NHS postcode lottery leaves couple facing huge IVF bill while ‘you get more chances minutes away’

Sign as much as our free Living Well e mail for recommendation on dwelling a happier, more healthy and longer life

Live your life more healthy and happier with our free weekly Living Well e-newsletter

A couple whose solely spherical of IVF on the NHS failed has branded the system which grants three cycles of remedy in some areas and only one in others as an “unfair lottery” which has left them needing to boost over £9,000 for only one more probability at a non-public observe.

Suffering with nervousness and despair, 27-year-old Sophie Sternschuss-Howes from Bursledon, Hampshire, tried to take her personal life in May 2023 after three unsuccessful years of making an attempt to have a child along with her husband Darren, 35.

In January 2024, Sophie underwent a spherical of IVF remedy on the NHS after exams didn’t uncover why they had been struggling to conceive – however it didn’t work and so they have now been advised the problem might be linked to Sophie’s Anti-Mullerian Hormone (AMH) ranges.

People who dwell in Hampshire and Isle of Wight are solely entitled to 1 spherical of IVF on the NHS as per the counties’ built-in care board (ICB) commissioning coverage – although these in different components of England and Wales have entry to 2 or three rounds.

Sophie, who’s a 3rd spherical IVF child herself, advised PA Real Life: “You can hop over a county line 20 minutes away and get two more chances.

“I’m the proof that you need three rounds.”

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) fertility tips clearly states “women aged under 40 should be offered three cycles of IVF treatment on the NHS” supplied they meet sure standards.

The couple don’t perceive why individuals in some areas are handled in another way and mentioned that everybody must be given an “equal chance across the country” as they warned of the devastating psychological well being impacts of not having the ability to have kids.

They are actually fundraising for personal remedy after being quoted £9,000 for only one additional cycle.

“Everyone has a right to be a parent but they don’t take that seriously enough in my opinion,” Darren mentioned. “It’s just a kick in teeth.”

Sophie and Darren, who each work for Specsavers, met in 2015 on the social media platform Instagram, the place they bonded over their love of West Ham United Football Club.

Their first date was to see the Hammers play Bournemouth at Upton Park earlier than the membership moved to the previous Olympic Stadium in 2016.

Two years later they tied the knot and moved to Bursledon, Hampshire, the place they had been hoping to start out a household.

They began making an attempt for a child on the finish of 2019 and mentioned they’d ideally wish to have two kids.

But their considerations grew as time handed and Sophie nonetheless didn’t fall pregnant.

In March 2022, the couple determined to see a GP, who referred them to the Complete Fertility Centre, now in Eastleigh.

But after a number of scans and exams, the couple’s infertility was put down as “unexplained”.

“Everything came back clear,” she mentioned. “As far they could see, it was unexplained.”

Sophie and Darren subsequently determined to use for IVF on the NHS.

While The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) makes suggestions about who ought to have entry to IVF remedy on the NHS in England and Wales, the ultimate determination in the end sits with every space’s NHS built-in care board (ICB).

This implies that in some areas the “criteria may be stricter than those recommended by NICE”, in line with the NHS web site.

For Sophie and Darren, who dwell in Hampshire, they’re solely entitled to 1 spherical of IVF on the NHS, supplied they’re beneath 35 and don’t have any kids from present or earlier relationships.

If they had been dwelling in one other a part of the nation, like North East London or Sussex, they’d be entitled to a few rounds up till the age of 40, and just one individual is required to don’t have any kids from present or previous relationships.

“You just feel like it’s quite unfair,” mentioned Sophie. “It’s not feasible for us to just up sticks and move.

“You shouldn’t have to, people should be given an even chance across the country.”

In January 2024, the couple obtained information their IVF remedy had been unsuccessful.

“They told us we had to wait 10 days, but I sort of knew from the six or seventh day mark that it had been unsuccessful because I had quite a lot of bleeding,” mentioned Sophie.

“Even though I phoned them and they said it was normal, I knew in my gut.

“The week or two after that was obviously the hardest.

“You feel like you have to pick yourself up and move on really quickly, especially with work and things like that.”

Further exams confirmed the couple’s struggles to conceive might be linked to Sophie’s Anti-Mullerian Hormone (AMH) ranges, which supply an estimate of the variety of eggs in her ovarian reserve.

Mother’s Day was a very tough time for the couple, who mentioned they determined to change off social media to keep away from seeing any triggering posts.

Throughout the method, Darren has tried to stay “strong” and “look after Sophie” who struggled to come back to phrases with the state of affairs.

He mentioned: “She would cry and say, why do you want to be with me still?

“I said, I’m with you no matter what, even if we can’t have children, we’ll adopt or find a solution.

“I just want to be with her no matter what.”

Last 12 months, Sophie’s psychological well being took a flip for the worst.

“Last May, Sophie was really struggling with her anxiety and depression because of this,” mentioned Darren.

“She did attempt to take her life, and you know, it’s all because of the stress and the strain from this.

“It affects people really badly with their mental health and they (the NHS) don’t see that day to day.

“It’s very tough, in particular on women.”

Darren and Sophie hope their expertise will assist increase consciousness concerning the devastating impression that not being to have kids can have on individuals’s lives.

Despite the challenges, Sophie is now in a a lot better place.

“I think now that we’re nearly two months on from it, I’m able to process it and sort of come to terms with it,” mentioned Sophie.

“We’re fortunate in the fact that if anything, going through it has brought us closer together.”

She determined to share their fertility journey in a collection of movies on YouTube which she hopes will assist others.

They are actually prepared to maneuver ahead and wish to pay for personal IVF remedy, for which they’ve been quoted round £9,000 per cycle.

To assist cowl the fee they’ve launched a fundraiser on GoFundMe which has obtained more than £7,000.

“The main thing is we don’t have time on our side,” she mentioned. “We’re fortunate because I’m still considered quite young to be going through this.

“But with every month and year that passes our chances will decrease even more.

“Obviously, the quicker we can get the money together the higher the odds.

“Thank you so much to all the people who have donated, it means the world for us.”

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson mentioned: “Funding decisions for health services such as IVF are made by integrated care boards (ICBs), which should commission fertility services in line with National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines.

“However, it is clear that the use of non-clinical criteria to decide access to fertility treatment is leading to geographical variations, and as part of our women’s health strategy, we have asked NHS England to review the commissioning process to make it fairer for women across the country.”

To help Darren and Sophie go to: www.gofundme.com/f/87rbu-ivf-treatment