Rhode couple calls for extension of State funding for fertility treatments

By Rebekah O'Reilly

Rhode couple Anna and Will May has called for the extension of government funding for fertility treatments

The government in recent years has announced funding for fertility treatments, with access to In vitro fertilisation (IVF), Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) and intrauterine insemination (IUI) treatments being made available to eligible couples.

However Anna and her husband Will have said that the criteria for eligibility is too narrow, meaning that lots of couple miss out on the chance to have a baby.

“If you've had a previous round of IVF, even if the pregnancy was unsuccessful, the government won't provide funding for your fertility treatment,” said Anna.

“We were lucky that we could afford it – but I know lots of young couples who have struggled to get pregnant, and they're not eligible for the government funding. They just can't afford the treatment.”

Will added: “The government need to be more clear and inclusive on their guidelines for the funding.”

The couple welcomed their baby girl Lilah in December 2023, after their own fertility struggles led them to seek IVF treatment to help start their young family.

Anna and Will first realised they were struggling to have a baby in 2017, after they had been trying for a baby for a number of years with no success.

“We got married in 2019, and at that point we had been trying for a few years and nothing was happening,” Anna said.

It was then that the couple decided it was time to seriously pursue fertility testing to find out what their options were.

The couple had to travel outside their local area for an investigation into their fertility issues and for treatment.

“There wasn't anywhere local at all,” Anna said. “There's nothing in our area, the closest clinics were in Dublin or Galway.”

Anna began her search for a clinic online, and decided to go with Sims IVF. The fertility company was the longest standing company she could find, which she said “must be a good sign”.

“It was so easy – we just booked it online. We went up to Dublin on day one, and they told us a time and date when the doctor would call us with our results.

“He called us and told us that if we wanted to have a baby, IVF would be our only option, and that we would need to have a few more investigations to make sure everything is okay with the female reproductive organs.

“After that, they gave us a treatment plan, and we started.”

The Rhode couple's fertility journey came with its own set of unexpected and devastating challenges.

“We did have a few challenges along the way. My first egg retrieval was cancelled. The nurse said there just wasn't enough eggs there – but she reassured me that we could try again,” Anna said.

She had to go through another series of treatments, and on her second retrieval, the doctor successfully retrieved 28 eggs, with 14 becoming embryos. However, after a couple of days, only two of the embryos were viable.

The embryo was transferred, but devastatingly, the couple were then faced with a heartbreaking miscarriage.

“When I had the miscarriage, it was at the weekend, and I was panicking because I didn't know what to do,” Anna said.

“Sims have an app with an online chat, so I sent a message on that. I was in Mullingar Hospital the next day, and the team at Sims were keeping in touch with me to make sure everything was okay.

“They had a treatment plan in place afterwards, so that when we were ready, we could try again with our second embryo.”

Anna and Will waited a full year before finally deciding to try again with their second embryo. In March 2023, Anna got the embryo implanted, and everything went smoothly.

“Our doctor put us at ease. She said lets throw everything at this, and make sure this embryo becomes your baby,” Anna said.

“You think when you finally have the stable pregnancy that will feel like the finish line, but it wasn't until we held Lilah in our arms - she was here and she was real - that it really felt like we reached the finish line.”

When asked if she would have any advice for couple going through their own fertility issues, Anna said to reach out and share your struggle.

“It can be a very lonely experience – you feel like people won't understand,” Anna said. “But when you tell your family and friends what you're dealing with, it makes a huge difference, and they will be very understanding.”

For information about HSE-funded fertility treatments, go to: https://repromed.ie/pricing/hse-funded-fertility-treatments

If you're interested in exploring treatment options with Sims IVF, go to: https://www.sims.ie/