Elizabeth Henson: No one elects to have fertility problems so let IVF continue
No one chooses fertility problems and IVF is not an elective procedure for those of us who just lost our last shot at having biological children, writes Elizabeth Henson.
Opinion
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* Author’s note, since I wrote this opinion piece yesterday, there has been good news this morning for some women undergoing IVF but bad news for others.
The ban on IVF in South Australia has been partially lifted.
Women who were in the middle of an IVF cycle when elective surgery was banned are now able to complete their cycle.
This is excellent news for those women who have no doubt been anxious about whether they can finish their partly-completed round.
However, this partial lift does not apply to women who may be preparing for a cycle – people like me.
An IVF cycle (where you start jabbing yourself with injections) generally starts on day two of your period. On day one of your period, you “book on”, that is, you call your fertility clinic and tell them you are good to go.
Only those who had already “booked on” prior to now are exempt from the ban.
The rest of us are out of luck.
“For example, for someone who is going through a pre-IVF process and are due to “book on” tomorrow – the original ban still applies to them.
In my case, I am on a drug regimen to improve egg quality. I was to “book on” in two months once I had finished that regimen. Thus I am not allowed to go ahead with my cycle.
IVF should be exempt from the elective surgery ban.
No one elects to have fertility problems.
The Federal Government’s announcement that elective surgery is to cease until further notice due to the coronavirus pandemic dealt a terrible blow to many languishing on hospital waiting lists.
For people seeking IVF treatment, the announcement was particularly cruel, in my biased opinion.
I was in the middle of a three-month drug regimen to prepare for what would, if things didn’t improve, be my last shot at a biological child when I was informed I could no longer go ahead with my next round as planned. It would be delayed indefinitely.
To say I was devastated would be an understatement.
As someone who has already endured two failed cycles of IVF, time is of the essence.
To put it bluntly my eggs are crap and I don’t have many of them. And as more time passes, the crappier they get, as do my chances of ever having a biological bundle of joy.
In the past couple of days I’ve run the gamut of emotions.
I’ve gone from envisioning dying old, childless and nobody turning up to my funeral (I know, I know … my friends and family would still be there but there’s no room for reason when you’re catastrophising), to being cool, calm and collected (‘hey, these drugs I’m on now are meant to improve egg quality so we’ll be ‘right!’).
But my overriding feeling, as selfish as it may be under the current climate, is fear that any delay could rip away my chance of ever being a mum.
Unfortunately, I’m not alone with the ol’ fertility problems. One in six couples in Australia experiences fertility issues.
While we definitely need to put measures in place to ensure we are fully prepared to tackle the pandemic, forcing the cancellation of IVF is shortsighted and could have long-term, devastating impacts on those affected by it.
IVFers are already in a world of uncertainty and we simply don’t need this new roadblock.
Jessica and Troy Stearnes, of Modbury Heights, have already gone through more than 30 rounds of IVF over seven years.
This year was their last chance.
“For us it actually means that we will never have another child if this goes on for six, 12 months,” Mrs Stearnes, 32, said.
“That’s us out of the game. My daughter will never have a living sibling. They’re not thinking of the mental health of the people.”
Heartbreaking.
If I needed a knee replacement, for example, I would absolutely want it as soon as possible – but even if my surgery was postponed, the result once I finally had the procedure would be the same as if there had been no delay: I would have a fixed knee.
The same cannot be said for IVF. The result might not be the same if it’s delayed.
The other issue is the Government has not given any indication as to how long the elective surgery ban may be in place.
Is it a week? Is it a month? Is it six months? What’s the trigger point for reinstating it?
There are obviously a lot of unknowns surrounding COVID-19, but being left in limbo, with little information about the elective surgery ban, is causing a huge amount of stress and anxiety.
IVF is not emergency surgery. But for those of us who need it, it feels like an emergency.
To those in charge – both at a state and federal level – please don’t take away our hope.
Let IVF continue.