IVF treatment: Your stories of pregnancy and parenthood
- Published
"When I had my third child I knew my family was complete and I wanted to help another couple," said Rena Miras
When Sophie Sulehria and husband Jonny Baker shared their struggle with IVF many readers got in touch with their own experiences. Here are some of their stories.
I had IVF for a couple I'll never meet
Rena Miras getting ready to have her eggs harvested
"I had struggled to conceive our first child and my first pregnancy was an ectopic," said Rena Miras.
"So I feel so lucky that eight years later, I have three wonderful children. I wanted to give something back and help a couple have a baby."
The teacher, from Sutton Coldfield, near Birmingham, said she contacted an organisation that matches families with egg donors and underwent numerous tests and counselling to prepare her.
"In January, I started injecting [IVF drugs] and 10 days later I had egg retrieval," the mum-of-three said.
"They managed to get 19 eggs, all of which are for my couple if they want siblings in the future.
"Egg donation is anonymous until the child turns 16 and they can then find out information about me.
"I cried so much when I found out my couple were pregnant with a girl and they are due near Christmas.
"This was not and never will be my baby. I helped a couple have their baby and the happiness I got, and am still getting from this, I can't even describe."
IVF led to the end of my marriage
Maggie Joslin and daughter Georgia who was conceived using IVF
Hairdresser Maggie Joslin suffered with severe endometriosis after the birth of her first daughter.
She turned to IVF to help conceive another child.
"I was quite driven to have [another] baby but my ex-husband felt we already had one daughter," says Ms Joslin, 56, from North Bradley in Wiltshire.
"I was quite ill afterwards and also suffered from depression and he couldn't cope.
"It was gruelling emotionally and physically and it led to the end of my marriage.
"I was in hospital for nine weeks after giving birth and have been left with all sorts of health problems.
"I was very lucky to have a beautiful baby girl called Georgia. I say she cost me as much as small car but she's worth every penny."
In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF)
An egg is removed from the woman's ovaries and fertilised with sperm in a laboratory
The fertilised egg is then returned to the woman's womb to develop
IVF worked for the first time on 10 November 1977. On 25 July 1978, the world's first IVF baby, Louise Brown, was born
On average, IVF fails 70% of the time
The highest success rates are for women under 35, one-third of treatment cycles are successful
On average, it takes almost four and a half years to conceive with IVF
Source: Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority/Fertility Network UK
We went to Greece for our baby Athena
Chris and Stacy Hayter say they look forward to telling daughter Athena her Grecian name was inspired by the country where they had IVF
"My partner Stacy and I had to have IVF after discovering she had polycystic ovary syndrome," said Chris Hayter, from Yeovil in Somerset.
"After two rounds of IVF and four frozen cycles we were left heartbroken that we still did not have the baby we so badly wanted.
"We had one last roll of the dice. We could either have one cycle at a top clinic in Harley Street or look elsewhere."
After researching clinics in London and Greece the couple decided to travel abroad.
"Their success rate was so much higher and not only that but the money would provide us with two full cycles and cover us living in Greece for a month," the 34-year-old said.
"We went through the first cycle and finally got the positive we were looking for. We now have a beautiful 18-month-old daughter who we have called Athena.
"Our life has changed so much and we owe it all to the clinic."
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IVF was an emotional rollercoaster
Nikki and Matt Dunne now have two sons through adoption
"My wife Nikki and I funded two rounds of IVF in 2009 after we had trouble conceiving," said Matt Dunne, 40, from York.
"We agreed we would not do more than two rounds as we had heard horror stories of people continuously trying and spending fortunes on it.
"Our first round was a positive experience and we were extremely hopeful. When it didn't work it felt horrendous, like we had lost something.
"However, the second time we had zero expectations and it was an awful experience. When it didn't work we didn't even shed a tear and we were glad it was over.
"We tried adoption and now have two wonderful boys who we are so lucky to have.
"We have a number of friends for whom IVF has worked and others who, like us, it hasn't and the emotional rollercoaster is so painful and traumatic.
"The mental support needed is completely underplayed and often people are woefully under-prepared for what they are about to undertake."
Adoption was the best decision ever
About 5,500 children are adopted every year in the UK
"After four devastating failed attempts at IVF over about six years my husband and I decided to go down the adoption route," said Katie, whose name has been changed.
"It was the best decision ever. We adopted a little girl at the age of 15 months, she is now eight years old and is a dream come true.
"I honestly feel like I gave birth to her but just can't remember that part. I couldn't love her any more if I tried. IVF is so painful and expensive.
"My husband has two children from a previous marriage so we did not receive any free treatments, which I don't agree with.
"I had never had children so there should at least have been a contribution."
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