Couple Undergo IVF Abroad After Being Denied Treatment on NHS Due to High BMI
A couple who were told they had a 5% chance of getting pregnant through IVF treatment on the NHS decided to travel abroad for treatment.
Emma Haslam, 43, and her husband from North Yorkshire were told they were not eligible for IVF on the NHS due to Emma’s high BMI.
The couple then decided to travel to the Czech Republic for treatment, where they ended up pregnant after years of fertility issues.
After initially struggling to conceive naturally, Emma and her husband were referred to a gynaecologist for further treatment. The results concluded that the cause of their struggle was the fact that Emma was peri-menopausal – meaning that her body was beginning to make the transition to menopause, which can happen to women at various ages.
Emma’s husband was also told that he had low motility and low concentration, and that between them, they would only be able to conceive through IVF. However, the chances of that working for them were between 3 and 5%, they were told.
Disillusioned by these low chances of success, Emma worked hard to lose weight and lower her BMI so that they could qualify for one round of IVF on the NHS. She managed to lose six stone, but was later told that the limit of her NHS area’s BMI expectancy had changed to 30, not 35.
As per the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s (NICE) website, treatment with ‘IVF is more effective for women who have a BMI between 19 and 30,’ though it doesn’t explicitly state that women with a BMI higher than 30 shouldn’t qualify.
Emma and her husband decided to move back in with her parents so that they could save for IVF privately. However, after a few consultations in the UK, they realised how expensive it was – and made a plan of action to fly abroad.
“An average round of IVF in the UK when completed is around £10,000 and can often be upwards of this,” Emma said, adding that she felt it was a ‘battle’ just to understand the answers to ‘basic questions.’
“We did think about adoption, and we even started the process, but it was long and wasn’t easy and I really wanted to have the opportunity to carry and have a baby.”
When researching abroad, the couple noticed that the BMI limit was much more flexible, and so they travelled to the Czech Republic for their treatment, where the price difference was considerable.
“The average round of own egg IVF abroad starts from depending on where you go, £2,500- £4,000 (excluding travel and medication),” Emma recalled, describing the clinic as ‘kind and caring.’
“They did suggest that if we had donor conception, which we did, it would boost our chances from 5% to 60%-70%.
“We ended up spending around £8,000 GB but this was for three rounds of a donor embryo treatment, including everything, flights and accommodation too.
“Our treatment also came with a guarantee, so the third round was free, but we did pay for the first two rounds of IVF, including medication, travel, and accommodation and medication for the last round. Totalling £8k.”
Three rounds later, Emma became pregnant with twins, but she sadly lost one of them after 10 weeks. She then gave birth to a healthy baby boy in 2018.
“If we had spent all our money on one round of IVF in the UK, we would not have our little boy today,” Emma concluded.
And, since giving birth, Emma has set up her own business that guides others through the process, helping them both practically and emotionally through their IVF treatment. Since 2019, she’s helped hundreds of people across the globe, and even launched her own podcast.
“I feel so lucky to be a mum to our little boy, but I will never forget what we went through to get him.”
