If using this data, please credit with a reference link to “male fertility supplement provider, Fertility Family”, or a link back to this report page.
Male fertility plays an important role in conception, with male factor sub-fertility being involved in about 50% of infertility cases. However, access to NHS-funded male fertility services remains inconsistent across the UK. While fertility conversations often focus on women’s health, studies suggest that a third of infertility cases are caused by male reproductive issues, with an estimated 7% of men in the UK experiencing infertility.
Recent reports have highlighted the scale of the issue, with failure to diagnose treatable male infertility issues leading to avoidable, sometimes unnecessary IVF treatment for couples struggling to conceive. However, like women, men can face barriers when seeking testing, treatment, specialist care, and emotional support to aid them through their journey.
To gain an understanding of how accessible NHS-funded male fertility support is across the UK, we’ve analysed responses from 103 NHS trusts, using *Freedom of Information Requests to assess the availability of five key services, including dedicated andrology clinics, NHS-funded sperm storage, sperm testing services, specialist clinicians, and counselling support.
The findings reveal that accessibility varies dramatically across locations, with just 11 trusts offering all five services requested.
Key Findings:
- 57% of NHS trusts analysed provide no male fertility services
- Fewer than 1 in 4 trusts (23%) offer a dedicated andrology clinic
- Only 21% provide NHS-funded sperm storage
- Counselling support is available at less than a quarter (21%) of trusts
- The highest-performing region still averages under 40% access for male fertility treatments
Where in the UK do men have the best access to fertility support?
Based on the 103 NHS trusts that responded, access to male fertility services varies significantly by region.
London
Average Male Fertility Support Access Score: 38/100
London ranks as the most accessible region in the UK for male fertility services – the capital is home to a high concentration of specialist provision and accounts for nearly half of all trusts nationally that offer all five services.
Trusts that provide all five services include:
- Homerton Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
- King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
- University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
- Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
- Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust
Despite this, access remains far from comprehensive. Even in the best-performing region, men can typically access fewer than two out of the five fertility services. Gaps remain, particularly when it comes to counselling support and NHS-funded sperm storage.
South West
Average Male Fertility Support Access Score: 35/100
The South West ranks second nationally. In particular, men living in this region are more likely than most to be able to access andrology clinic services or a local appointment with a specialist male fertility clinician.
In the South West, while no responding NHS trusts offered all five services, Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Somerset NHS Foundation Trust provide all but counselling services.
However, many offer only partial provision, with limited access to counselling and sperm testing services.
North East & Yorkshire
Average Male Fertility Support Access Score: 30/100
The North East and Yorkshire rank above the national average for male fertility access, placing them among the better-performing regions. Some trusts in the region offer a relatively broad range of services, including specialist clinics and sperm testing.
In particular, the Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust was the only trust to respond, confirming they provide all services.
However, the overall picture is mixed, while a small number of trusts perform well across the areas, others provide little or no support, resulting in uneven access depending on location within the region.
Midlands
Average Male Fertility Support Access Score: 27/100
The Midlands sits below the national leaders for male fertility access, with provision varying significantly between trusts. Trusts that provide all service areas include:
- South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust
- University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust
- Kettering General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
- The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust
While the region includes several high-performing trusts offering comprehensive care, many others provide minimal or no services, meaning access to male fertility support in the Midlands is heavily dependent on postcode or on travelling further to access support.
The North West (18/100) and East of England (16/100) rank among the lower-scoring regions for male fertility access, with most of the responding trusts offering no more than one out of five services.
In Wales, though included in the Freedom of Information requests, just one NHS trust responded.
Which male fertility services are the most accessible via NHS trusts?
Sperm testing
- Available at 34% of trusts
Access to sperm testing services is a fundamental part of male fertility care – enabling early diagnosis of any underlying issues, while potentially helping to prevent unnecessary delays in conception. Tests can help to uncover problems such as low sperm count, poor motility, abnormal morphology, or signs of infection, all of which can affect the chances of a natural pregnancy.
Without early testing, couples are often left trying to conceive for prolonged periods without understanding that a male factor could be contributing.
Specialist male fertility clinicians
- Available at 32% of trusts
When it comes to managing complex diagnoses and delivering tailored, evidence-based treatment, access to specialist male fertility clinicians plays an important role in identifying multifactorial causes. These can include endocrine disorders, genetic abnormalities, testicular failure, obstructive conditions, or complications following surgery or cancer treatment, which can often require expertise beyond general practice.
However, 68% of trusts analysed do not offer access to a specialist clinician for men experiencing infertility.
Dedicated andrology or male fertility clinics
- Available at 23% of trusts
Clinics dedicated to andrology or male fertility are often a gateway to gaining an accurate diagnosis and treatment for fertility issues. Male fertility can be complex, involving a range of considerations such as hormonal imbalances, genetic factors, varicoceles, or lifestyle-related factors.
However, just over three-quarters of the trusts in our study do not offer this service, and those that do are heavily concentrated in London and the South West. This means that for many, access to such services is not available locally through the NHS.
NHS-funded sperm storage
- Available at 21% of trusts
Access to this service is particularly important for men undergoing medical treatments such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or surgery that may impact fertility. For those going through cancer treatment, especially, NHS-funded sperm storage offers the possibility of biological parenthood in the future through banking sperm ahead of treatment, which can provide some psychological reassurance during a difficult time.
Without NHS funding, the high cost of private sperm storage is also a factor to consider when it comes to accessibility. Without this support, many are forced to consider either private storage options or, in some cases, social media sperm donor networks, which can lead to troubling practices and exploitation outside regulated clinical settings.
Counselling support
- Available at 21% of trusts
Fertility challenges can be accompanied by a wide range of emotions and mental health impacts, including but not limited to stress, anxiety, depression, and relationship or financial strain. Dedicated counselling services can provide a safe space to discuss fears, cope with treatment decisions, and manage the emotional burden of repeated investigations or assisted reproductive procedures.
Despite this, nearly 4 in 5 trusts do not offer counselling services to help support men experiencing infertility – making it one of the most consistently missing elements of male fertility care.
The male fertility care ‘postcode lottery’
Overall, across the services and trusts analysed, just 11 scored 100/100, offering all the services we requested information about. This represents just 10.8% of responding NHS trusts, with the remaining missing at least one core service.
This highlights a clear postcode lottery when it comes to access to male fertility care services, where access to specialist assessment, sperm testing, fertility preservation, and counselling varies depending on location.
Early diagnosis and ongoing support, whether that be medical or emotional, play an important role in fertility outcomes for couples trying to conceive, yet these services are not consistently available across the country. The focus here is not to assign blame, but to draw attention to gaps in locally accessible NHS services.
“Male fertility is still too often treated as an afterthought, despite the fact that it plays a role in a significant proportion of infertility cases. As this report makes clear, many men still face real barriers when trying to access basic fertility testing and support. When men feel overlooked or unsure how to access help, it can delay diagnosis and add unnecessary stress for couples. At NeXYs Fertility, part of our mission is to help plug these gaps by ensuring men feel included, informed and supported throughout the fertility journey.”
Where to find fertility support online
- Fertility Family – Fertility Advice and Support
- NeXYs Fertility – Male Fertility Support
- Fertility Network UK
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*Methodology
Freedom of Information (FOI) requests were sent to 183 NHS trusts across the UK in January 2026, of which 103 provided responses.
Trusts were asked about five key areas of male fertility services: dedicated andrology clinics, NHS-funded sperm storage, sperm testing, specialist clinicians, and counselling.
For the purpose of this analysis, any service a trust does not provide, including responses marked “Not Applicable (N/A)” to the trust’s service areas, was treated as unavailable (scored as “No”).
Each trust is assigned a score out of 100, reflecting the proportion of services it provides. This approach highlights gaps in access, ensuring that all missing services are visible and comparable across trusts, and makes clear where men currently face limited access to male fertility care via NHS trusts.
