Women say the cost-of-living crisis is forcing parents-to-be to delay fertility treatment or give up on their dreams of having a baby altogether. I.
Savings and household income set aside for IVF treatments are being eaten up to pay utility bills and other daily expenses, to the dismay of women who fear that any delay will lower their chances of conceiving.
The impact of the crisis on the cost of living was further emphasized by a pharmacist who spoke I Requests for prescription fertility drugs have dropped dramatically in recent months.
Private IVF usually costs around £5,000 per round, but can be much more expensive. Women often go through several cycles before they conceive, so the total cost can easily run into the tens of thousands.
Melanie, 33, a district nurse who asked to keep her last name a secret, has had three unsuccessful IVF cycles, two of which she and her husband paid for privately.
The couple, who live in Hampshire, have already spent £20,000 on IVF and were planning to start another round in November 2022, but Melanie says their daily costs have become so high that they have been unable to do anything to save her clinic’s cost £9700. download.
“We haven’t had treatment since November [2021] because we can’t afford it,” Melanie said.
“[In 2022] We should have saved money but due to the cost of living it was not possible [put aside] what we needed.”
She added that her monthly electricity bill alone had increased by about £150.
The couple have hired a tenant and hope to resume treatment by the summer, but Melanie fears her chances of conceiving could be reduced.
For women under the age of 35, every third IVF procedure results in a live birth. Between 35 and 37 years old, the success rate is 25 percent, and between 38 and 39 years old, it is about one in five. For women aged 40 to 42, the success rate drops to about one in ten.
Fear and catastrophic lows
Joan, 33, who refused to reveal her real name, was scheduled to have an IVF procedure in September 2022 but had to delay it until November and then again this month.
She said she and her partner fear they will have to delay plans for a second cycle for another six months if their first attempt fails.
“We are incredibly privileged and well paid in many ways. [but] we feel a pinch. I hate thinking about others in the worst situations, Joan said.
“Dealing with infertility is overwhelming and incredibly difficult. Every day of the journey was a struggle for me, I experienced fear and catastrophic falls like never before. Add to that the financial hardship… it’s a real nightmare.”
Applications for IVF drugs plummeted
Pharmacist Abbas Kanani runs an online pharmacy, Chemist Click, and collaborates with a number of IVF clinics that fulfill their patients’ prescriptions.
Mr. Kanani noticed a huge drop in incoming requests for prescription fertility drugs.
He estimates that applications for these drugs have fallen by about 40 percent in the past four months alone.
“Drugs for a single cycle can be in the thousands. It is very expensive. At a time like this when most of the country is fighting, people will realize that this is a high price to pay for a 3 out of 10 chance. [of a successful pregnancy].”
‘Postal Code Lottery’ Forces Patients to Privatize
Reassuring parents often seek private help as access to NHS funded IVF treatment in England is notoriously a zip code lottery.
Women under the age of 40 in England and Wales must complete three cycles of IVF treatment from the National Health Service if they have been trying to conceive a child through regular unprotected sex for two years, according to the National Institutes of Health and Best Practice guidelines. Women aged 40-42 should be offered a cycle.
However, a 2021 review of Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) in England found that nine out of 10 eligible women did not offer the full three cycles.
The Fertility Network UK survey also found that three-quarters of CCGs, now known as integrated care groups, refused to treat anyone aged 40-42.
Source: I News
I’m Raymond Molina, a professional writer and journalist with over 5 years of experience in the media industry. I currently work for 24 News Reporters, where I write for the health section of their news website. In my role, I am responsible for researching and writing stories on current health trends and issues. My articles are often seen as thought-provoking pieces that provide valuable insight into the state of society’s wellbeing.