Too young for IVF - is there anything they can do?

[LadyOfWaffle]

On behalf of a friend -
Her DH is not producting sperm, had an operation and they went to a clinic the other day to discuss IVF. They are late 20's and have been told they are too young. I have googled abit and have found in the Thames Valley they do not give IVF to those under 36! Is that it? Is that the bottom line? They are going private but it doesn't seem fair...

[Caitni]

This seems so unfair. I know that PCTs have limited resources, and so need to set boundaries to control costs, but their chance of success is so much better while she's younger.

If money is an issue then many private clinics offer egg share programmes that reduce the costs significantly.

[dancingqueeen]

going to follow this thread as similar age to your friend, been ttc for a year now and will go to Dr soon to discuss options, and I'm conscious we might have to have IVF ultimately.

My PCT also won't give IVF to those under 36 . its ridiculous when it has a better chance of working under that age. so think I will be stuck with either trying to make them change their rules, or going private, but we're not remotely wealthy and are trying to scrape together the money for a house deposit. plan now to postpone housebuying so that I can pay for IVF if needed. but...

then I worry that if I pay for IVF and use up all our savings, then we might struggle to demonstrate that we're sufficiently financially stable to adopt if IVF fails. might be interested in the egg shareing though, especially if it helps someone else - has anyone any experience of this?

[LadyOfWaffle]

Found out they had to be 35-38 Read an article where a 24 year old who had an early menopause lost 2 appeals for the same PCT so they have no chance. Looks like they will have to go private - otherwise they are expected to wait and probably would be deemed too old!

[Caitni]

Restricting it to 35-38 is just crazy! If she's in her late 20s now that's a long wait...

Dancingqueen Good luck with your doctor but try not to worry about IVF at this stage. I know it feels like ages but trying for a year is not that long and you're still young in fertility terms. There are lots of provisional tests to have - eg day 3/day 21 blood tests, sperm test for your partner, HSG to check whether your tubes are clear, possibly a laparoscopy to check for any endometriosis etc. IVF is a last resort, so chances are you'll be pregnant naturally before you need it . If you do want to know more about egg sharing then check out FertilityFriends, lots of information to be found in its dedicated egg sharing part of the message board.

[OracleInaCoracle]

blimey, i understand refusing IVF to those in their early 20's and late teens, but consideting how quickly your fertility declines and that the HFEA are whipping up a "dont wait to have dc's" storm it seems daft to restrict age in that way. especially since after 35 you have a lower chance of it working!

we have just got our appointment for implication counselling for egg share IVF, it does look like the best way for us to afford it. i am 31 and dh is 33. we have been ttc #2 for 4y now

[LadyOfWaffle]

He had an operation to help produce sperm - they are checking the new 'stuff' now and he may need another OP. Luckily they are in a position they can raise 5k , or put it on a credit card but it's not the point... I was so shocked when I heard.

[Twixie]

Failed IVF
Have just been through a round of IVF and it was unsuccessful.I am devastated and feeling so sad.My son is 4 1/2 and so keen on a sibling which makes this worse.I am 41yrs old and had no problem conceiving my son.managed to get 7 eggs of which 6 fertilised but only 2 made it to blastocyst - non left to freeze.Am trying to shift my brain to living as a one child family which is so hard - will look into adoption or fostering.
Anyway just looking for any kind of support and understanding - anyone else just been through this horrible experience.(we can't afford another round)