“We’ve had to put everything on hold for a miracle baby”: Somerset woman reveals the cost of fertility
Amber from Weston-Super-Mare had to postpone her wedding to save money for fertility treatment.
27-year-old Amber Sandys from Weston-Super-Mare has told us saving for fertility treatment feels impossible, as the cost-of-living crisis hits potential parents.
Care worker and wedding videographer Amber was born with Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser Syndrome (MRKH), making it difficult for her to have a baby.
“I was born with a condition when I was fifteen called MRKH meaning I basically have no uterus so I’m unable to carry a baby” she said.
“But because I have ovaries, I can do IVF and then carry on through surrogacy.”
Ever since Amber met her partner Vaskos seven years ago, the couple knew they wanted to have a baby, but having been declined NHS treatment, they were shocked to find the cost of private healthcare options.
“It can be from £13,00 to £15,00 for three rounds of IVF,” she said, “and then you have additional costs of medication, scans, consultations and follow ups.”
“Everything costs money and if those rounds don’t work, you’ll need to start all over again.”
These expenses hike up further for Amber, with surrogacy costing up to £30,000.
New survey results from Fertility UK has found the cost-of-living crisis is hitting couples around the country.
They say 95% of fertility patients are concerned about money with reports of couples resorting to maxing out credit cards, cashing in pensions and selling homes to pay for fertility treatment.
For Amber, it meant postponing her wedding indefinitely.
“We got engaged last year but we’re not thinking about a wedding any time soon because that’s out of the question really – IVF is more of a priority.
“We would love to have the wedding now but that’s had to be put on hold until we’ve had our little miracle baby.”
Amber’s rush to fall pregnant was heightened last year when, at the age of 26, she was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis.
“It was hard – both our lives changed. 26 is a young age to be diagnosed with MS and being a care worker, I can see what MS can do to people,” she said.
“We know that in the future I may not be as fit or as mobile as I am now so it would be better to do it sooner rather than later.”
"My brain is on overload and there are days when I crash and I just can’t do it any more."
Her condition makes it harder to save money. Despite working two jobs and picking up overtime, she knows her body needs mental rest as well as physical.
“It’s all that’s on my mind everyday – IVF – how are we going to do this, do that. My brain is on overload and there are days when I crash and I just can’t do it any more.”
Fertility UK’s survey found half of respondents (49%) said the combination of the cost-of-living crisis, the lack of NHS-funded help and the high cost of private care meant they were currently unable to move forward with fertility treatment – potentially jeopardising their future chances of becoming parents.
Nearly a quarter were forced to delay or cancel treatment.
But Amber says giving up just isn’t an option for them.
“Since I’ve gotten older and all my friends are having babies it’s really hit the pressure on how much we really do want children now.
“There are times where we did think about giving up - with the interest rates of our mortgage and everyone else’s mortgage going up it seems impossible.
“But if that’s been your dream you keep pushing through it – we know we will get our baby one day.”
To help save money, Amber and Vasko have set up an online fundraiser – you can donate here.