Category Archives: IVF Treatment

A Scottish man has earned a world record after becoming the father of twins through IVF using sperm that he froze almost 27 years ago. The man, who lives in Glasgow but has requested anonymity, was diagnosed with cancer at the age of 21 and was advised to freeze his sperm in case the chemotherapy he needed left him infertile. When we finally saw on a scan we were having twins I was in shock World record holder After surviving cancer, his sperm remained frozen for 26 years and 243 days until he and his partner decided to use it to have children through IVF in 2010. His partner became pregnant with twins at the age of 37 and the boy and girl were born the following year, landing him a Guinness World Record for the oldest sperm ever successfully used in IVF. Although he has known about the record for years, the man did not have it verified because he did not want to be named in public. However, he has now had it accepted on the basis of anonymity. Read more: Male fertility alert after sperm count dives by more than half The man said he hoped his … Continue reading →

Representation pic In this city of dreams, conceiving a child seems to have become a nightmare for more and more couples, data procured through the RTI Act has revealed. Statistics show that in the last five years, since 2012, more than 32,000 people have opted for in vitro fertilization, pushing worried doctors to sound the alarm - changes in lifestyle is to be blamed for the rise in infertility among Mumbaikars. Also read: Karan Johar and these stars embraced parenthood through surrogacy! A disturbing trendIVF is a series of procedures used to treat infertility or genetic problems and assist with the conception of a child. During IVF, mature eggs are retrieved from ovaries and fertilised by sperm in a lab. An erratic lifestyle and delay in getting married have rendered an increasing number of couples infertile, forcing them to rely on IVF. According to the information procured through an RTI application, filed by activist Chetan Kothari, sent to BMC's public health department, cases of IVF treatment being sought have gone up by 118 per cent between 2012 and 2016. In the same period, 32,864 Mumbaikars have approached IVF experts for pregnancy. Also read - PGS can prevent chromosomal abnormalities during … Continue reading →

Berenice Smith, of Silverwood Close in Cambridge, went through six cycles of fertility treatment without being able to conceive. Health authorities in Cambridgeshire are considering plans to remove NHS funding for IVF treatments. Here, she tells her moving story about trying to have a child, and why being unable to do so can be so devastating. There is a lot of debate in the press about the proposed cuts to funding for IVF treatment and with this, a lot of opinionating about its worthiness, often from those who have no experience of this. One example is Philip Hodson who wrote in the News (August 9) of his pleasure that cuts were being made and attributing IVF to overpopulation. This is one of many views I have heard that lack research or evidence. The connection between overpopulation and IVF is flimsy at best. Overpopulation is an issue with families across the world, along with adequate birth control. IVF is still a developing area of medicine. With one in ten couples seeking answers to conception problems and one in four remaining involuntarily childless, IVF is far from a contributor to overpopulation. Some remain without children for life and I am one of … Continue reading →

One of the founding principles of our NHS is a commitment to providing fair and equal access to healthcare. It is this principle that ignites such passion in us all when it is threatened or belittled. Yet the recent revelation that 13 areas of England have restricted or completely halted IVF treatment, with a further eight consulting on similar steps, shows that we are failing in this commitment. The World Health Organisation defines infertility as a disease. And guidelines from the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) recommend that women under 40 with fertility problems should be offered three full cycles of IVF on the NHS. But more than 80% of patients do not currently receive this. Those who have been through IVF treatment know that it is often a difficult and emotional process, and requires deep commitment to having a child. Critics claim infertility is not a life-threatening condition. Yet fertility treatment creates life, and in my mind that is just as vital to our society. By denying NHS funding for IVF treatment we are creating inequality, where only those with the resources are able to fight for that choice to become parents. As an NHS consultant, … Continue reading →

A Swadlincote couple who have been trying to have a baby for six years have slammed plans to cut NHS IVF treatment in some areas across the country, saying the move is "playing with people's lives". Chris and Kelly Chambers are unable to conceive naturally after a number of health issues. The couple, who are desperate for a baby, say a recent announcement that some areas in England will cut back on IVF treatment, is shattering for those who have no other choice. The couple have endured heartbreak and say they have been on an emotional rollercoaster on their journey to complete their family. It comes after Kelly, 32, who have suffered three ectopic pregnancies which have resulted in the removal of both of her fallopian tubes, spoke out after charity Fertility Network UK warned of stricter access criteria for NHS IVF. They are not entitled to have IVF treatment on the NHS because Chris has two children from a previous relationship. To qualify for treatment in the UK couples cannot already have children, even from previous relationships. In a new move, Richmond clinical commissioning group (CCG) in south-west London is introducing tighter access criteria for NHS IVF treatment while … Continue reading →

TWO men have beaten incredible odds to become the first Scottish same-sex couple to be expectant dads by groundbreaking IVF treatment and they are having twins. Ryan Walker and Chris Watson are expecting the patter of tiny feet within the next six weeks after a Scots surrogate mother stepped in to help them realise their dream of becoming fathers. Incredibly, the surrogate mum is also in a same-sex relationship and decided to help after she had a child using a donor. We are absolutely thrilled to have not just one baby coming but two, Ryan, 32, told The Sunday Post last night. It feels like we have won the Lottery. The engaged couple, from Falkirk, were turned down by several IVF clinics in Scotland for the cutting-edge fertility treatment because they are in a gay relationship. They were eventually taken on by the GCRM clinic in Glasgow and, after two heart-breaking failed attempts at becoming dads, they were given the happy news in January that the surrogate mother was having a boy and a girl. It was disappointing that in this day and age some clinics declined us for treatment because we are a same-sex couple, Chris, 28, said. But … Continue reading →

Comments(1) Women in Devon and Cornwall who need help to have a baby are the losers in a "postcode lottery" for NHS fertility treatment, it has emerged. A fertility expert has warned that plans to cut back on in vitro fertilisation (IVF) treatment in some areas of England amount to "deliberate inequality". The charity Fertility Network UK has warned of stricter access criteria and plans to cut NHS IVF. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) guidelines say the NHS should provide three full cycles of IVF treatment for women aged under 40 who have failed to get pregnant after two years of trying. Clinical commissioning groups in Devon and Cornwall already offer only one free attempt for women under 40. Susan Seenan, chief executive of Fertility Network UK, said: "NICE recommends that up to three cycles of IVF treatment are offered to those eligible. "The recommendations are based on cost as well as clinical effectiveness and by offering only one cycle Devon and Cornwall are going completely against national guidance. "Infertility has a serious and lasting impact on all those affected and fertility problems do not just affect people physically, but mentally too: our recent survey showed that … Continue reading →

IVF treatment has been restricted or halted by 13 areas in England in an attempt to save money. The cost-cutting move is now being considered by a further eight areas amid warnings of a postcode lottery for couples seeking treatment. The number of clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) offering three full cycles of IVF has fallen by 46 per cent in the last four years, data provided by Fertility Network UK shows. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice), an NHS group, recommends women aged under 40 should receive three cycles of IVF treatment if they have been trying to conceive for two years. Professor Simon Fishel, who was part of a team that pioneered IVF in the UK, said the inequality of the cuts were a major concern. What is the point of having Nice guidelines if they are not adhered to? If the country decides it will not fund IVF then fine, that is a decision that affects everyone, he told The Guardian. But what I cannot abide is the local variation for something like this, which doesnt reflect local populations. You have to treat citizens equally and this is a deliberate inequality and obfuscation and allows … Continue reading →

The family of a woman who has suffered nine miscarriages and an ectopic pregnancy have launched a crowdfunding appeal to pay for a further course of IVF treatment. Pamela Mackenzie is looking to raise 6,000 to help pay for IVF as she does not qualify for a free round of treatment on the NHS in Scotland as she has had two previous cycles. The 36-year-old said that she was determined to keep trying despite a heartbreaking round of miscarriages stretching back over 17 years and the agony of an ectopic pregnancy, where the embryo implants itself outside the womb. Pamela, who has been together with her husband Ian for 19 years and married for nine, was diagnosed with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) a condition that makes it difficult to get pregnant, when she was just 13. She was told by her local GP that she would need help to conceive a child and not to wait too long. Pamela started trying for a child when she was 19, suffered her first miscarriage aged 21, and was left heartbroken by the experience, having thought she would have a healthy pregnancy with a baby at the end. The couple did not try … Continue reading →

Comments(0) Women in Devon and Cornwall who need help to have a baby are the losers in a "postcode lottery" for NHS fertility treatment, it has emerged. A fertility expert has warned that plans to cut back on in vitro fertilisation (IVF) treatment in some areas of England amount to "deliberate inequality". The charity Fertility Network UK has warned of stricter access criteria and plans to cut NHS IVF. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) guidelines say the NHS should provide three full cycles of IVF treatment for women aged under 40 who have failed to get pregnant after two years of trying. Clinical commissioning groups in Devon and Cornwall already offer only one free attempt for women under 40. Susan Seenan, chief executive of Fertility Network UK, said: "NICE recommends that up to three cycles of IVF treatment are offered to those eligible. "The recommendations are based on cost as well as clinical effectiveness and by offering only one cycle Devon and Cornwall are going completely against national guidance. "Infertility has a serious and lasting impact on all those affected and fertility problems do not just affect people physically, but mentally too: our recent survey showed that … Continue reading →