July 14th 2024.
Rosie and her husband Paul had always dreamed of starting a family together. However, they soon realized that their journey to parenthood would not be an easy one. With more and more women turning to IVF, they were faced with the harsh reality that NHS support for the procedure was dwindling.
In fact, a staggering 63% of couples who undergo fertility treatments have to pay for it out of their own pockets. And the average cost of IVF? An eye-watering £13,750. This, coupled with the high cost of living, makes it nearly impossible for many couples to move forward with the process.
Alex Holder, author of "Open Up: Why Talking About Money Will Change Your Life" and a private IVF patient, sums it up perfectly: "The fact is that people undergoing IVF treatment are more likely to have spent over £15,000 to have a miscarriage than a successful pregnancy."
But what if there was a way to guarantee a successful round of IVF? What if there was a chance to get an IVF refund? This was the question that Rosie and Paul found themselves asking as they embarked on their journey to parenthood.
The couple had met through work two years prior and had decided to start trying for a baby. However, they soon realized that they did not qualify for NHS support due to Paul's recent registration with their local Primary Care Trust. Not wanting to wait for a year to become eligible, they made the decision to fund the procedure themselves.
At 38 years old, Rosie's chances of a successful round of IVF were only 19%. But as they sat in the waiting room of their chosen clinic, Bourn Hall, they were handed a leaflet that offered a glimmer of hope. The leaflet explained that they would be eligible for a 50% refund if their three rounds of IVF were unsuccessful.
Impressed by this possibility, Rosie and Paul quickly signed up for the refund package at a fixed upfront cost of £11,950. This included everything except for the cost of drugs and additional procedures like embryo glue, which can cost around £2,000 per round.
Unfortunately, their first round of IVF was unsuccessful, and they were devastated. Rosie recalls, "The first one was certainly the hardest to get my head around, especially because no one knew we were having IVF. I had no support, other than my husband."
In her experience, Rosie had only heard about successful IVF stories, so she and Paul went into it with a bit of naivety, thinking it would be a surefire solution. But as they continued with their second and third rounds, they faced more disappointment and heartbreak.
Despite their struggles, Rosie and Paul were grateful for the refund from Access Fertility, the organization that offers up to 100% refunds for eligible women under 38 or partial refunds for those aged 38 to 40 who have an unsuccessful round or package of IVF.
"For us, it was a bit of a no-brainer to do it that way," Rosie explains. "I had no idea before then that such a thing existed." The couple then reinvested their refund in another two-round IVF multi-cycle package for £8,300.
Although their fourth cycle was unsuccessful, they had produced an additional embryo, which they transferred into Rosie's uterus. Sadly, she miscarried at seven weeks. They then made the decision to undergo their fifth and final round of IVF. This time, it was a frozen embryo transfer that resulted in a successful pregnancy.
Their beautiful baby girl, Esther, was born four months ago, and Rosie and Paul couldn't be happier. "We were very excited, but cautiously so," Rosie shares. "I don't think I let Paul buy any of the car seats or anything like that until about two months before she was due."
Looking back, Rosie believes that the refund from Access Fertility was the key to their success. "Without a doubt, getting the refund was really helpful," she says. "The only regret is we didn't start it a bit younger when I could have got a 100% refund."
As for Rosie and Paul's family, Esther has made it complete. "She's such a happy, content baby - and she smiles all the time," Rosie gushes. "We're so lucky and fortunate to have had her."
If you have a story to share about your IVF journey, please get in touch by emailing us at [email address]. We'd love to hear from you.
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