Mouthpiece: Fertility treatment doesn't guarantee success

Published on Friday 7 August 2009 10:11

COUPLES in Scotland have for many years faced inequalities in access to fertility treatment, including extremely long NHS waiting lists in some areas. Faced with waits of up to three years, many decide they have no choice but to opt to pay for private treatment, whilst others find that they do not qualify for NHS funding and have no choice in the matter.

With a private cycle of treatment costing in the region of 5,000, many patients do not have savings to cover the cost and have to find other ways of financing the treatment. One of these options involves would-be grandparents helping to either fully or partially fund the cost of fertility treatment. In many cases this arrangement works extremely well, particularly if the treatment has a successful outcome and the end result is a new grandchild. But fertility treatment is extremely stressful and a successful outcome is by no means guaranteed, especially where couples are older.

The disappointment if the treatment is not successful may well be exacerbated when couples have used funds from their parents. They may feel that they have let them down and that the money has been wasted, even though an unsuccessful treatment cycle is not anyone's fault. Many underestimate the stress involved in going through fertility treatment, as well as the emotional impact of discovering that treatment has been unsuccessful and they are left with nothing at the end of it.

As more couples try to conceive later in life, many will find they have to turn to fertility treatment, perhaps not realising how low the success rates can be. There is a general perception that "there's always IVF" but, in reality, the average success rate for women aged over 35 is less than 25 per cent, and for those over 40 the chances of success drop to about 10 per cent.

When funds run out, it can also be difficult for couples to accept that that's it, even though they may feel that the next cycle will work. Couples need to seek support to deal with the outcome and decide on their next steps.

Susan Seenan is communications officer with Infertility Network Scotland. www.infertilitynetworkuk.com