Rising costs of living and increasing IVF rates are depriving fertility patients of the opportunity to become parents

Rising living and treatment costs deprive fertility patients of the opportunity to become parents.

Patients are earning pensions, selling houses and canceling weddings to fund infertility treatments, according to a study by Fertility Network UK.

The charity is calling for an end to the postcode lottery to fund fertility treatments in England and for the NHS to commit to funding three IVF cycles, as recommended by health watchdog NICE (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) .

The survey of almost 200 UK fertility patients found that 95 per cent of respondents had financial concerns related to fertility treatments, and 92 per cent said these issues were being exacerbated by the cost of living crisis.

One patient replied: “We have nothing to show for the 10.5 grand we spent. “We don’t have enough savings left for another round and we can’t save for it because everything has a price rose

Half of respondents said the cost of living crisis, lack of NHS-funded support and high private healthcare costs meant they could not continue fertility treatment and their chances of becoming parents were at risk.

Almost one in four respondents delay or postpone treatment; Almost one in five (17 percent) interrupt treatment indefinitely, while 2 percent have stopped fertility treatment permanently and 6 percent cannot afford to pay the cost of storing embryos.

Comments included: “We have one frozen embryo left that we have been storing for two years.” We cannot afford to transfer this embryo now. “The year-long freeze ends next month, so we need to find money to finance another year of freezing, otherwise our embryo will be destroyed.”

“Unfortunately, we can’t do anything more, we’re broke.”

Another said: “We can’t try again yet because we don’t have enough money, everything is so expensive and I’ll be older and too old soon so the chances of it working are so slim that will work.” Doesn’t work. is hardly worth it.’

To reduce costs, some patients reported undergoing double embryo transfer instead of the recommended single embryo transfer and prior genetic testing that could reveal an inherited genetic disorder.

The study also examined the financial measures that fertility patients must take to afford the necessary medical care.

Fertility Network has warned patients against selling houses, canceling weddings and cashing in pensions to fund IVF treatment

To pay for treatment, patients use savings (28 percent), seek financial help from family and friends (19 percent), use credit cards (16 percent) and sell personal items (14 percent). Others were in the process of securing bank loans (7 percent) and refinancing a mortgage on their home (4 percent).

One respondent noted: “Private fertility clinics just want your money.” They want to charge you ridiculous amounts for tests you don’t need and don’t tailor treatment to your health or history. Just a plan to make money.’

Commenting on the results of the study, Dr. Catherine Hill, head of policy and public affairs at Fertility Network UK, said: “As a national charity we are shocked by the results of our research which assesses the impact of the cost of living crisis on fertility patients and are deeply concerned about the short – and long-term consequences for patients – physically, mentally and financially.”

Fertility Network UK said it had also “called on the Government to abolish the IVF postcode lottery and, as a first step, deliver on the commitment made in the Women’s Health Strategy in July 2022 is to remove non-clinical barriers to access to the NHS and take away funding.” Infertility treatment.’

Dr Raj Mathur, chairman of the British Fertility Society, said: “Fertility Network UK’s research shows the extent to which fertility patients who have to pay for their treatment struggle to afford the treatment they need.”

He added: “NICE’s guidance is clear – three full IVF cycles should be funded if necessary.” The Government’s Women’s Health Strategy has a clear commitment to increasing access to NHS-funded fertility treatments. It is time for NHS commissioners and ministers to deliver on these promises.”