Professor

Adam Balen

MB, BS, MD, DSc, FRCOG

Professor Adam Balen is one of the world’s foremost thinkers on reproductive medicine.

Adam's CV
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Infertility /
sub-fertility

Sometimes we prefer to use the phrase ‘sub-fertility’, which better describes the situation for most couples that do not have an absolute barrier to conception.

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IVF and Assisted Conception

IVF and assisted conception techniques involve bypassing obstructions to fertilisation or boosting the likelihood of reproduction.

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Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine disturbance that affects women and can be a debilitating condition for those concerned.

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Paediatric Gynaecology

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine disturbance that affects women and can be a debilitating condition for those concerned.

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About Adam

Adam Balen is a leading expert in reproductive medicine and a global thought leader in reproductive health, with a wealth of international experience.

He is an NHS consultant at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, UK, with a personal Chair in Reproductive Medicine and Surgery. Adam is clinical lead of a large multidisciplinary reproductive medicine service, including paediatric & adolescent gynaecology. He has been interested in PCOS for many years and has been a member of the international consensus groups on its definition and management including the Global PCOS Guideline Group, published in 2018 and 2023. He is a member of the WHO Guideline Development Group on infertility (completed 2025) and was responsible for formulating the recent FIGO definition of disorders of ovulation (2022).

Amongst numerous national and international roles over the last 30 years, Adam is a past Chair of the British Fertility Society (BFS) and the ESHRE SIG for Reproductive Medicine. He has had numerous roles for the RCOG, in a range of committees and sat on RCOG Council for 6 years; he is the only person to have delivered 3 eponymous RCOG prize lectures and was awarded the RCOG Academic Prize in 2025. In 2025 he is also delivering the BFS Howard Jacobs’ Prize lecture and the British Society for Gynaecological Endoscopy (BSGE) Sir Alec Turnbull Prize Lecture.

Adam co-founded the British Society for Paediatric and Adolescent Gynaecology (BritSPAG) and teaches regularly on adolescent reproductive health. He founded the Fertility Education Initiative to improve education in schools on reproductive health.

Adam's CV

Testimonials

We came to see you through recommendation. It's so refreshing to meet someone who despite being highly qualified also shows genuine feeling and understanding. You have all been terrific in the way you have cared for us, we couldn't have asked for a better team.
A thank you card doesn’t quite seem enough to show our gratitude and appreciation for all your help and support in facilitating the birth of our gorgeous baby girl. From start to finish we received nothing short of impeccable care...
When I came for my initial consultation you listened to my story so attentively, you were so empathetic, thank you. You made me feel that I was in the right hands and I knew that you would solve my problems... Thank you for all your care and time, you definitely have made a big difference to my experience for the better.
Professor Balen has always made us feel completely confident with his advice and knowledge. We are pleased he is involved in our treatment and trust him implicitly. He purveys confidence, is very good at making you part of decision making and all of the staff in the Unit are excellent - a lovely team. We would highly recommend this Clinic.
“We cannot begin to thank you for everything you have done for us along our journey to achieve our family of 3. I cannot begin to image the crazy hours you work but how many people can go to bed at night knowing they have changed peoples lives every single day? You are amazing at what you do and are so kind and compassionate throughout. We will be forever grateful for giving us our perfect family.”
“I am writing to say a huge and very big thank you for all the care we have received from you over the last 3 years, resulting in such a wonderful outcome for our family.”
“I just wanted to say a huge thanks for the care you have provided over the last 5 years in the creation of our family of 3.”
“I wanted to thank you for your care and help since I approached you with my concerns. As you know I have had an increasingly difficult few years and felt this has been pretty much ignored by the medical staff I have seen. I cannot describe the relief at being listened to and finally diagnosed after all this time. I know that you are extremely busy and have shown a great kindess by taking over my care in this matter. It makes a big difference to see a friendly face when you feel vulnerable and the reassurance of your expertise. I appreciate your discretion and support. Thank you for all you have done.”
“We are overjoyed to be able to share with you the happy news of the safe arrival of our precious daughter. Once again we would like to thank you for your caring and kindness in accommodating our needs, which together with your professionalism brought us to this happy ending.”
“Words cannot say how thankful we are to you because if it hadn’t have been for your kindness, skill and effort we would never have been blessed with our daughter.”
“We will never forgot what you have done to help us achieve our family, so THANK YOU.”
“Many thanks for all your care and support over the last couple of years. We cannot thank you enough for everything you have done for us and we are super excited about the birth of our baby due next month. The work you do is fantastic and we can never thank you enough.”
“To say we are grateful to Professor Balen for identifying our problems and assisting us is an understatement. The fact that he listened so carefully to my concerns was notable. Everyone I had spoken to before ignored the issues that I raised and I cannot thank Professor Balen enough.”
“We would like to thank you so much for the wonderful care and support given to us whilst seeking treatment with you. We are so happy that you gave us the chance to be parents and welcomed our wonderful son into the world.”
“Thank you so much for all your help over the last 3 ½ years. I can’t tell you how nice it has been having someone patient and kind answering all my questions.”
“Words cannot describe the gratitude and in indebtedness we feel for helping us to create our little miracle, our beautiful baby boy.”
“Many thanks again, Prof Balen for your wonderful accommodating care, which brought such a sweet girl”
"Please don’t ever take what you do for granted, the creation of precious lives and fulfilment of dreams."

Latest news and articles

Books and journals

Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology: A Problem-Based Approach

Written and edited by Adam Balen, Sarah M. Creighton, Lesley Breech and Lih-Mei Liao

Published by Cambridge University Press

ISBN: 9781107165137

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Positive Options for Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS): Self-Help and Treatment – Positive Options for Health

Written and edited by Adam Balen and Christine Craggs-Hinton

Published by Hunter House Publishers

ISBN: 9780897934374

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Sexuality and Fertility Issues in Ill Health and Disability: From Early Adolescence to Adulthood

Written and edited by Adam Balen, Rachel Balen and Marilyn Crawshaw

Published by Jessica Kingsley Publishers

ISBN: 9781843103394

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The Fertility Book: Your definitive guide to achieving a healthy pregnancy

Written and edited by Adam Balen and Grace Dugdale

Published by Ebury Publishing

ISBN: 9781785041778

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Paediatric and Adolescent Gynaecology: A Multidisciplinary Approach

Written and edited by Adam H. Balen, Sarah M. Creighton, Melanie C. Davies, Jane MacDougall, Richard Stanhope

Published by Cambridge University Press

ISBN: 0521809614

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50 Big Debates in Reproductive Medicine

Written and edited by Adam H. Balen, Roy Homburg, Robert F. Casper

Published by Cambridge University Press

ISBN: 9781108986601

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Professor

Adam Balen

MB, BS, MD, DSc, FRCOG

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Seacroft Hospital
York Road
Leeds
LS14 6UH

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