IVF - funding declined...

[Dot457]

Hi all. Wondered if anyone had been in a similar position and could offer advise please? We had a cycle of IVF back in March on the NHS. We live in Leeds/Wakefield area (UK) and are only entitled to one round, despite the NICE guidelines saying everyone is entitled to 3 (don't get me started on that) unfortunately we only got 4 eggs, and only one fertilised without abnormalities. We had an early miscarriage and once we had got our heads around this we got in touch with our local MP and she advised us to write to the CCG to ask for an individual funding request. This was about 2 months ago now and we have been informed tonight that we have been declined for extra funding or any kind of funding. I have numerous fertility problems, will never conceive naturally and I have basically been told that it's a now or never type situation. Getting really stressed out now on how we're supposed to afford IVF without getting our selfs in debt? We both have decent jobs and have mortgages and cars, but obviously around the 10k mark isn't easy to come by and have no choice but to pay for something that isn't in our control?! Me and my partner are always happy to pay our way in life but a bit of help financially with this kind of thing would obviously help the stress levels on top of an already stressful time. I really am at my whitts end and would really appreciate any kind of advice? Thanks in advance xx

Thank you steenac.
To return to the OP. A quick google shows me that despite nice guidelines in 2017 only 12% of CCGs were offering three rounds of NHS funded IVF and I suspect it may be even lower than 12% now. Even 5 years prior only 24% were offering the recommended 3 rounds.
As a lot of CCGs are now not even offering 1 NHS funded round I do think a lot more people including the OP are going to have no option but to go down private funding routes.
www.fertilityfairness.co.uk/nhs-fertility-services/ivf-provision-in-england/

Does anybody manage to get IVF funding decisions overturned in a manner which is timely enough to not impact further on the success chances of IVF?

OP your original post asked for advice on how you afford IVF without getting into debt - the advice is you can't unless you save first

And yes unfortunately you will need to pay for something that isn't in your control - there are no guarantees of success Unless you try someone like Access that offers a refund programme? Access fertility is really only any good though if you have unexplained infertility or have male factor - they offer the packages they do because they take on low risk high chance of success patients - if you have diagnosed fertility issues or recurrent miscarriage very unlikely you'd be accepted on Access

BUT like my post said loans are cheap - I've just applied for £12k which should get 2 rounds of mild stim short protocol and over 5 years repayment is £250 a month - if you can't afford then you should review how you would pay for a child once it's here? (full time childminder is £600 plus a month or cost of being a STAHM at least £1k a month if you earnt minimum wage before)

Set aside the amount that childcare would cost you a month out of your wages and within a year you'd have the cost of your IVF without getting into debt via credit card or loans.

You say your in your twenties so unless you have premature ovarian failure or early menopause then you still have time to save first

@Totallycluelessoverhere MY situation, MY decisions, MY feelings, MY life.

Do you really think guilting me into not having my own baby because there are people already born who need the NHS help is really appropriate? Negative opinions on this topic are not welcome, mentally I've already been through enough and haven't asked for this type of advice thanks. It's as if you think I'm selfish and that all the funding should go to me? If so then you are more wrong than ever. I'm not asking for a full round for free, nor was I asking for any type of funding.

I was asking what other people have done to be able to afford it on top of already having a normal life style with monthly outgoings? I think a few people have been very insensitive about my situation and it's made me feel even shitter so congratulations if thats what you wanted. At the end of the day, everyone on this thread clearly have their own problems regarding being able to conceive, which are beyond our own control so blaming ourself isn't really going to help? We haven't asked for this, so theres no need for bitterness when everyones situation is different.

I'd probably apply for a bank loan to pay back gradually

normal life style with monthly outgoings

Depends on what your "normal lifestyle" is?? When you have kids once the bills have gone out there is usually very little left over for the "normal" lifestyle I would have had in my 20s.

If it's regularly eating out, new clothes every month, latest iPhone, multiple holidays abroad then yeah you're going to need to sacrifice. Depends on what's more important?

I do think that infertility threads shouldn't be shown in active, in the same way adoption threads aren't. I started a thread asking if anyone knew where to find a particular drug my consultant had prescribed as not many places stock it: cue random posters jumping on telling me that there's a nationwide shortage and I'm depriving people who need it for actual medical conditions rather than lifestyle choices. Also the assumption that I'd just decided to buy this drug, not that it had been prescribed to me.

I think the only option left for you is to go privately if you can only get one round funded on the NHS.

You could re-mortgage / look into bank loans / sell your car? I really don't think you will regret the 10k debt when you look at your little baby's face

@ginandtonicformeplease good point. We aren’t here for judgement after all, we are here for support and advice.

You could re-mortgage / look into bank loans / sell your car? I really don't think you will regret the 10k debt when you look at your little baby's face

It’s not as easy as that. IVF doesn’t work for everyone.

Infertility is a medical condition which can have devastating consequences for people unlucky enough to be affected. So here's a great big 'fuck you' to anyone who is so lacking in empathy that they blithely suggest that having a baby is a 'lifestyle choice' , that people who can't afford treatment can't afford to have a child anyway, and my personal favourite 'why don't you just adopt?' The NHS isn't on its knees because of fertility treatment.

Oh, and OP, my friend got her babies by going to a clinic in the Czech Republic which I believe is cheaper than the U.K. and has a great reputation. Good luck with everything, I get it

IVF doesn’t work for everyone.

It is as easy as that though? Unfortunately it doesn't guarantee success but what does these days? doesn't mean it should be free or that you shouldn't try if that's what's important to you

For me i wanted to have no regrets - I didn't want to wake up in 10 years and wish I'd tried IVF. Trying for a baby was more important than a couple of years of holidays that are soon forgotten or the clothes that would get thrown out in the next season

it's a shame but I would accept you need to pay now for more treatment. Definitely look at abroad or private services within an NHS hospital. Can you cut back on anything to save? Here's what we do ..

We have one car, not too old to cause issues, but not too new or flashy to require big monthly payments. We don't have sky Tv or Netflix, we watch freeview. We don't go on holiday. We buy second hand. I get the bus or walk. We don't buy each other birthday or Christmas presents. I don't have a cleaner. We compare gas and electricity, car insurance before every renewal. We don't eat lots of takeaways. Turn off the lights! Try own brand food. Lots of savings can be made if you really think about it and trying for a baby is great motivation.

OP, sorry you're going through this. I've had IVF years ago and it didn't work sadly. I know a girl who rented out a room on air BnB which paid for her IVF. Could you rent out your house and rent temporarily in the postcode area that funds IVF? Real pita and you shouldn't need to but I've heard of folk doing this for other NHS treatment. I've also heard good things about Spain. Good luck, I hope you get a result. For what it's worth, i think having a child is a basic human right, whereas having multiple children is a lifestyle choice.

When you think how much you lose in earnings to mat leave, £10K sounds much more reasonable.

OP, my advice is to save first, given that your age is not too advanced.But this is because I tend to always look at worst case scenario and I dont think I could bear having debts AND an unsuccessful outcome (which, unfortunately, is a possibility).

I appreciate though that different people might have different opinions on the matter - this is only what I would do in your situation.

@Dot457 honestly you will never regret having a child. Have you looked at going abroad where it is cheaper? Seeing if family could offer part of the cost interest free or a 0% credit card. It seems horribly unfair to only have one cycle but I’d advise trying to find another try. I wish you all the best.

£10k debt is even more galling if there is no baby at the end of it. Sadly IVF doesn't work for everyone.

£10k debt is even more galling if there is no baby at the end of it. Sadly IVF doesn't work for everyone

Exactly. And then you’re faced with the “do we try it again?” dilemma and before you know it you’ve spent tens of thousands of pounds for no baby at the end of it.

The “it’ll be worth it when you hold your child” posts just aren’t kind, or helpful.

What a horrible situation op - you’ve said you’ve been told it’s now or never - I’d borrow it the cheapest way i could and crack on, you are young and the good thing is that you’ve got a good long time to pay it back. There are no guarantees but I’d have to try personally.

Nothing is certain, the question is what you’d regret more, having a debt and no baby or not self funding another round to give it a try - only you can answer that.

Sorry to hear this OP How ridiculously unfair that where you live decides how many cycles you are entitled to on the NHS, surely it should be equal, that's disgraceful.

Have you appealed? You are within your rights to appeal any refusal of funding. Mine wasn't for IVF, it was for a hysterectomy, I got refused twice but after involving my MP, I got my funding awarded. I know parliament is closed due to the election, but MP's who are standing to be reelected will be bending over backwards to help constituents to secure their votes.

Not an option for everyone to consider I know but if your partners semen analysis is good some clinics offer free IVF if he sperm shares. I was lucky enough to get some NHS funding for IVF (donor egg due to premature ovarian failure) but when we had used that we started paying privately and just sold loads on eBay, spent as little as possible, I worked overtime and DP had a second job. Luckily cycle 5 did work