately, the event made it clear that disparities persist at every stage of fertility treatment, and that addressing this will require thorough changes and a commitment to reproductive justice.

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PET is grateful to IBSA for supporting this event.

Register for these upcoming PET events:

• Male Infertility: Today's Insights, Tomorrow's Treatments, taking place in Edinburgh on Wednesday 18 March 2026 – register here.
• What Does the NICE Fertility Guideline Update Mean for You?, taking place online on Wednesday 15 April 2026 – register here.