Dr Cliona Murphy
Clinical Director, HSE
Six regional fertility hubs offering assisted human reproduction (AHR) treatment have been established by the HSE as part of the development of public fertility services.
Each of the hubs, as of September 2023, is now being positioned to make referrals for publicly funded, privately provided AHR treatment for eligible patients.
National AHR referral process
A GP will usually refer a couple to a regional fertility hub if they have been trying to conceive for a year (or six months if the woman is aged over 35) or one or both have had or currently have a known health problem that affects fertility.
At the hub, patients can expect to receive a structured fertility review and examination. Clinical assessments are then made by the specialist public fertility teams, and the next appropriate steps are decided.
Next steps may include medical or surgical treatments and management at hub-level. Some couples will need onward referral to other specialties. For some, advanced fertility treatment such as IVF/ICSI may be indicated.
At the hub, patients can expect to
receive a structured fertility
review and examination.
AHR pathway and potential timelines
For public patients who are clinically indicated for AHR and meet the national access for publicly funded treatment, a referral is made by their respective public fertility hub to a private provider of the patient’s choosing, once the patient meets the relevant eligibility criteria. There are eight HSE-approved AHR providers distributed across the country to ensure access nationally.
Under arrangements with private AHR clinics, following referral by a regional fertility hub team, the initial consultation should occur within six weeks. Active treatment should begin within six weeks of that consultation, unless delayed for clinical reasons. Hubs are now receiving between 500 to 550 referrals per month across all six hubs.
Public AHR outcomes reported
In early 2025, the HSE produced a report on the first year of the AHR service. The report highlighted that 2,997 couples were seen in the regional fertility hubs between September 2023 to August 2024.
As of the end of July 2025, 2,669 couples have been referred for AHR treatment since the commencement of the referral pathway in September 2023. In addition to clinical pregnancies being reported further to care and management at the regional hub level, the HSE has noted an overall 38% clinical pregnancy success rate arising from publicly funded AHR treatment. The highest success rates are being reported in the 18 to 30 age bracket, with lower rates being reported in the 35-plus age bracket.
For more information, visit the HSE website on hse.ie/fertility
