'My IVF journey'

The Scottish Government has announced that eligible couples will be allowed three rounds of IVF treatment, rather than just two.

IVF treatment – where the egg is fertilised with sperm in a laboratory and then implanted back in the womb - will also be available to parents who have children from a previous relationship.

The timetable for the rules to be changed has not yet been stated, but support group Infertility Network UK has welcomed the move, saying Scotland is leading the way in providing equitable fertility treatment in the UK.

Here, women who are at different stages of experiencing IVF treatment describe their journey.

Deniece Alexander, 28, and her partner Robert Howie, 31, from Kilwinning, Ayrshire, began fertility treatment in 2013 after three years of trying to start a family without success. Eventually after IVF treatment, the couple’s twin girls Abbie and Ellie were born in January 2015.

The couple qualified for three cycles of IVF under the old 'postcode lottery' of fertility treatment which used to exist, where health boards in certain areas funded three cycles. Just as they began treatment, the rules were tightened up so that only two cycles were available to patients across Scotland.

Alexander said: “We never thought infertility would happen to us, but we had been trying for a year and then reality kicked in and we realised something might actually be wrong. The actual day we found out we would need IVF was just devastating.”

Alexander said the process of IVF treatment was “physically and emotionally exhausting” and it was difficult to keep a positive attitude after the first two cycles failed.

She added: “When it was down to the last cycle, I thought to myself there is a chance I am never going to be a parent. It was really stressful.

“Going through all the treatment meant I was so anxious when I was pregnant as I just couldn’t believe it had happened to me. I don’t think I relaxed until I was maybe about eight months pregnant."

Alexander welcome the latest announcement which means IVF has been extended to three cycles for everyone.

“I feel it is important to have three tries,” she said. “Each cycle you go through you are learning different things about your body and how you respond to treatment.

“We would never have been able to save the money to afford treatment privately.”

Abigayle Gerrie, 37, from Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire, has been hoping to become a mother since the age of 16. During her first marriage, her husband did not want to go through with fertility tests and now she is going through treatment with her current partner.

Investigations found both her fallopian tubes were blocked and a subsequent course of injections to stimulate egg production did not work – which counted as one round of NHS treatment.

She is waiting to find out if the implantation of a donor egg has been successful – which is the second and final round of treatment on the NHS under current rules.

She said: “If this doesn’t work we will have to look at funding it ourselves. With the new laws it is definitely better getting three attempts. I just felt cheated with my first one, as I only had injections and then it stopped.

“We have still got eight donor eggs frozen so we have that in place - but it is going to be difficult trying to fund it ourselves."

Gerrie described the treatment process– both the medical procedures and the wait afterwards – as a “complete nightmare”.

“You have got regular scans and updates – then it is just you on your own and there is nothing you can do,” she said. “You panic over every little twinge or side-effect – or if you get nothing you still worry.”

She said she believed there was a lot of stigma around infertility, but it was an issue which should be talked about more openly.

“The general idea is you get married and have kids, and there are never any issues," she added.

“If I had known years ago I think I would have pushed for it even more, as my age is now playing a factor in it as well.”

Angela McBeath, 29, from Stewarton, Ayrshire, is currently going through NHS funded treatment and will be entitled to two cycles under the current rules.

Her partner has a son from a previous relationship whom he sees regularly, but as he does not live with them the couple are entitled to treatment on the NHS.

The process began in January 2014 and they are hoping the first embryo transfer will take place in August this year.

McBeath said: “It is the hardest thing I have ever done in my life. The whole thing is just absolutely devastating.

“It is a relief to know what the problem is so you can get something done about it, but the waiting is horrendous.

“It has taken two and a half years from the first appointment. I have four siblings and during that time they have all had their babies and some are onto their second.

“It affects your family relationships, your friends, your personal relationships, your partner, your social life. It changes you as a person, there is no doubt about it and it is on your mind constantly.

"You can’t just relax and enjoy yourself in the same way, everything is centred round your treatment. It is extremely hard.”

McBeath said they would not have been able to afford to fund IVF treatment privately.

She added: “I know ladies that are on their third, fourth and fifth attempt, who are thousands of pounds in debt. They should be entitled to three shots on the NHS. It is a medical condition and you need help - it is something the NHS should be supporting.”

Eilish, 35, and her partner Robert, 45, from Glasgow, who want to remain anonymous, decided to go private instead of having to wait for treatment on the NHS. After four attempts - which has cost £20,000 - she is now five months pregnant.

She said: "You think you are having a perfectly mundane life in terms of your health, not too many GP visits, no operations, a few wee niggles here and there but nothing too serious, and then wham, you are sitting in a room with someone telling you that actually you are so broken inside that you can’t have kids.

"Four attempts down the line has meant a miscarriage, hair falling out, long ruined days of feeling grotty from hormones, a needle phobia from all the jabs, and," she adds ironically, "a really good relationship with your bank manager. It’s much more bad news than good news in this process.

"But I am pregnant, quite pregnant, had a 20 week scan pregnant, can feel it move pregnant. If this works it will be a miracle. This thing inside me is growing, I don’t know how. It was created from an egg doused in weeks of drugs and sperm built up with diet and no booze, made in a petri dish and then deep frozen for five months, and then thawed and then checked and then warmed up and then sucked into a tube and then into me. It shouldn’t work, mostly it doesn’t work, but sometimes it works. Miraculous.

"At the same time, if this pregnancy doesn’t work I can’t do IVF again. It’s too mortality-checking, too frightening, too expensive, too stressful."