IVF suspended due to coronavirus

[peasoup8]

www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/12/thousands-lose-last-hope-of-having-a-baby-as-lockdown-closes-ivf-clinics

Sorry but this is so wrong and unfair. Thousands of people could lose out permanently on their chance to have children because of a virus that most people survive if they get it anyway! The restrictions have now gone way too far.

Many people have had very important (potentially life saving) medical procedures cancelled or put on hold because of coronavirus patients taking priority and that shouldn't be allowed to happen either.

Suspending ivf during this pandemic was the right thing to do, it could not continue when most other non urgent activity has been postponed. While infertility is heartbreaking for some it is not a medical need, the cancer treatments that the NHS won't / can't fund are.

@ACautionaryTale what a disgusting comment... Are you Dominic Cummings?
Should we therefore stop treating anyone for anything, since clearly if you have cancer or whatever other condition, or was meant to be, so be it? Hope your apply it to yourself if you ever get ill, please do not waste NHS funds on your treatment.

If nature says you can’t have children - there is a reason - one we may not know about but it’s there

And yet, with the help of IVF, many couples have had healthy children that bring them great joy.

I don’t get this ‘wasn’t to be’ schtick. It makes no sense. Just as some people need medical intervention to give birth, others need medical intervention to get pregnant. The resulting children are not different to the norm.

*I’m not religious but I am a scientist.

If nature says you can’t have children...*

I’ve never heard 2 statements that contradict each other so badly. I don’t know any scientists who would start a sentence with ‘nature says’.

What kind of scientist are you?? One who got a degree off the internet?

This is one of the most disgusting threads I’ve ever read here.

This pandemic is ruining so many lives in so many different ways. Illness, job loss, lost opportunities, cancelled therapeutic treatments, death... And robbing infertility patients of their only chance to be parents. A death in itself.

Grief top trumps is abhorrent at the best of times. Debating the morality of IVF treatment in general, and worse the worthiness of IVF patients as parents especially now is fucking disgusting.

for everyone suffering. Devastated for you.

I don’t think the NHS are reducing cancer treatments etc for lack of money. It’s more about a shortage of nurses and doctors, and whether the beds will be needed for other patients. Also I suspect there is a balance between not wanting to expose already sick/ immunosuppressed people to hospitals crawling with corona. Certainly not all treatments have been suspended. I do worry that many cancers are currently going undiagnosed because GPs and clinics are closed.

I think moving forward all IVF treatment will need to be funded privately or they may level the field across the country and limit everyone to one go, there simply won’t be the funds. I think as harsh as it is, it is right to suspend treatment and I don’t think being pregnant at the moment in a potentially high risk category would be the safest for the baby or the mother.

I ageee @NoImBridgetJones. And I haven’t had or needed IVF, my dad also has cancer and his treatment has been stopped, but I can still see how devastating and heartbreaking this is for people. For some people this might have been the only time it would have worked, and now the chance is gone.

for anyone suffering in this way though, it’s truly awful.

@NoImBridgetJones agree the thread has outed quite a few nasty posters trolls who I've very happily ignored but thank you for such a kind post.

Acautionary what a ridiculous post. I’m guessing you’re against lockdown and Nightingale hospitals feeling that CV is just nature’s way.

IVF absolutely should be funded by the NHS which is why it is. I speak as somebody who funded every penny privately for IVF herself. NHS funding is regulated and the way it helps thousands of couples who could never in a million years fund private treatment is one of the many reasons why I love the NHS so much.Using a pandemic to criticise that is pretty low. Many treatments on the NHS are for conditions which are nature’s way of dealing with lifestyle habits. You never once hear criticism of that.

I think this is absolutely heartbreaking and hopefully will be resolved ASAP when things get better. I hope they prioritise the oldest first. I can see why they’ve done it. Although there is very little physical contact egg harvesting can be dangerous and I guess the nurses needed for blood tests etc are probably needed elsewhere at the moment.

My heart goes out to those couples.

@NoImBridgetJones

Could not agree more. This thread is absolutely disgusting. Some absolutely vile posts.

Thinking of everyone struggling with this

Natures way oh fuck off.

What a ridiculous comment. If we felt that way about everything we'd never bother trying to save/treat anyone for anything because 'nature is telling them...'

Do people not engage their brains before they type on here sometimes?

Why would you even want to be pregnant right now if you could avoid it?! The worry would be horrendous.

I have spent over a decade trying to have a baby. I would take that worry in a heartbeat. Seriously, people need to engage their brains before writing this sort of crap.

And the nature comment? Just disgusting.

I've had 11 miscarriages in the space of 2 years, my IVF has been put on hold for at least 6-8 months (NHS funded if anyone wants to have a pop?).

I'd give anything to be pregnant right now whether this is going on or not. Call me stupid, call me selfish but unless you've been here don't pretend to have the first clue how it feels.

If nature had had its way I would have been dead at 13 due to an asthma attack.

Luckily science and hospital care had its way instead.

Seriously, people need to engage their brains before writing this sort of crap.

I think they can't engage what they don't have!

I almost died in my first Labour, had to be resuscitated so 'nature's way'? No thanks. If nature took its course many more women would die young or remain childless or have their health destroyed . I was 21 so no Nature can do one. Please engage your brain before posting.

This is heartbreaking for so many.

However, IVF is incomporable to any other treatment in the current circumstances. Every other treatment is designed to improve health (or save lives) and therefore reduce the need for further NHS input.

IVF is the only one that creates the need for more healthcare (antenatal care, midwives, Drs, theatre staff, anaesthetists etc) and can cause more risk to health (pregnancy and birth complications).

I’ve asked this on here before but those who don’t think IVF should be funded on the NHS, does that include all fertility treatment or just IVF?

I’m fertile and got pregnant naturally 6 times but only managed to stay pregnant with a shit load of drugs because I kept miscarrying. My daughter cost the NHS a fortune, especially if you include the two surgeries I had to deal with previous miscarriages.

Should the treatment to get me to stay pregnant have been funded because I was lucky enough to be able to conceive by without help or not?

I'm wondering the same Anne. I can get pregnant no problem but miscarry without intervention. Is that allowed or not?

Probably “nature’s way” of telling us something Pippp

I’m sorry for your struggles

Anyone who believes in nature's way, I guess you won't be seeking medical treatment if you get corona virus? Because that would be nature saying it's had enough of you.

I think I have offered the only practicalsuggestion - some foreign infertility clinics are open. If you really want a child consider how you might get there.

On whom should the NHS treat - it is a very difficult issue. At present for ventilators there is a list of what it is worth using them on and I was very surprised was near the top (as just about never ill, not on any pills etc, despite my age - 50s- not that I want to go on one anyway).

One thing is for sure now is a brilliant time for British to get their waists down to 31.5 inches (NHS maximum recommended). It will help ensure your children don't lose their over weight mother to covid 19.

How is that a practical suggestion xenia? Non essential travel is against guidelines.