Please help stop cuts to IVF in Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire

[krw345]

Where I live there is a proposal to limit IVF provision to women aged 30-35. It's so outrageous - the logic being that because women over the age of 35 might need extra help/cycles to conceive, instead they deserve none on the NHS.

Please help me say no by signing this petition and sharing it with your friends and family you.38degrees.org.uk/petiti...

As we all know, it's part of a bigger story of cuts to provision right around the country, with IVF always seen as a soft target and often the first service to be cut.

Infertility is a recognised medical condition and we should all be given access to treatment on the NHS, as outlined by NICE guidelines. Arrrrrggggghhhhhhhhhhh!

I can't believe we all have to deal with this s***, on top of going through painful treatment and mental torture.

Thank you all xxx

[Hidden]

They are about to pull it in Hertfordshire too. I'm so angry about it all 😡

[krw345 in reply to Hidden]

It's so awful. I can't believe there isn't a bigger outcry about it around the country Is there a petition or something we can sign for you?

[Cyantist]

When I got my funding last year the upper age limit was 35. I was 34 at the time so only just qualified.

Now they've scrapped any funding temporarily while they decide whether to reduce the number of cycles to 1 or whether to scrap it permanently.

It's frustrating for people who just don't know where they stand, and especially those who were due to start soon and have had treatment pulled, with literally no time to try to save up to self fund.

[krw345 in reply to Cyantist]

That's outrageous - and so shortsighted too. I'm sure it must have knock on effects for other services in the NHS (eg. mental health services) with women and couples being left without fertility treatment.

We need to fight these awful decisions - all made by people who have no idea what it's like to live with them.

Have you signed up for the Fertility Network #IVFGoldStandard campaign? fertilitynetworkuk.org/post...

[Franco81]

This is my area and I've luckily just got in at BCRM before the NHS take it away. I can't believe they're now planning on only offering treatment to between 30-35 year olds, it seems completely ridiculous.

I've signed it and passed it on to friends.

Surely the Country needs to agree, this postcode lottery for entitlement to treatment is just unfair in an already sadly unfair situation.

Thanks for sharing x

[krw345 in reply to Franco81]

Thanks Franco - all the best for your treatment. The staff at BCRM are amazing! x

[Franco81 in reply to krw345]

Yes they really are, we've been so impressed so far, such a shame it's all about to change there.

Have you started your treatment yet? We're a couple of weeks in to our first round o ICSI x

[krw345 in reply to Franco81]

So are we! It's so good to be in touch I've just sent you a private message - I'm not sure if you'll get a notification, so just letting you know x

[Dreamingofbaby in reply to krw345]

Arhh I'm in the same boat with bcrm. First cycle and just started all the meds😊 good to hear from others. Staff have been very good and yes this change is awful ,we luckily just got in as well for one nhs cycle. Good luck to you both ☺️

[theblondeone in reply to Dreamingofbaby]

We're at BCRM to. Such a shame it's closing.

[Dreamingofbaby in reply to theblondeone]

Indeed it is. So lucky to just get in. So unfair for others Such a cruel cut to make. Unsure what will do if this does not work 😕 but remaining hopeful😊

[theblondeone in reply to Dreamingofbaby]

You never think you'll need fertility treatment & when you find out you do you just assume you'll get help. I feel so sorry for the next generation that will need it.

It's so hard to stay hopeful & positive. At we all have each other x

[Dreamingofbaby in reply to theblondeone]

For sure is very comforting indeed☺️. Yep think will be scary to see what happens. A handmaide's tale may be more the future than we think as scary as that is. Let's hope not of course but is scary what the governments priorities can be. 😐🤔

[Lizzielizzielizzie]

Signed

[krw345 in reply to Lizzielizzielizzie]

Thank you!

[Lynnr54]

This annoys me so much! I know 35 seems to be the age when egg quality is set to start declining but I don't think the stats show that much of a significant drop in live birth rates at 35. Is the logic is that if you start trying earlier then you're less likely to need IVF? Personally I think it's penalising women who decide to wait a bit to have a baby until they have the security to bring a child into the world. For me, in my job there can be a lot of travel involved, particularly at the more junior level so I consciously decided not to try for a baby until I was senior enough to be able to manage my own workload and not have to travel as much so I could be there for the baby. With having to try for 2 years before they'll even refer you and then go through all the tests/waiting list then you'd have to start trying at 32 to be eligible for IVF. And for some of us we're just not in a position to be able to give a baby the best start in life at that age!

[krw345 in reply to Lynnr54]

Yes absolutely - and with house prices and wages stagnating it's getting harder for most people to be in a position to have a baby in their 20s or early 30s. I can't even imagine how the next generation coming out of uni with £50k debt will know if they need help with infertility until they are over 35. It's all so unfair.