...to ask why the NHS funds IVF?

[moofeatures]

I promise I'm neither an (intentionally) goady fucker, nor Katie Hopkins.

But.

Following on from a recent thread about there being a perception that public money grows on trees, I'd like to ask your stance on the NHS funding IVF.

Now, before I get flamed for my insensitivity, let me explain that I myself was diagnosed with ovarian failure in my 20s. I am still of an age where I'd meet the criteria for NHS IVF funding, which would be my only way to have a biological child. I initially grieved for this as I always assumed I'd be pregnant one day, but also from day 1 of my diagnosis I've felt that artificial reproductive hormone therapy/IUI/IVF falls outside the remit of what the NHS should provide as it serves no medically therapeutic purpose.

The logical response to my argument is: "if the only option for IVF is to privately fund, then you're depriving less affluent people the chance to become parents", which is both true and a shame... but is it the NHS's problem? Really, it's the infertility which took away that choice - and it is a choice, not a right... at least in my opinion.

Am I alone in feeling this way?

Its interesting how often obesity works its way into these type of threads.

The thing with paying for gastric band surgery is that it saves the NHS money in the long term on treating people who will remain morbidly obese for many many years, picking up all sorts of expensive to treat comorbidities without it.

Treating obesity early/effectively almost always saves the NHS money.

This isn't true for anything that prolongs 'ill' life or increases the population. So both maternity cover and IVF should both be in the firing line far FAR ahead of gastric bands.

Oh goody, this thread has been resurrected. Just what I need after reading how I'm to blame for all the children left waiting to be adopted.

I will be forever grateful to the NHS for my IVF twins.

Nhs Are funding my clinical treatment for a surrogate and storage of my embryos I had cancer at 27 needed a hysterectomy. Had tried for 3 years to conceive prior to cancer. There is no way I could afford to have a child without their help. So I for one am thankful that they do fund ir

@youcancallmeval

Thank you. A voice of reason and sense.

Personally I have a MEDICAL condition (it is treated with medication) this condition causes insulin resistance which in turn screws up your hormones. I have been approved for IVF and I shall be taking it.

Should we refuse treatment for cancer and heart disease for smokers and anyone with a BMI above 30? Its a lifestyle choice to be obese and smoke?

And yes, a friend of mine also got boobs on the NHS

@dogMamma

The very best of luck to you X

Great points from bananfish and so many on here.

I absolutely think we should publicly fund IVF, AND for a second child as well if the parents wish to go through it all again for a sibling.

I do agree with publicly funded IVF but not for having subsequent children or if the partner already has a kid.

Thank you @TheNewbieStep x

I do agree with publicly funded IVF but not for having subsequent children or if the partner already has a kid. my partner has a child, why should I not be funded for Ivf because he has a child and I can't because I got cancer at 27, I don't see how that is fair,

Life's not fair. Find a partner who doesn't have a kid then. He's got an obligation already.

If infertility shouldn't be treated because "having children is a lifestyle choice" then why would childbirth be covered? In fact, by that arguement, why cover paediatric care at all? Or injuries from horse riding or skiing? Or ill health from obesity or smoking? It's all lifestyle choices, after all.

Dontalltalkatonce - or perhaps some people shouldn’t talk at all! What a harsh way to think.

People who can’t have children because of a medical condition that they didn’t ask for should be entitled to treatment of that condition. Why should they be forced to choose a different partner because of a medical condition??

Why on earth should i find somwone without a child in order to be funded for ivf. And run the risk of him being a dead beat dad when things get tough, when i have someone who has already showed he is committed to his child, treats me with respect, loyalty, trust, kindness, makes me laugh, didn't abandon me when his dreams of having another child were shattered because I couldn't have kids. He was only 32 when we got that news he could.of easily walked away and got someone knocked up to have another child many men would have done, But he didn't, you have quite a small mind imo

Why on earth should i find somwone without a child in order to be funded for ivf.

I support IVF for everyone, but if cuts had to be made and the requirements had to change, can you not see how people with no stepchildren/don't have a partner with kids would be higher up in priority than those who do? I've had multiple stillborns but I would still think infertile people with stepkids are better off than those who have no kids in their life at all.

I’ r never thought it should be funded by the NHS. I know quite a few couple who could afford IUI and IVF themselves ( some with a bit of debt incurred) who want NHS treatment so they don’t have to pay for it.

So because my partner has a child, and said child has a mother , I should be penalised by not being funded, I had cancer at 27 my ability to have a child was taken away from me, god forbid anything happened to my partner, should I still not be funded for our embryos because he has a child?

I don't think you can simply use the argument of 'its a choice not an illness'.

There are so many things covered by the NHS which aren't life dependant.

If having children is a choice and that is the basis for the argument against funded IVF then are you willing to pay for private antenatal care / child birth too?

Barbarian is right, the NHS funds treatments for the predictable consequences of many lifestyle choices, sports, smoking, drinking etc. Infertility isn't a self inflicted condition.
Our NHS didn't fund ivf years ago so we self funded, I'm not sure it is ethical to restrict reproduction to the well off only though.
And if you are going to on the grounds it is a life style choice are we going to stop treating drunks on a Friday night?

so what
If you can afford a private physio for an injury, should you not be allowed NHS physio?

How about if you can afford private antenatal, should you be allowed to have your maternity on the NHS? You could be having the NHS care just because you don't want to have to pay for it, after all

If children are a lifestyle choice I assumed that child tax credits are a nono as well? Or do we think that having children shouldn't be restricted just to the wealthy?

So because my partner has a child, and said child has a mother , I should be penalised by not being funded, I had cancer at 27 my ability to have a child was taken away from me, god forbid anything happened to my partner, should I still not be funded for our embryos because he has a child?

That's not what I said. Did you read my post? I was saying that I thought if cuts had to be made, then people with no stepkids/partners with kids should be of a higher priority than those who do.

At the very least i think that the nhs should ensure that all parts of the country should have the same conditions and number of cycles for ivf. How the system is at the moment does turn it into a lottery which is unfair on so many people that would fit the criteria somewhere else in the country.
Just assuming that adoption will be a substitute for pregnancy is ridiculous, i think deciding to try adopt after ttc and going through unsuccessful rounds of ivf is one of the bravest things you can do.

I think it should be means tested. Like a lot of stuff.

Oh no no no, I personally think the partner with children/stepchild condition is even more cruel. A daily reminder of your own infertility.

I think it should be one round for everyone (having lost out on the postcode lottery myself).

But not for second or subsequent children.

@DontCallMeCharlotte exactly i love partners child dearly however it's a constant reminder I cannot give my partner something he desperately wants it's a constant reminder I am inferior to other women

@mnhq can you please shut down this horribly insensitive, unconstructive and unintelligent thread? It serves no purpose other than to shame people and to make arbitrary and subjective claims about which particular group of people is causing the most strain on the bus. Its hackneyed and done to death. Reported.