......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

No 37 Spring 2013

Talking aboutTrying

Head Office Manager and

Publications Editor

Claire Heritage

Direct line:

01424 732402

Email: claireheritage@

infertilitynetworkuk.com

Administration

Alison Onash

Email: admin@

infertilitynetworkuk.com

Volunteer

Co-ordinator

Hannah Tramaseur

Direct line:

01424 732405

Email: hannahtramaseur@

infertilitynetworkuk.com

Future copy dates

as follows:

Summer Edition

(published end of

July 2013)

Copy date

20th May 2013

Autumn Edition

(published

October 2013)

Copy date

8th August 2013

Winter Edition

(published end of

January 2014)

Copy date

20th November 2013

Spring Edition

(published end of

April 2014)

Copy date

20th February 2014

Editor’s noteThe views expressed inany articles or corresp -ondences included inthis magaz ine are thoseof the individual writersand not necessarily ofThe Infertility Network(UK) or the Editor. Theirinclusion does notnecess arily implyendorse ment by TheInfertility Network (UK).Readers of thismagazine are expectedto make their ownenquiries/ check anyservice or organisationthey intend to use. TheInfertility Network (UK)is in no way linked toany clinic/company, nordo we recommend orendorse any oneclinic/company.

Charity Registered in

England No. 1099960

and in Scotland

No. SC039511 Company RegistrationNo. 4822073

spri

ng

20

13

I

N U

K

2

Meet the team at Head Office

Head Office contact details:The Infertility Network (UK)Charter House, 43 St Leonards Road, Bexhill-on-Sea, East Sussex, TN40 1JATel: 0800 008 7464 Fax: 01424 731858Email: admin@infertilitynetworkuk.comWeb: www.infertilitynetworkuk.com

Winner

Infertility Network UK wasextremely saddened to hear thenews that Professor Sir RobertEdwards had passed away peace -fully in his sleep on Wednesday10th April 2013. As I’m sure youknow, along with the late PatrickSteptoe, he successfully pion -eered IVF which resulted in thebirth of Louise Brown in 1978and since that time more thanfive million babies have beenborn around the world throughthat tech niq ue bringing joy andhappiness to their parents.

He was quite rightly awardedthe Nobel Prize for Physiologyand Medicine in 2010 and in2011 was knighted for his

services to human reproductivebiology.

I had the honour and pleas -ure of meeting him on severaloccasions and he was always sokind and sincere. Some mayremember that Infertility Net -work UK used to host NationalInfertility Day and Robert waskind enough to agree to bePatron of the event. He attendedthe first day and spoke, and alsoattended the last one where hepresented a history of IVF andhis work alongside his colleagueMike Macnamee. It was anextremely special moment foreveryone there and one I willnever forget.

Our thoughts and sympathiesgo out to his family, friends andcolleagues.Clare Lewis-JonesChief Executive

STOP PRESS

or from a mobile: 01424 732361

0800 008 7464HELPLINE

Hi EveryoneWelcome to the spring edition of our magazine in thisour 10th Anniversary year! As readers of the lastedition of our magazine will know, we are marking ouranniversary with our “Talking about Trying” campaign.

Over the last 10 years we have helped manythousands of people in their struggle to parenthood.We want that to continue and our aim is to reacheveryone affected in the UK. We want to get peopletalking about infertility and give infertility sufferers amuch louder voice. You can “Like” us on Facebookand/or follow us and keep up-to-date on Twitter.Contact Karen Veness for more information at:karenveness@infertilitynetworkuk.com

Q. What else is the Campaign about? A. Raising money for your charity.Generating income for the charity is becoming harderto raise. Not a single penny of our income is guar anteedand we can’t do what we do without con tin ued andlasting funding. Here at Infertility Network UK we aretrying, but here are just a few ideas for others toconsider and contact Sheena Young at: sheena@infertilitynetworkuk.com for more inform ation.● Download a copy of our fundraising booklet with

loads of ideas to raise funds for Infertility Network UK.Or you can find it at: http://www.infertilitynetworkuk.com/ get_involved/help_us_fundraise.

● If you work for an infertility clinic does your clinicoperates a “Charity of the Year” as part of theircorporate social responsibility and would nominateInfertility Network UK?

● Does the company you work for or run operate asimilar scheme – would they raise money for us?Will they become Corporate Partners or pledge£1000 per year to Infertility Network UK?

Launch of the new NICE clinical fertility guidelineThe new NICE guideline was published on 20thFebruary 2013. In England the final decision onwhether to implement them was made locally byindividual Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) but from April,Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) will replace thePCTs. NIAC has made it known that it is willing andable to work with the Government so that access tofertility treatment is improved in the new NHS.

That’s all folks! Wishing you all the very best asalways.Clare

Introducing this edition from the Chief Executive

spri

ng

20

13

I

N U

K

3

Women over the age of 40, same-sex couples, andpeople with disabilities have been addressed for the firsttime in the updated NICE (National Institute for Healthand Clinical Excellence) guideline on fertility treatment.

In the clinical guideline, NICE recommends womenaged between 40 and 42 should be offered one cycleof IVF if they have not conceived after two years ofregular, unprotected intercourse and meet othercriteria. This marks a change from the 2004 guidelinethat suggested women over the age of 39 should notbe offered IVF.

The updated guideline also suggests that IVF treat -ment should be made available to eligible womenearlier than previously recommended – after two years,rather than three years, of regular, unprotected inter -course without conceiving. Same-sex female couplesand people with certain disabilities that prevent themhaving intercourse were also highlighted as eligible forIVF, if they have undergone six unsuccessful cycles ofartificial insemination.

However, as NICE clinical guidelines are notmandatory, fears still remain over local imp lem -entation as patients may continue to face a‘postcode lottery’ approach to funding.

In England: From April 2013, Clinical CommissioningGroups (CCGs) will replace the Primary Care Trusts(PCTs), but the National Infertility Awareness Cam p -aign (NIAC) fears the funding problems will continueto be a reality for many couples with access to treat -ment depending entirely on where they live.

Said Clare Lewis-Jones, who chairs NIAC: “Byupdating the fertility guideline and extending the rangeof people it is recommending receive treatment, NICEclearly understands the impact which infertility has onpeople. And we must be clear that infertility is amedical condition that causes significant distress forthose trying to have a baby and has a devastatingimpact on people’s lives.

We know infertility can be treated effectively andthousands of people have become parents after fertilitytreatment. The current ‘postcode lottery’ approach tothe treatment of infertility here has gone on for far toolong and it is vital that the Government supports themeasures in the updated guideline and communicatesthe need to implement them to those who commissionfertility services in the NHS.”

Read more at: http://www.nice.org.uk/nicemedia/live/14078/62769/62769.pdfhttp://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-21505578

Updated NICE guidance expands entitlements to IVF – February 2013 National Institute for

Health and Clinical Excellence

NHS

4

spri

ng

20

13

I

N U

K

Most people seem to associate acupuncture with thetreatment of backaches and headaches, but a growingnumber are realising that it can help in the treatmentof infertility. Acupuncture is practised in one form oranother by over 20,000 professionals in the UK, rang -ing from full-time traditional acupuncturists usingmeth ods based on ancient Chinese medicine, doctorsand physiotherapists who use it alongside conventionalmedical treatment, and a large number of people work -ing in detox settings. It is a very safe treatment (twostudies published in the British Medical Journal in 2000reported only fourteen minor adverse events in over60,000 treatments) and is governed by strict rulesenforced by local authorities for safe and hygienicpractice.

Although the philosophical basis of their work isentirely different, both traditional and medical acu -punct urists have been particularly interested in work ingwith women undertaking IVF treatment. The formulatreatments commonly used at the time of implantation,known as the “Paulus Protocol” after the researcherwho led the team which first delivered proof of efficacy,are used by both. IVF and ICSI both offer a safe andeffective way to test whether acupuncture can help.The results of Paulus’ study, a 42% success rate withacupuncture treatment compared to 26% withconventional treatment alone, have been replicated byseveral more recent studies (a list of which, includingPaulus’ study, can be found on the British AcupunctureCouncil’s (BAcC) website at: http://www.acupuncture.org.uk/research-fact-sheets/1599-acupuncture-and-infertility-art.html)

While there have been many studies of acupuncturetreatment focussed on IVF and ICSI, for traditionalacupuncturists the scope of their work is usually a greatdeal wider. People may have become a little dis missivein modern times of the rhetoric of ‘treating the wholeperson’ but this was, and remains, the essence oftraditional Chinese medicine. Ten people may have thesame named condition, but find they are treated in tendifferent ways, each being given a unique diag nosis ofhow their system is out of balance. The over archingtreatment principle, to balance the energies of thebody, underpins the simple central belief that if every -thing is balanced, then the whole system will funct ionas it should. After all, 95% of couples trying for a babymanage within the first two years. Unless there arespecific medical reasons why conception is difficult orunlikely, the traditional perspective simply assumesthat this should be the natural outcome of being inbalance.

Like all systems of medicine which have evolved overhundreds, and in the case of Chinese medicine, thous -ands of years, there are many distinct variations. Inmodern China a specific variation known, somewhatconfusingly, as Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) pre -dominates, and offers a much more precise set ofdescriptions of particular reasons why conception maybe difficult. The terms of the diagnosis may sound

highly unusual to the western ear – Blood Deficiency,Blood Stagnation, Cold in the Uterus – but the proto colsand prescriptions which are integral to addressing theseproblems with needles are also used as a basis fortreating patients with Chinese herbal medicine, andrecent evidence suggests that these specific inter vent -ions too may offer some tangible benefits.

Of course, many women readers will be saying ‘whatabout the men?’, and rightly so. As many as 20% ofcases of infertility may be related to the poor quality ofthe sperm. Research in this area is a little thinner onthe ground, but pilot studies (such as that reported inAndrologia 2000 Jan;32 (1): 31-39 Does acu punct uretreatment affect sperm density in males with very lowsperm count? A pilot study. Siterman S, Eltes F, WolfsonV, Lederman H, Bartoov B.) are starting to suggest thatacupuncture may have its place on this side of theequation too.

How does acupuncture work? If you ask doctors theywill talk about neurophysiology and dermatomes. If youask traditional acupuncturists, they will talk about qi,yin and yang. What both will readily agree, however, isthat the signs and symptoms which they evaluate andon which they offer a diagnosis are the same for bothsystems, and are more and more being seen as abridge to greater understanding and mutual respect.And let’s face it, the outcomes of successful (in)fertilitytreatment are not open to interpretation and doubt.

The one question which people always ask is: ‘howdo I find a safe and trustworthy practitioner?’ The BAcCis the largest of the professional associations for trad -itional acupuncture, and all of its members have trainedto a very high standard and governed by strict rules ofsafety and conduct. Many BAcC members have devel -op ed a particular interest in this area and focus theirpractices on working within the area of gyn aecology andobstetrics. There are also a number of other prof ess ion -al associations whose members meet similar standards.

And does it hurt? Hardly at all! Most patients aresurprised at how gentle the treatment is, how fine theneedles are, and how relaxing sessions tend to be. Yousometimes have to bite your tongue, though, whensomeone who wants to give birth asks whether a fewneedles will hurt!John WheelerCompany Secretary and Member of the BritishAcupuncture Council

Acupuncture and Infertility

spri

ng

20

13

I

N U

K

5

Infertility and IVF are topics that men don’t talk about.Only men who know other men who have beenthrough, or are going through the process may, onoccasion, touch upon the subject. In general, outsideof that you are pretty much going to be on your own.IVF is a big thing and you have to be mentally ready totake it on. My wife and I tried for a long time to avoidsome of the more aggressive and invasive infertilitytreatments. We went through a long process where thecause changed from me to my wife and eventually weupped sticks and ran away to France to live, dumpingour lifestyle and so that we could clear our minds for awhile. All in all we avoided IVF for eight years andinstead tried almost every other option open to us. Inthe end our options were somewhat brutally narroweddown to IVF.

We were both 35 at the time of embarking on theprogram. I remember clearly sitting in the consultant’sroom listening to my wife being told that there was notime to wait as she was getting too old. Not pleasant.I am not sure that as a man I can even really start tounderstand what the emotional implication of receivingthat message is!

Whilst the medical process itself is best describedas remarkably clinical and emotionally detached, it is,of course, anything but that for the couple goingthrough it. Unless you have been through or are goingthrough that process it is very hard to convey the truepicture.

For me there were several areas thatwere emot ion ally very tough; watchingthe one you most desp erat ely anddeeply love becoming con sumed withthe fact that she is unable to naturallyconceive; watch ing her be draggedthrough the emotional hedge back -wards by doctors and clinicians who aredoing a job; watching her being putthrough a physical barrage of invasivetests, injections and hormonal drugregimes; watching her hopes build asthe eggs are collected and fertilised andthe resultant embryos trans ferred; andall that before there is the hope of thepregnancy test and the very realisticchance of that being negative.

In IVF the woman takes all the pain,etc. so it is a breeze for the man… Yes?Well, no, it is tough… I hear a chorus of‘yeah right’ coming from somewhere.Why is it tough for a man? Because as a man you cando absolutely naff all about it. Outside of taking a tripto the ‘naughty room’ in order to ‘knock one out’ intoa ridiculously tiny pot to the tune of what can only bedescribed as clinically approved pornography, there isnothing you can do. Not a jot. Men are fundamentallybystanders. I’m genuinely not looking for sympathytowards the male role here; I am just calling it as it is.

Personally, I found it incredibly hard to come toterms with the fact that whilst I was technically not atfault, we are a couple and I was completely unable togive my wife the one thing to make her feel completeas a woman; a child and that leads to feelings of totaluselessness, guilt, incredible frustration and a self-targeted anger.

So, what can you as the partner, or husband, do?Well, all the way through the process it is the same.Not much. All you can do is to be there to provideemotional and practical support, but where do youeven start with the emotional support? What can yousay that will make it any better or easier? It is difficultnot to sound patronising, but it is such an emotionallycharged time that, in reality, anything practical you cando to help your wife or partner will actually help. Youcan help get rid of some of the daily grind. You can helparound the house; you can do the running around, youcan give them time to rest and, I dare say, time to cry,but ultimately it still feels like the level of realdifference that you are making is pretty damnedinsignificant.

All the weight and responsibility falls upon thewoman and that in itself is incredibly hard to bear. Menin general aren’t good at showing emotions and in thiscase it is about the only useful male strength. You can’tget stressed and you can’t burden your emotions on toyour wife or partner (she definitely doesn’t need thatin addition to her load). You can’t talk to your male

friends either; they will most likely notwant to hear it. The male role in thisprocess is to support, help and just geton with it. And don’t ever moan aboutit, you’ll lose that one for sure andquite right too! So until men startgetting past the taboo and talkingabout their experiences openly andfrankly, it won’t change… there aremen willing to be used as soundingboards, you just have to find them.

Is IVF as bad as I have made itsound? Well, yes and no, the lows areof a level I had never exper iencedbefore, however the highs are themost incredible, emotional and deeplyjoyous highs I could have ever wishedto experience. So when IVF works, theworld becomes the most wonderfulplace and the process in its entiretybecomes utterly irrelevant. These

days, I really have to think hard to recall the badpoints.

… And if my wife asked to go through it all againtomorrow? Knowing all the pitfalls, risks and emotionalstrings, would I? Absolutely 100% YES, I would – I loveher.

Peter Vasey

Men and IVF

So, what can you asthe partner, or

husband, do? Well,all the way throughthe process it is thesame. Not much.

All you can do is tobe there to provide

emotional andpractical support, but where do you

even start with theemotional support?

6

Sharon DavidsonRegional Organiser forNorthern Ireland, Counties Antrim,Armagh, Down, Fermanagh,Londonderry and Tyrone

Hi EveryoneCan I please appeal to all Northern Ireland readersto check out our new updated website at: www.infertilitynetworkuk.com – under “Connect” thereare numerous general forums and a specific forumfor Northern Ireland where we will post informationabout local events and group meetings, etc.

Three patient support groups met over the wintermonths and the group topics included a talk on “CopingMethods” and previous support group membersrelaying their success stories. We were successful inobtaining an £800 grant from the Black Santa sit outappeal during January 2013 and we plan to use thisfund to bring in speakers to the support groups duringthe spring and summer. Please watch the website formore information about this or add your email addressto our contact listing via an email to Fiona or me.

You may have seen on the news during later Feb -ruary that the National Institute of Health and Clinical

Excellence (NICE) has updated its guidelines on fert -ility. In the previous 2004 fertility guideline, NICE saidthat IVF treatment should not be recommended forwomen older than 39. Under the updated recomm end -ations, NICE says that under certain criteria, womenaged between 40 and 42 years should be offered onefull cycle of IVF. The definition of a full cycle of IVF hasbeen updated to prevent any ambiguity in inter pret -ation or variation in treatment. As these are guidelinesonly, they need to be agreed and endorsed by theNorthern Ireland Department of Health, Social Servicesand Public Safety. I have received a letter from theCommittee for Health, Social Services and Public Safety,inviting I N UK to an informal evidence session oninfertility and we await a date. The Health Minister hascontinually said that “although we aspire to pro vide upto three cycles of treatment, financial constraints atthis time make this unachievable.” I would urge you allto write to your local MLA asking for these guidelines tobe fully endorsed and introduced in a timely manner. Ifyou need help writing a letter to an MLA please go tothe Northern Ireland section of our website.

As well as attending the support group meetings,can I please encourage you to keep in touch with usvia telephone, email, text, the Northern Irelandwebsite forum or Facebook.Best wishesSharon

Regional Updates Please note that our Regional Organisers work part time, so please leavethem a message and they will get back to you

Gwenda BurnsScottish Branch Co-ordinator

HelloThe National Infertility Group was established threeyears ago by the Scottish government to address theinequities across Scotland and readdress the currentguidelines. Myself, Sheena and Susan representedpatients on the group which has now concluded andsubmitted its final report to Ministers. I will continuewith the important work of the health board project infacilitating the sharing of good practice to bring aboutfull implementation of government recommendationsfor the treatment of those with fertility problems.

The support groups continue to meet each monthand details of the groups can be found further in themagazine. Sarah Murphy, our Development Workerwill hope fully be starting a new group in Fife, if youare interested in attending a group in that area pleasecontact Sarah – you can find her contact details onpage 19. As always if you would like to attend any ofour support groups or if you require further inform -ation please get in touch.

Myself and Sheena met and are working closely withstaff from Glasgow Royal Infirmary and repres ent at -ives from the health board to help alleviate patientconcerns surrounding the situation which occurred atthe hospital. It is welcoming news that there is a £1million refurbishment of the ACU, including the fertilitylaboratories underway. If patients are concerned I would urge them to get in touch.

I N UK celebrates its 10th anniversary this year andhas launched the campaign “Talking about Trying”,which we will be promoting in Scotland. If this is some -thing you would like to be involved in or would like toknow more about, again please get in touch.

Don’t forget to keep up to date with all that ishappening through the Infertility Network Scotlandsection of the new website, facebook, twitter or ourhealth unlocked site that allows you to blog.

Lastly, if there are any issues you want to raise, ifyou have any questions or if you would just like a chat.I am always delighted to hear from you and help in anyway I can.

Best wishesGwenda

Please contact

Gwenda on:

Tel: 01294 279162

Mobile: 07825 827865

Email: gwendaburns@

infertilitynetworkscotland

.com

Please contact

Fiona on:

Tel: 02890 641664

Mobile: 07976 503428

Email: fionaodonnell

@infertilitynetworkuk

.com

Please contact

Sharon on:

Tel: 02890 825677

Mobile: 07837 987562

Email:

sharondavidson@

infertilitynetworkuk.com

spri

ng

20

13

I

N U

K

7

spri

ng

20

13

I

N U

K

The emotional response to infertility is complicated andat times is so strong it can seem overwhelming. It isimportant to tell yourself that these feelings arenormal. A medical diagnosis of infertility is, for mostpeople a life crisis, which threatens your hopes anddreams of achieving a family. Initially, the immediateresponse may be one of surprise or disbelief, anddiscovering that you have fertility problems can bedevastating, and challenge all your hopes and dreamsof having a family.

The new Infertility Network UK website, offers aunique service which provides support and advice fromme, Diane. Having many years of nursing experienceand being with the charity for nearly eighteen years, acall to me in complete confidence could be the supportor answer you are looking for. I believe that this servicequite simply, can be a lifeline for many people facinginfertility, or going through the rollercoaster of IVFtreatment. Once registered, you will be able to postquestions to me on the “Ask our Nurse” forum, with myreply sent for others to see, or directly through theconfidential messaging system, if preferred.

You can also contact me direct on the supportlinewhich is open to all on Mondays, Wednesdays andFridays from 10am until 4pm. For any overseas callers,I can be reached via a pre-booked Skype call, pleaseemail me to arrange a mutually convenient day andtime. These services offer support to those exper ienc -ing isolation, loneliness, depression, loss of control andall the other feelings common to most of those goingthrough infertility tests or treatment cycles. Together,we can discuss these in simple terms and of course anydisappointments or associated worries you may have.

I look forward to hearing from you and being ofsome help to you along your journey.

Best wishesDiane

Introducing…Kara Myhill2013 Campaign Manager

Hi everyoneI have just joined Infertility Network UK as CampaignManager and would like to introduce myself to you all.

I was quite excited to be asked to join the team atInfertility Network UK. It’s a charity I support whole-heartedly as infertility is something that has affectedme personally. I was trying for five years to have myfirst child, and was beginning to lose hope in honesty.I tried various methods and finally after my fourthround of IUI treatment – I was pregnant. I still thinkof her as my miracle baby, even now.

My background is quite varied, in my life beforechildren I was events producer for British Airways forten years. We staged events such as product launches,road-shows, financial results, AGM’s and conferences.This involved booking venues, audio visual equip -ment, staging, speakers and speaker training, log ist -ics and looking after our guests and delegates. It wasa fascinating job and I enjoyed every minute!

When I had my family, like many others, I wantedto find work that would fit around my new life, butstill be interesting and fulfilling. I did some freelanceevent producer work, and also helped organise lots of

local fundraising events – actually I was lucky enoughto organise the village celebrations for the RoyalWedding. Our village is Bucklebury, which is home toKate Middleton and we wanted to do something reallyspecial to commemorate the occasion. We had a hugeparty, with over 2000 people – plus TV companiesfrom almost every country around the globe. Itturned out to be the largest celebration in the country– after the wedding itself of course!

In the past few years I have started ‘virtual work -ing’. This basically means I work from home. I haveworked for a number of different companies, includinganother charity, helping with marketing, public relat -ions, social media, fundraising and administration. Ireally enjoy the work, every new job brings newchallenges and I get to meet some interesting peoplealong the way. Even better, I’m still learning new skillsall the time, and at the age of 43 that can’t be bad.

I am really looking forward to this new challenge atInfertility Network UK and helping them get thefinancial support and public recognition that they bothneed and deserve.

So if anyone has any great fundraising ideas pleaselet me know, you can email me at: karamyhill@infertilitynetworkuk.comI look forward to hearing from you.

Best wishesKara

The Professional Supportline – OurUnique and Confidential Free Service

Diane Arnold

Email: dianearnold@

infertilitynetworkuk.

com

Kara Myhill

Email: karamyhill@

infertilitynetworkuk.

com

0121 323 5025SUPPORTLINE

spri

ng

20

13

I

N U

K

8

I realised that I was infertile as soon as my sexual lifebegan. I was having unprotected sex and not gettingpregnant. This sounds like madness I know, but I wasyoung, careless, care free and in love. Somewhere inmy subconscious I knew that there was an issue, timewent by and this continued and so I knew very early onthat I could not become pregnant naturally.

At some point in my teens my periods changed fromwhat one would consider normal; becoming very heavyand painful. As the years went by they got prog ress -ively worse and I would have to cope with horrendouspain to the point of fainting and copious amounts ofblood. I also had heavy blood clots,diarrhoea, sick ness, terrible backache and severe abdominal cramps.Not to mention extremely stronghormones. I would take pain killersand anti-inflammatory drugs for fiveto seven days of the month alsosuffering with sleepless nights andrestless legs when they were at theirworst. Over the years I tried every -thing from hot baths and alternativemedicines to acupuncture. Still thesympt oms were fierce and over -whelm ing, leaving me fighting againstthem in order to live a normal life. Mypersonal relationships suffered becauseit was difficult for partners to under stand the change inme. I was different because of the pain and differentbecause of the hormones. I went to the doctors manytimes over the years to seek help. Despite repeatedlyvisiting my GP about these issues, I was never offeredany tests or investigations.

I dedicated myself to my study putting the idea ofhaving children to one side to focus on my education.I did not want my life to be governed by the idea ofbecoming a mother, especially if this eventually turnedout to be impossible and so it was important for me tohave another identity. Even when I was tiny I felt thedrive to paint and make and I would nag my mum formaterials finding that creativity came naturally to me.I studied art at school and then at college before goingon to study design at university. Knowing that I mightnot have the ability to have a family ultimately mademe extremely determined to carve out a life for myselfbeyond that.

In my mid-twenties I reached a turning point in mylife as a previous long term partner formed a life withsomeone else. Events had occurred in his life that tookhim quickly to fatherhood. When you fall in love and

you think about the future it is natural that you shouldeventually begin to think about procreation and home -making, some people suddenly becoming pregnantwithin the midst of this and despite contraception,others making a conscious choice to have children.Either way there is an inevitable shift in the dynamicsof the relationship, but I could not give any promise ofprocreation to any of my partners either physically, ormentally, consciously or subconsciously. Becoming amother is a ‘right of passage’ for all women and thepain at seeing my ex-partner settle and have childrenwith someone else was initially excruc iating, but it did

change my mind set. Where for manyyears I had been floating along I nowwanted answers, I wanted to knowwhat was wrong with me and how Icould remedy it.

Call it luck or fate, but at that verypoint my now husband walked in tomy life. He encouraged me to get mygynaecological issues checked out andI did, but the GP told us that we wouldneed to be ‘actively trying’ for a babybefore they would investigate, this isdespite the fact that we were alreadyhaving unprotected sex. Several yearswent by and because we could notforesee the length of time that it

might take to get a possible answer, we began the socalled ‘trying’ period. After inevitably not conceiving,the GP agreed to refer us for infertility investigation. Iunderwent all the associated initial tests and mypartner was also tested for various male related issues.Once those initial tests had thrown up no obviousissues we were referred to a specialist fertilityconsultant at our local hospital who diagnosed me/uswith ‘undiagnosed infertility’. He recommended startinga course of treatment which involved taking drugs tostimulate ovulation and we were advised to havesexual intercourse around the right time just followingovulation. When this did not work we went on to havefive or six courses of intrauterine insem ination (IUI)which were all unsuccessful. During this time I wasscanned many times, but no untoward issues wereflagged up. We were eventually referred for a course ofIVF treatment at another local hospital.

The hospital that we were sent to was a private onealso taking a percentage of NHS referrals. On my firstappointment the consultant routinely scanned me viainternal ultrasound and noticed something untoward.He said that he thought he could see what looked like

Art of Infertility

Call it luck or fate,but at that very point

my now husbandwalked in to my life.He encouraged me

to get mygynaecological issues

checked out and I did…

spri

ng

20

13

I

N U

K

9

a blocked fallopian tube (Hydro salph -inx); he also said that one of my ovariesappeared smaller and more shriv elledthan the other. He discussed the optionswith us, offering us expensive privatelaparoscopy (internal investigation viasmall abdominal incisions) or the optionof going back to the previous NHShospital for the same test. We couldn’tafford the several thousand pounds forthe private laparoscopy and so opted togo back to our initial consultant. When Ileft the hospital that day I broke down,the realisation that I might be near to aproper diagnosis was immense. Whenwe returned to the initial consultant hedid not appear to be impressed with hisjudgement being questioned by the newdoctor but he scanned me againanyway. Despite doing this he said thathe could see absolutely no problem viathe scan and he re-referred us to theprivate hospital.

When we got back to the privatehospital we questioned the consultantagain, asking him to repeat the scan,aware by this point that the chances ofthe IVF being successful would begreatly reduced by the presence of aHydrosalphinx. He reluctantly lookedagain, but during the scan said that hehad changed his mind and that he couldno longer see any issue. He made apersonal disclaimer by telling us that if we did later findthat there was a Hydrosalphinx that it could develop atany time and that I should bear that in mind. Herecommended that we start IVF treatment. We wentforward with this and it was another major stage in ourjourney. The pressures of infertility treatment at thislevel have a huge impact on everyone involved. For methough despite all of the associated difficulties, I feltelated and hopeful that I was a stage closer to havinga child of my own. I was sent the treatment plan anddrugs in the post and was injecting myself twice daily.It was quickly evident though that my ovaries were notresponding well to the drugs. The process highlighteda few issues for us, namely that I had poor ovarianreserve (not many eggs left) and response (whichmeant that when they gave me the drugs to produceextra follicles and subsequent eggs, my ovaries did notrespond well). At the end of the treatment cycle therewere maybe six or seven mature follicles and theyexplained that they would not be able to tell whetherthose contained eggs until they went in to collect them.They tried to cancel the cycle and I begged them to goon. If there had been no eggs I still would have beengrateful that they had agreed to at least try to find

some. When you are this far down the line in a process,to have it cancelled is heart breaking and I think thatif there is the potential of even one egg, that the choiceto carry out the collection should ultimately be that ofthe person undergoing the treatment. When they wentin they collected four of five eggs of medium qualityand of those only two survived following fertilisation.These two remaining fertilised embryos were replacedin the womb and two weeks down the line I carried outa pregnancy test. I can recall being desperate for thetest to be positive and taking it earlier than I wassupposed to, and then retaking it a few days later.Neither of the tests showed as positive, the cycle hadfailed and I was devastated.

Throughout the entire process I worked. After fin -ish ing university I trained to be a teacher. The teachingenabled me to be somewhere else in my head and thiswas exactly what I needed whilst I passed through theinitial phases of the very difficult journey that isinfertility. I quickly became a subject leader and so wasin both a teaching and managerial role during most ofmy treatment; my hours were long and at times thejob could be stressful. The harder that I tried to staystrong now, the more my feelings crept up on me.

Title – In Time (work in progress) The painting shows a woman trapped in the top half of an hour glass, her feet andhands pressed against the glass. The work represents the ‘body clock’ of all women,the race against time to conceive, a personal ‘time is running out’ feeling related tothe artists own infertility race due to a low ovarian reserve and possible earlymenopause. It is also representative of time constantly moving forward, of constantrenewal and positive change.

10

spri

ng

20

13

I

N U

K

Every time that a treatment cycle failed I was facedwith one of my awful periods which made the wholething worse. Not only was I not pregnant, but theheavy flow of blood and terrible pain was just areminder that I was unable to do the one thing that allother women could do. I felt broken and empty, totallyuseless and afraid that people would always feel sorryfor me because I would be the woman that couldn’thave children. I began to think about the fact that Imay never get the chance to hold my own child in myarms, to know the feeling of pregnancy and to beconnected both mentally and physic -ally to a child of my own. I becameafraid that my husband might even -tually leave me to have children withsomeone else.

We decided to take several monthsout to recoup and rethink. I wasextremely lucky because my hus bandwas supportive and caring. There weresome difficult times, but he dealt withthem all and the truth is that nomatter what I thought, he did notwant to leave me. I gathered myselfand went to several recommendedcounselling sessions. Mainly I justcried and babbled on about unrelated stuff, but it wasa way to release emotion to someone not closelyinvolved in the process. After our first failed cycle ofIVF I felt even more restless about my health. I wasworried about the low ovarian reserve as this made mefeel as though we were working against the clock.What if my eggs ran out completely? I did not want toreturn to the same two previous consultants because ofthe dis crep ancy over the possible presence of a Hydro -salphinx, I wanted a new third opinion. Some thing inme changed, I was no longer a young girl, I wantedanswers and I found myself suddenly taking control ofmy own health. I went to my GP and explained that Iwanted a third opinion. She sent me to anotherhospital in the area and when the appointment letterarrived and I showed my family we noticed that theconsultant had worked with my sister when she waspregnant; she told me that he was really lovely and shewas right. I felt that I was given the space to explainmy past issues in a way that I had not felt able to dowith any of the other consultants that I had seen. Helistened to everything and when I had finishedexplaining myself he straight away suggested (withouthesitation) a laparoscopy so that the abdominal cavityand pelvic region could be checked for any abnorm -alities. He also suggested a Hysteroscopy, an internalcheck of the womb and a Dilation and Curettage whichmeant that the lining of the womb would be eithersucked or scraped out to check for problems and toremove old tissue.

Several weeks later I received a date for these

procedures to happen. I went in to hospital, was putout under general anesthetic and the operations wereperformed. When I awoke I recall asking the nurse whowas sitting by my side whether the doctor had foundany issue. She said to me that there were things to talkabout and that he would come and explain. Up inrecovery and several hours later the doctor came tosee me with my medical file and several pages of notesand photographs. He explained to me that they hadfound one fallopian tube to be severely blocked;medically this is called a Hydrosalphinx. He said that

via the laparoscopy that they couldsee that all or most of the organs inmy pelvic region were adhered (stuck)together because of scar tissuecaused by infection. He said that thewomb had appeared to be normal andhealthy. The good news being thatthere was no signs of endometriosis orovarian cysts. He explained that atsome point in my life that I wouldhave had pelvic inflammatory diseasecaused by a bacterial infection andthat the untreated infection wouldhave taken hold in the pelvic regioncausing all of the aforementioned

damage. He told me that I would need to return for asecond laparoscopy so that the Hydrosalphinx and scartissues could be removed.

I cannot explain how it felt to finally have a properdiagnosis. There was at last something tangible thatcould be treated. Several months down the line I wasback in for the second laparoscopy. Before I went in tosurgery the doctor told me that there was a possibilitythat they would need to remove at least one of myfallopian tubes. The surgery went well and once again,when back up in recovery my consultant came to seeme. He told me that they had had to remove adhesionsbetween the organs and that both my fallopian tubeshad had to be removed. This meant that I would neverconceive naturally.

Although it was painful to accept that I would neverfall pregnant naturally I knew that the removal of mydamaged and infected fallopian tubes (BilateralSalpingectomy) meant that we would have a muchhigher chance of becoming pregnant via any sub seq -uent IVF cycles. The presence of Hydrosalphinx(fallopian tube filled with serous or clear fluid) reducesthe chances of IVF working because tubal fluid thatenters the endometrial cavity can affect the embryo ina detrimental way. As I recovered from my operation Ibegan to think about my next steps. I wanted anothercourse of treatment now that my chances werecompletely different. I took stock and considered all myprevious visits to the GP, all the months of treatmentand testing, the several years trying for a baby, monthsof drug taking, hundreds of scans, multiple app oint -

In order to introducemy art to the worldand particularly mymajor body of mywork aptly entitled

‘Being Female, BeingInfertile’, I had firstto tell you about my

infertility.

spri

ng

20

13

I

N U

K

11

ments, repeated assisted attempts toconceive, IUIs and our first round of IVF,both of my operations plus all the yearsof dreadful periods, pain and hormonalreaction that I had had to put up with.My entire pelvic region and reproductivesystem had been irrevocably damaged,my entire life changed in a multitude ofways because gynaecological invest ig at -ion and laparoscopy had not beensuggested as the right course of actionat a much earlier stage. I had beenthrough rounds and rounds of unnec -essary infertility treatment that wouldnever have worked because of mis -diagnosis; the NHS system had failedme at every stage apart from the lastand that was partly due to my owndetermination and having the strengthto push for a third opinion. Because ofthe funding available, the UK policiesand my local PCT, we were supposedlynot eligible for another round of fundedIVF. We had had all of the treatmentoptions available on the NHS already;they were only offering one fundedround of IVF to childless couples in myarea at the time. Having fought for mydiagnosis and recovered from myoperation the final hurdle was now goingto be the cost of the treatment andwhere to have it. We did not have themoney to pay for IVF and no financialhelp to rely on from any sources. I wentto see my GP and wrote a very longletter to my PCT explaining the situationand my past, out lining the reasons why I felt that wedeserved a second course of funded IVF. After a shorttime my local PCT made the decision to allow us that,and my husband and I were over the moon to have ourfirst realistic and proper chance of conception.

In 2009 we underwent a second round of funded IVFwhich became intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection(ICSI). I decided that if the course didn’t work that Iwanted to be able to look back and know that I hadtried everything before moving on to other options. Upuntil this point I had worked throughout all of my tests,treatments, operations and assisted conception cycles,but now I wanted to give everything my best shot. Inegotiated unpaid leave from work, partly because thedrugs that I was about to take alongside the new cyclewere to be increased to a higher level, and partlybecause the mental stress of work coupled with thestress of treatment had become too much. In my letterto the PCT I also asked to go to a new hospital for myIVF treatment as I no longer trusted the consultantswho had mis diag nosed me. The gynecological con -

sultant who had carried out the Bilateral Salpingectomywas not involved in IVF so I could not stay with him.After some negotiation and pushing on my behalf itwas agreed that I could transfer to a new hospital, andonce again I was overwhelmed with a sense that thingswere finally moving in the right direction.

During the second cycle my ovaries failed to functionwell again and the drugs were increased to counterthis, I produced four or five eggs that were collectedand then fertilised via ICSI using my husband’s sperm.Eventually of the embryos that were created, only twosurvived, but the quality of them was high. Both werereplaced in the womb. Several weeks went by, thesame wait that I had experienced many times, tick,tock. I waited patiently. I woke up on the day that Iwas due to test at 5am in the morning. I wanted to dothis by myself. I peed on the stick, waited and prayedto any higher force that might be listening. Wordscannot describe how I felt when I found that the testwas positive. I gave myself time to process the newsand to delight in my own relief and joy before waking

Title - The KerbThe Kerb represents the point at which a human being (and in this case a woman)reaches their lowest ebb, and yet, the colour palette seeks to convey that at thispoint there is always light. The beauty can always be seen in life and others canalways see the beauty in us; and in fact there is something especially beautifulabout a person when they are at their most exposed. In this painting the woman islying on the ‘The Kerb’ with her hair in the mud and in dirt of the road, behind heris the city with its constant renewal of life. The woman is statuesque and gold torepresent the strength in women to carry on. The colours of the painting are lightand uplifting to convey, hope, and change and the evolving psyche.

12

spri

ng

20

13

I

N U

K

my husband to break the news. In March 2010 I gavebirth to a healthy baby girl and she was worth everydrop of blood, sweat and tears. Since my operation toremove the adhesions, my periods have been muchless painful as the organs no longer pull on each otherduring menstruation, my blood flow has also decreasedthanks to the multiple treatments and my husband tellsme that the hormones are better.

In order to introduce my art to the world andparticularly my major body of my work aptly entitled‘Being Female, Being Infertile’, I had first to tell youabout my infertility. I have a great passion for art, butmy battle with infertility stole parts of my life that willnow never exist. There were times when I felt blockedand unable to produce work. On the flip side of thingswhen I could push myself to do it I was able to use itas a therapeutic tool. Through my art I am able toexpress myself in a way that is not as raw as talking orwriting. Now that my journey is at a new and ultimatelypositive phase I can look back and talk openly abouteverything without the deep level of emotion thatstopped me from communicating during the treatmentprocess. Once my daughter was born it was as if a keyhad turned once again unlocking my full creativepotential. It was as if for ten years of my life I wasunderwater struggling for air. I had my daughter in2010 and initially I just wanted to dedicate myself toher. Because of everything that I had been through Ijust wanted to be with her as much as I could so thatI could savour every moment, conscious that she maybe the only biological child that I am able to have. I didnot go back to work and because I suddenly had space

in my head to think about my art again I began to feelthe drive that I had felt when I was in my teens. Slowlyas I enjoyed being with my daughter, I also enjoyedtelling my story through my work. It was inevitablereally that my journey with infertility would eventuallyseep in to every corner of my life, including my art.Once the body of work had begun to increase I decidedto set up as self-employed and to focus entirely on mylife as a mother and artist.

Through my work I would like to help other womento listen to the sounds of their body and to trust in theirown feelings of discontent. I would like doctors tobecome ever more knowledgeable and open aboutwomen’s health issues. I would also like to help toeducate and empower young women to consider theconsequences of misusing tampons, having unprot -ected sex at a young age and not recognising thesymptoms of abnormal periods. If our bodies and ourhormones are in balance there is no reason whymenstruation should be difficult or embarrassing tocope with. I will be forever grateful that I was able tohave funded treatment in this country, when it isunfairly denied to so many depending on their post -code.

Since my infertility journey has entered a new andultimately positive phase, I now exhibit regularly as anartist and am also in the midst of writing a book aboutmy journey, which I one day hope to publish alongsideplates of the art work from my “Being Female, BeingInfertile” collection.

Charlotte Esposito

Linkline RotaPlease note that Linkliners are not medi -cally qualified or fully trained counsellorsI N UK operates a 24-hour answeringservice called Linkline – just phone therele vant number listed on the rotaopposite for help, support and especially alistening, under stand ing ear at any timein the strictest confidence. However, asthey are volunteers they cannot returncalls, as their calls are not repaid by I N UK, so please do not expect them todo so. N.B. This rota is correct, at the timeof going to press, but may change due tocir cum stances beyond our control. The I N UK out of hours answering machine(0800 008 7464) will also give out thecurrent Linkliner who is on duty.

29/04/2013 05/05/2013 Judith 01484 680522

06/05/2013 12/05/2013 Louise 01903 885653

13/05/2013 19/05/2013 Trish 07960 320576

20/05/2013 26/05/2013 Andrea 020 8950 2747

27/05/2013 02/06/2013 Nicola 07968 967376

03/06/2013 09/06/2013 Laura 07802 649225

10/06/2013 16/06/2013 Laura 07802 649225

17/06/2013 23/06/2013 Claire 01296 620309

24/06/2013 30/06/2013 Millie 07949 716043

01/07/2013 07/07/2013 Gillian 01249 821638

08/07/2013 14/07/2013 Heather 01484 350207

15/07/2013 21/07/2013 Joanne 07989 447058

22/07/2013 28/07/2013 Judith 01484 680522

29/07/2013 04/08/2013 Louise 01903 885653

05/08/2013 11/08/2013 Trish 07960 320576

13

Volunteers’ Week is an annual event and this year will betaking place on 1st-7th June. Volunteers’ Week cele -brates the fantastic contribution millions of volun teersmake across the UK and plays a huge part in raising theprofile of these volunteers who regularly contribute tosociety, whilst inspiring others to volunteer too.

Like most charities, Infertility Network UK relies onvolunteers to provide some of the services we offer. Wevalue each and every volunteer’s contribution and thisyear during Volunteers’ Week, all of our volunteers willreceive a small gift as a token of our appreciation.

Myself, Diane and everyone else at I N UK would liketo thank all our volunteers for their continued supportand commitment to the charity. To find out more aboutVolunteers’ Week, please visit the ‘Volunteering England’website at: www.volunteering.org.uk

Volunteer Training 23rd February, ManchesterOn Saturday 23rd February, five Infertility Network UKvolunteers travelled to Manchester to attend a one daytraining workshop entitled ‘Basic Counselling Skills’.The venue was the Holiday Inn, Central Park, Manch -ester. The training was facilitated by professional trainerChristine Williams from EGL Training Consult ancy. All ofthe volunteers who attended are new I N UK volunteersand most had recently set up local support groups.

The training started at 11am with coffee andintroductions before the morning session which lookedat defining counselling, the key elements of the coun -selling relationship and an exercise on interactiveskills. Lunch was served in the hotel’s restaurantwhere vol unteers were able to socialise and shareexperiences.

The first session after lunch saw volunteers puttinginto practice what was covered in the morning sessionwith pair work, group work and communal feedback.As most were new support group volun teers, Christineincorporated a session entitled ‘Support Group’s – howthey succeed, why some fail?’ which looked at thedifferent elements of facilitating a succ essful group.

Volunteers shared their own exp eriences and tipsfor setting up a group and attracting more members.After a tea break there was a session on attitudes andpersonalities and a reflection of feelings task. Finally atutor led case study brought the training to a closewhere volunteers had to role play a real life scenario.

The training day was really successful and feedbackfrom attendees has been excellent. Each time a train -ing event is organised a summary of attendees’ rolesand previous experience is passed onto the trainingprovider who adapts and tailors the course to meetindividual needs. This time a session on support groupswas incorporated into the training as well as the finalcase study being from a support group scenario. Thisinclusive training approach is not only very beneficial,but most importantly transferable to a volunteer’s role.

Testimonial from the day:-“The training was very good and I feel like I learnta lot from the day. I am in the process of starting upa support group in York and thanks to the traininghave learnt many transferable skills. I also reallyenjoyed meeting other volunteers many of whomwere support group volunteers too and it was greatto get some tips and share ideas about facilitating asupport group.” Fiona, Support Group Volunteer

We have many different volunteer roles at InfertilityNetwork UK. The forums are gaining momentum,thanks to the launch of the new website and now weare looking to increase the number of ‘Forum Friend’volunteers we have. Forum Friends regularly post onthe forums and comment on others posts and get intouch if they spot something inappropriate on theforums. We need your help to ensure our forums are asafe place for users. If you would like more informationon this or any of our volunteer roles I would love tohear from you! Hannah

Volunteers’ Week

spri

ng

20

13

I

N U

K

Volunteer

Co-ordinator

Hannah Tramaseur

Direct line:

01424 732405

Email:

hannahtramaseur@

infertilitynetworkuk.

com

14

spri

ng

20

13

I

N U

K

The Department of Health has announced that theHuman Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA)will be retained as an independent regulator. Theannouncement follows a consultation that took placelast year and means that the HFEA will continue toregulate assisted reproduction and research on humanembryos in the UK.

The HFEA was set up in August 1991 as part of theHuman Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990. Theprincipal tasks of the HFEA are to license and monitorclinics that carry out in vitro fertilisation (IVF), artificialinsemination (AI) and human embryo research. TheHFEA also regulates the storage of eggs, sperm andembryos.

Our role is to protect patients and the publicinterest, to drive improvement in the treatment andresearch sectors, and to provide information to thepublic and policymakers about treatment and research.

Alongside the announcement, the Department ofHealth has commissioned an independent review onways in which the HFEA and the Human Tissue Auth -ority (HTA) undertake their functions and operations, tosee whether they can be strengthened and carried outmore efficiently. The review will report to the Govern -ment by April 2013.

For further information on the HFEA and what we dovisit: www.hfea.gov.uk/25.html

Getting started: Get yourguide to fertility treatmentIf you are exploring fertilitytreatment, making sure youhave all the information youneed means you can be con -fident that you are making theright choices. Our informativefertility treatment guide, Getting

Started, aims to make your treatment journey easierby giving you a step-by-step introduction to:● the different types of treatment available ● what to think about and expect before beginning

treatment ● what to expect when you visit a clinic ● treatment funding options ● the potential risks of treatment

If you would like to receive a copy of Getting started:Your guide to fertility treatment direct to your door,please e-mail: enquiriesteam@hfea.gov.uk with yourfull name and postal address. To download an onlineversion visit: www.hfea.gov.uk/fertility-treatment-guide.html

Latest figures show thenumber of IVF treatmentscontinue to riseNew figures released in a reportby the Human Fertilis at ion andEmbryology Authority show thatthe number of IVF treat mentcycles continues to rise, despitethe economic env ir on ment. Theyalso show that multi ple birth

rates are declining, whilst overall pregnancy and livebirth rates remain steady.

The report, ‘Fertility treatment in 2011: trends andfigures’, is the second of its kind to be published by theHFEA and brings together in an accessible way keystatistics on fertility trends in the UK.

The HFEA has a commitment to making the bestpossible use of the information we collect to help driveimprovement in the quality of IVF services. ProfessorLisa Jardine, Chair of the HFEA said: “Our register isthe world’s largest national data set for all licensedtreatments and outcomes from assisted reproduction.This puts us in an unrivalled position, with a resp on -sib ility to inform patients, clinicians and the generalpublic about the performance of the fertility sector. Thisreport demonstrates our commitment to being aproactive information provider, and our ability to beopen and transparent about the data.”

News from the HFEAHFEA retained as expert regulator

Getting startedYour guide to fertility treatment

Fertility treatment in 2011

trends and figures

Key figures show that:● The number of IVF cycles performed each year

has increased steadily since 1991 and in 2011approx imately 47,000 women received over60,000 IVF or ICSI treatments, 4.3% more than2010.

● Between 2009 and 2010 the overall live birth rateper cycle started has remained steady; 24.1% in2009 and 24.5% for 2010. This is in comparisonto just 14% in 1991.

● Two thirds of the women receiving fertility treat -ment in 2011 were aged 37 and under. The aver -age age of women undergoing IVF treatment was35 with six out of ten IVF cycles being fundedprivately.

● Between 2008 and 2011 significant changes havebeen made in clinical practice, including an efforttowards reducing multiple births by transferringone embryo even when more than one are avail -able; in 2008, just 4.8% of embryo transfers wereelective single embryo transfer compared with15.0% in 2010 and 16.8% in 2011. This hasresult ed in a continual decline in the multiplepregnancy rate.

15

spri

ng

20

13

I

N U

K

EnglandSince NIAC’s last update, an awful lot has changed.

The former bodies responsible for commissioningfertility services, Primary Care Trusts (PCTs), havebeen abolished and replaced by local, GP-led ClinicalCommissioning Groups (CCGs). CCGs are now resp on -sible for providing healthcare to their local populations.They are tasked with managing a finite budget thatmust stretch to cover a myriad of different services ofwhich infertility services are just one.

Prior to the April switchover, NIAC lobbied hard toraise awareness of the potential danger of servicemarginalisation. PCTs historically struggled to comm -iss ion infertility services on an equitable basis and wehave seen little evidence of late that would suggest asubstantial improvement under CCGs (save for imp -rove ments in three local areas).

We are therefore continuing to meet with MPs, Peersand officials in Westminster to raise awareness of thenew 2013 NICE guideline on fertility, which like itspredecessor (2004), recommends the provision ofthree full cycles of IVF to eligible couples. The previousLabour Government endorsed this recommendationand we are working hard to ensure that the currentGovernment acknowledges the new guideline in thesame way.

It is also essential that CCGs be given clear guidanceas to what is expected of them. The NHS Comm iss -ioning Board has provided CCGs with guidance on theissue of fertility treatment, but we would like to seefurther statements of support from senior policymakers in Government. Over the coming months, wewill be asking MPs and Peers to table questions on thisissue and several others related to provision of treat -ment.

We will also continue to work with key stakeholdersin the field and we will seek to establish further linkswith GPs, CCGs and trade associations. With the help ofthese organisations and individuals, we will assistcommissioners wherever we can to ensure that infert -ility services are fairly represented and understood bythose in charge of the purse strings.

We would like to ask everyone who is concernedabout fertility services in their area to write to theirlocal MP. With your help we can make sure fertilityservices do not lose out as a result of the current NHSreforms. Every letter adds up and makes a real diff -erence to our campaign. To download a template lettergo to: http://www.infertilitynetworkuk.com/niac_2,scroll down and download “Letter to MP to lobby for fullimplementation of NICE”. If you are unsure of who yourMP is go to: http://findyourmp.parliament.uk/

ScotlandCompared to England, IVF provision in Scotland is stillvery good. However we are concerned that the press -ure of financial constraints is having an impact upon

local funding decisions. For this reason we continue toliaise with Health Board senior staff and the Ministerfor Public Health.

Following the latest series of MSP meetings at thetail end of last year, NIAC will be seeking to hold a freshround of meetings later in the spring. We are alsocontinuing to seek a parliamentary reception at Holy -rood to raise awareness of infertility amongst membersof the Scottish Parliament.

Gwenda Burns, Susan Seenan and Sheena Young,all of I N UK, have worked hard for patients on theNational Infertility Group set up by the Scottish Gov -ern ment. The Group has now concluded its invest -igations and has submitted a report to the Minister forPublic Health, feedback on the report’s recomm end -ations is expected shortly. NIAC will be monitoring thisclosely to ensure that the Scottish Government actsupon the Group’s recommendations.

WalesIn Wales, significant progress has been made.

NIAC is looking to hold further talks with the WelshHealth Specialised Services Committee (WHSSC) con -cerning future partnership work relating to patientreported outcomes.

A number of questions have been asked in theAssembly following recent meetings with AMs. Webelieve that these have played a key role in the WelshGovernment’s recent decision to re-establish the AllWales Specialist Fertility Advisory Group - the bodyresponsible for overseeing developments relevant tofertility services in Wales.

We are also monitoring developments relating to theopening of the new Neath clinic which is anticipatedlater this year.

Northern IrelandIn Northern Ireland, NIAC recently held a meeting withcommissioners to discuss priorities for the comingmonths. A further meeting is being scheduled for laterin the spring, by which time NIAC is also hoping tomeet with senior officials.

Discussions with the SDLP’s, Connall McDevitt MLA,have proved fruitful. He has offered his support and weare liaising with him on the potential creation of a CrossParty Group of MLAs with an interest in infertility.

Contact UsIf you are experiencing problems accessing NHSfunding, have any questions relating to funding, orwould like to help NIAC with its campaign, pleaseemail NIAC at: niac@infertilitynetworkuk.com

National Infertility AwarenessCampaign (NIAC) Spring 2013 Update

16

spri

ng

20

13

I

N U

K

Sharon Davidson, our regional organiser for NorthernIreland, found herself on the sofa with TV doctor MarkPorter recently as a guest at the Merck Serono UK

company conference in February.The audience included Merck employ ees from many

different departments and the Q & A session with DrMark was aimed at giving them aninsight into infertility from a patient’sperspective so they could see first handhow the use of medicines can, quitesimply, change lives.

Conference organisers said thesession was a huge success and helpedindividual employees connect better withthe work they do every day. Sharon wasinterviewed onstage by Dr Mark, whotalked to her about her own experiencesof IVF. Sharon now has a son and adaughter.

Dr Mark is the medical corresp on -dent at The Times, doctor on The OneShow and presenter of Radio 4’s flagshipmedical series Inside Health.

On the sofa – with TV’s Dr Mark!

Castlereagh Mayor Presents I N UK’s

Fundraiser of the Year Award

The Mayor of Castlereagh, AldermanMichael Hend erson, recently presentedWilliam Steenson, with the InfertilityNetwork UK’s ‘Fundraiser of the yearAward 2012’ at a ceremony inMoneyreagh Community Centre.

William is a long standing member ofthe charity’s More To Life branch inNorthern Ireland and has raised amamm oth £10,000 in five years with hiscollecting tin outside shops, super mark -

ets and football stadiums. He has faced all

weathers – rain, snow, fog– and sometimes even thesun – to support More ToLife. William was unanim -ously voted the 2012 Fund -raiser of the Year by thecharity’s staffmem bers.

William Steenson raises £10,000 in five years!

17

Contact Karen to see how you could help or to share your experience of infertility

Please contact Karen

on:

Tel: 0115 846 1861

Mobile: 07825 663678

spri

ng

20

13

I

N U

K

18

This took place on Saturday 23rd February 2013, in thecentrally located Menzies Hotel, Glasgow. As you canimagine there was a lot of planning that went intoorganising the day and I have to say a huge thank youto I N Scotland’s two Development Workers, SarahMurphy and Norma Whiteford for their part in helpingme to pull the day together. On arrival each attendeereceived a delegate pack which provided them with theagenda, information and advice, along with an eval -uation form to complete at the end of the day.

There were a number of talks throughout the day byprofessionals and also a talk given by two volunteerswho had experienced the fertility rollercoaster, all whohad given up their own free time to attend the event.The exhibitors were kept busy at all the breaks andprovided a good variety of information for attendees.

I N Scotland/UK staff and volunteers had a variety ofduties to ensure the smooth running of the day, fromoverseeing everything, to meeting and greeting,manning the stand, becoming IT specialists, ensuringattendees were comfortable and that any questionswere answered and also speaking between sessions.There was a question and answer time following themorning and afternoon talks which was well receivedby everyone.

So many attendees throughout the day let staffknow how beneficial they were finding the day and thatthey felt there was a definite need for this in Scotlandand we do now hope to have an event annually. At theend of the day everyone handed in their evaluationform which will help to structure and give a direction tofuture events.

I would just like to say a huge thank you toeveryone who was part of the day and to Clare Lewis-Jones, Chief Executive, Susan Seenan, Deputy ChiefExecutive and to the Scottish Management Committeemembers who attended as volunteers on the day.Gwenda Burns

Infertility Network ScotlandInformation Day

Testimonials:“Thank you and well done on what I saw as avery successful day today.”

“It was very informative and well organised. I think the speakers were not only very good,well-rehearsed and easy to understand, butapproachable. In fact everyone was veryapproachable and helpful.”

“I would definitely recommend others to attend ameeting like this if it was to be repeated. It wasalso lovely to meet you and the others workingwithin the infertility network.”

“Thank you very much for putting together suchan informative day. Thought I couldn’t find outanymore about our situation and I actually feelmuch better now going forward with treatment asI had lost hope. I have an appointment now formore treatment with thanks to you for organisingSaturday. Will be passing the word on about yourcharity and the fantastic work you all do.”

“Thank you so much for arranging the day itwent very well and must have been a lot of hardwork on your part - we met some lovely peopleand it was great to meet and talk to people whounderstand - at last!”

“We also got a lot of great information too and ithas definitely helped us in making a decision ofwhere to go next.”

The Question andAnswer Panel

19

spri

ng

20

13

I

N U

K

Education is a right, and it is only natural that weexpect a high standard in our schools, colleges anduniversities. We all know that in most institutions thebasics are covered well, math’s, English, the sciences,etc. However, as we move through life we sometimesfind ourselves faced with emotional and practicaldilemmas that we wish we had been taught. Certainlythis is something that became apparent to GwendaBurns and Sheena Young of Infertility Network Scotlandwho asked themselves if perhaps there was somethingthey could do to educate people about their fertility. Alltoo often we hear that couples have waited too long tostart a family as they did not know that female fertilitydeclines with age. How many people actually realisethat a BMI between 35 and 40 can result in a 23% to43% less chance of achieving pregnancy compared towomen with a BMI below 30. Following some researchand lots of hard work, Infertility Network Scotland wassuccessful in obtaining government funding for aneducation project designed to help educate peopleabout lifestyle choices and how these can and do affectfertility. The project is now being rolled out acrossScotland by me Sarah Murphy, Gwenda Burns andNorma Whiteford and here are some of the things wehave been up to over the last six months…

Norma and I spent the first few months of theproject researching links with education institutes andafter many meetings and telephone calls we were luckyenough to be invited to hold information stalls atfresher’s events in institutions such as: Kilmarnock,Ayr, Perth and Cumnock Community Colleges as wellas Dundee, Dumfries, St Andrews, Abertay, Aberdeenand Robert Gordon Universities. Over the followingmonths these events proved to be extremely successful

allowing us to communicate directly with students,hand out our education leaflets and forge links withkey education professionals. Taking this aspect of theproject forward, Glasgow and Caledonian Universityalong with Dundee and Elmwood College have allagreed to work with us on upcoming ‘Health andWellbeing’ events that they intend to hold. This alongwith an extensive effort to mail out leaflets to farreaching venues such as some of the Highland andIsland campuses, we hope has gone some way togetting the message out there.

Alongside this initial work, Norma and I have alsobeen researching family planning clinics and GP pract -ices that are linked to education institutes requestingthat they display our educational literature. It is stillearly days, but feedback has been positive with someaffiliated clinics such as Dundee and Aberdeen Univ -ersity having already requested and received leafletsfor display.

Gwenda has been working with the Scottish govern -ment on ideas to promote the education of fertility toa wider audience. Gwenda and Norma also met withHealth Scotland to work with them to help deliversome educational messages through their literature.

The next phase of the project that we will beworking hard on over the coming months will be todevelop and deliver fertility education workshops totargeted groups such as students and employees oflarge organisations across Scotland. In an effort toengage young people in a topic which is understand -ably off their agenda, Norma has drafted an eyecatching presentation full of interesting facts andstatistics that will hopefully get people thinking aboutthe lifestyle choices they make.

We would be very inter -ested to hear your thou ghtsand ideas surrounding theeducation project and if youwork for a large organisationor education institute andwould be interested inrunning a fertility educ ationworkshop, please get intouch. Likewise, if you wouldlike more information aboutthe project please emailmyself, Gwenda or Normawho will be extremely happyto help with your enquiry.Sarah

Infertility Network ScotlandEducation Project

Please contact

Sarah on:

Email: sarahmurphy@

infertilitynetworkscotland

.com

Mobile: 07737 106748

Please contact

Norma on:

Email: normawhiteford@

infertilitynetworkscotland

.com

Mobile: 07592 793308

20

spri

ng

20

13

I

N U

K

Mark and I got married at the ages of 25 and 20 in1985. Like most couples, having children was some -thing we planned to do in the future, little did I knowwhat a long journey it was going to be. After beingmarried for a couple of years or so we began to thinkabout having children. As I had very irregular periodswe thought it may take a little longer to have a child asit was likely that I was not ovulatingregularly. I was only having about 3-4periods a year. Two years or soelapsed.

We went to see our first fertilityspecialist in 1988. She dismissed ourproblems and said she thought I wasworking too hard and stress wascausing the irregular periods. Thedoctor suggested that I reduce myhours at work. I had had irregularperiods for many years before tryingto conceive so I decided to go back tomy GP and ask to be referred toanother specialist. I had a laparoscopyand all was okay. My husband had yetanother semen analysis and every thing was still okaythere too. I was put on a mild fertility drug and told tocome back in three months and that I would mostprobably be pregnant by then. We were over the moonthinking we were finally going to be parents. Sadlythree months later I was not pregnant and was givenanother prescription for medication. I was thenreferred to another specialist.

To cut a long story short, after six years of tests, sixdifferent specialist opinions, fertility tablets, hormoneinjections, IVF, alternative therapies such as herbalismand hypnotherapy, we still did not conceive. The reasongiven was that I had PCOS and did not ovulate withoutmedication and although I could produce eggs withfertility drugs or create embryos with IVF, the lining ofmy womb was very thin and this was causing imp lant -ation problems. Surrogacy was suggested as a solution.

Surrogacy seemed a great option, however, we justwanted to be parents, so our most favoured option wasto adopt, possibly a sibling group. Towards the end ofour fertility treatment we had started looking intoadoption. We spent the next three years trying toadopt. We were close to the end of the process. Mymum had had breast cancer three and a half yearspreviously and had gone along for her six monthlyappointment, had the usual tests, but this time she wastold that the cancer had returned. Patients are notalways told their illness is terminal, but my mumpressed the consultant for the true prognosis so thatshe could make plans for the future and to say hergoodbyes. There were various options that would

prolong her life, but there was no longer a cure. If Ihad not known the full situation, we would have beennone the wiser. We told our social worker this news ather next visit. About a week later our social workercalled to say that our adoption application was goingto be put on hold due to our change in circumstances.They also expected us to have a period of grieving after

my mum died before they felt it app -ropriate to continue with our adoptionapplication. We were shocked by thisnews, but the decision was final.

It was at this point we started tothink about surrogacy again so wejoined a surrogacy organisation. Wehad the option of straight or hostsurrogacy. With straight surrogacy thesurrogate conceives via artificial in -semination and the baby is geneticallyrelated to her and the intended father,and with host surrogacy the surrogatecon ceives with embryos created viaIVF. The embryos can be created witheither donor eggs or the intended

mother’s eggs and the intended father’s sperm. Wechose straight surrogacy over host surr ogacy. At thattime straight surrogacy was the more popular option ashost surrogacy was in its infancy with very few clinicsoffering treatment. We expected to wait a minimum oftwo years before a surrogate chose to help us, butwithin two weeks we had a phone call to say thatsomeone was interested in meeting us. This lady livedtwo hundred miles away which we felt was too great adistance, but what a great start as we had only been onthe waiting list for a short time. A few weeks later wereceived another call to say another lovely lady wantedto meet us.

We met up with Susan and we clicked straight away.We then spent a few months getting to know eachother before starting artificial insemination treatment.We envisaged it would take several months to getpregnant and it did. On the third cycle Susan had along cycle. Sadly this was also the month that my mumdied. The two week wait came and went and we beganto hope that we could be pregnant. Susan did severalpregnancy tests, but they were all negative. The dayafter my mum died, Susan called to say her period hadarrived. It felt like nature had played a cruel joke on us,she had given us hope and then taken it away.However, three months later we were in the sameposition again.

I remember the exact moment we got the call. Itwas ten minutes to four on 15th February 1996. Wewere feeling quite despondent as this could perhaps beour last cycle as Susan had only agreed to attempt six

I’m Just PayingBack the Gift…

We expected to waita minimum of two

years before asurrogate chose tohelp us, but within

two weeks we had aphone call to saythat someone was

interested inmeeting us.

21

spri

ng

20

13

I

N U

K

cycles of treatment for us. Every day my heart skippeda beat when the phone rang. When it wasn’t Susan wehad hope. The two week wait came and went and nocall. Then we were a few days past the two week waitwhen we finally got a phone call from Susan. If Susanhad been pregnant she would have tested in the morn -ing, so it could only be bad news, yet the tone of hervoice sounded quite excited! Could it be the news wehad been waiting for … it was! I rushed downstairs totell Mark. We were on cloud nine! I know at this pointso many things can go wrong, a miscarriage, etc. andwhile most people wait three months to tell everyonetheir news, as our family and friends knew we werehaving treatment it would have been difficult to keepthis wonderful news to ourselves until twelve weeks,so we told most nearly everyone straight away.

The first few weeks of the pregnancy seemed todrag, but in no time at all we were all sat in the waitingroom waiting with Susan for our twelve week scan,then our twenty week scan. We went to all the app -ointments together and met up regularly in between.We grew very close and to this day we are still inregular contact.

We finally got the call the day before our due datethat our baby was on its way. Susan had been veryuncomfortable for weeks and we felt helpless as it wasour fault she was feeling this way. Susan would alwaysreassure us that she knew what she was getting intowhen she became a surrogate, and while she did feeluncomfortable it was to be expected at this point in thepregnancy. I sat with Susan in the labour suite and anhour or so later Abi was born. Abi was born at 1.45amon 11.10.96. Susan was amazing, she was so calm andmade me feel very much part of the birth. I was askedto cut the cord by the midwife. Abi was then placed intomy arms and I felt an instant bond. I was a mother, atlast. It felt like a dream and I was so scared I wasgoing to wake up and find it was just adream, as that had happened before.Mark then came into the labour room.We took some photographs of ourprecious baby girl and also a photo ofSusan holding our baby. A little laterMark and I were given a room with ourbaby and Susan was also given a roomof her own. Susan and her familyvisited the next morning and lots morephoto graphs were taken. We were alllater discharged. Surrogacy is the nextbest thing to being pregnant yourself,as you get to experience the preg -nancy with your surrogate mother.

Our new life had begun. It hadtaken ten years to have our muchwanted baby. Although you never forget the pain ofinfertility, we were now living life to the full. We hopedto have another child via surrogacy, but despitethirteen attempts of treatment with two differentsurrogate mothers, it was not to be.

Christmas was on the horizon. I found that yearparticularly difficult, as most of our friends were ext -ending their families and the Christmas cards wouldarrive and there would be more pregnancy and birth

news. We did the usual family visiting over Christmasand my brother-in-law announced that they had beengiven a surprise Christmas present. I did not take longto work out what the present was. My sister-in-law wasexpecting a baby, a complete surprise. It is always hardto hear news like this, especially when the pregnancyis unplanned.

We had booked a holiday for the New Year and myperiod was due just before the holiday. It did not arrive.I was very moody, having the usual symptoms ofPMT. We had a great holiday, we went horse riding, Idid various exercise classes with Abi on the beach,swam lots, etc. As the hotel was all inclusive I drank afew pina coladas during the day and in the evening hada few glasses of wine. As we had a young child in towI was not drinking to excess, but certainly way morethan any pregnant woman should be drinking! It wasno surprise that my period was late as I fully expectedit to happen as soon as we arrived on our holiday toremind me what I couldn’t have. We got to the end ofthe holiday and I was quite pleased my period hadwaited till after the holiday. That was a first! I still didnot think I could be pregnant. Another week or sopassed and I still didn’t buy a test as I knew as soon asI bought the test my period would arrive as hadhappened many times in the past. In the end Markwent out and bought the test, we did it and when welooked at it there was a bright pink dot, there was nomistake, it wasn’t a little dot, but a bright pink big dot.The test was positive! Sam was born in September1999, Charlie followed in December 2000 (I had a year2000 baby too!). We then took a break and startedusing contraception for the first time ever. We startedtrying for another baby eighteen months later. Elisa -beth was born in May 2003. Our family was complete.

I joined Surrogacy UK in 2002 as a founder memberto give support to other couples considering surrogacy.

At the back of my mind I wondered ifI could be a surrogate myself. Oneday, our daughter Abi, who was bornvia surrogacy, also suggested it, andthis was just the push I needed to getstarted. Having my family at long lastI just wanted to “pay back the gift”.

While most of our family andfriends were supp ort ive of me being asurrogate, some had their concerns.What if I wanted to keep the baby?What if the experience caused mephysical or emotional harm? I felt myfamily was complete at that point andI knew I could never change mymind, no matter how hard it was. Ifthe exper ience caused me physical or

emot ional harm then I would live with it and not do itagain. I would know however, that I had madesomeone’s dream come true and created a family.

A few months later a couple who already had a childvia surrogacy joined Surrogacy UK. It took five att -empts of treatment to conceive Isaac. At the end of thetwo week wait I decided to do a test in the evening. Iwas amazed to see a faint line. The next morning theline was darker so I called Lynne with the good news.

While most of ourfamily and friendswere supp ort ive of

me being asurrogate, some hadtheir concerns. Whatif I wanted to keep

the baby? What if theexperience caused

me physical oremotional harm?

22

spri

ng

20

13

I

N U

K

She burst into tears of joy at the news. The pregnancywas uneventful. Everything went to plan and we had awonderful surrogacy arrangement. Lynne and Richardcame to all the scans and Lynne attended all themidwife appointments with me. We also met up sociallyat least once a month during the pregnancy, at SUKsocials or in each other’s homes. This is so important asit allows the intended parents to bond with their babyand the surrogate to bond with the intended parents.

My due date was 6th November 2004. I didn’t get asfar as wanting the pregnancy to be over as Isaacstarted to make his presence felt a couple of days afterhis due date and was born three days later. Lynne wascrying with happiness as baby Isaac came into theworld. The midwife then asked her to cut the cord andshe was handed her baby boy. It felt so good to seeher joy. Soon after wards Richard was invited into thelabour room to meet his baby son. Carol took picturesof us all and then I was handed Isaac so I could havea picture taken with him. Shortly after wards Markarrived with our four children. More photos were takenand our children marvelled at baby Isaac. We allexchanged presents and I said it was time for us to goand let Lynne and Richard enjoy their new baby.

After the birth I received cards and flowers fromfriends and family and everyone said “what a wonderfulthing I had done” and people said “they were pleasedto know me!” I never thought I would experiencepregnancy, and not only have I been able to experienceit for myself, I’ve been able to experience it for some -one else too.

I’ve since helped another couple have a muchwanted baby. This time I conceived on the first attemptof treatment and Hector was born on 6th January2006. Sadly I then went on to have two miscarriageswhile helping another couple. At this point I decided toretire from surrogacy. I spent the next two years supp -orting others going through surrogacy and also hadanother baby of my own. I had a planned home birthand Scarlet was born on 3.10.07. I had decided Scarletwas going to be my final birth.

It was Abi who prompted me to help another couple.We had become friendly with a family who had beenhoping to have a second child via host surrogacy. Theyhad had five cycles of treatment with the help of asurrogate mother and were about to give up on theirjourney. Abi asked in front of the family if I would help

them. I was put a little on the spot. I said I suppose Icould do it again, but at the age of 43 I was not surewhether a clinic would accept me for treatment. Iemailed our friends and said that I would considerhelping them. I didn’t hear anything for a few monthsand then they asked me through another friend if I hadreally meant what I said a few months earlier. Theydecided on one last cycle of treatment. I had one cycleof treatment, but sadly it did not lead to pregnancy.Although I had only intended to help the one finalcouple I somehow found myself wanting to help anothercouple. It is hard to walk away when there is alwaysjust one last couple you could potentially help. I hadbecome friends with another couple who had a heartbreaking story as the intended mother had lost eightbabies, I could not imagine how any one could copewith so many losses and still be positive. At the beg -inning of 2010 I offered to help this couple and thiswould be my final surrogacy journey. It took fourattempts of IVF, including two abandoned cycles. Westarted treatment in April and I conceived in November2010. I had a bleed ten days after the positive test andthought it was all over. I spent the next week restingand we were all so relieved to see the heartbeat at thefirst scan. Jonathan was born by a planned caesareansection on 20th July 2011.

I see surrogacy as “sharing my fertility” and in mycase “I am just paying back the gift”. I have been astraight surrogate twice and a host surrogate once.Some people question why I chose to do straightsurrogacy the first time as surely it would have beeneasier with no genetic link. Not every woman has herown eggs and I felt I could do something more.

I am still in touch with all of the three couples I havehelped and also my own surrogate mother. We all meetup regularly, sometimes at my house, sometimes attheir houses, sometimes one of us has a mass get-together. We are like one big happy family! Surro gacyis very friendship orientated and most people keep intouch and become lifelong friends.

I am still involved with Surrogacy UK and amcurrently one of their surrogate support managers,supporting surrogates through the joining process, tohelping them choose couples to help and beyond. I amalso a surrogacy help liner for Infertility Network UK.

Jayne Frankland

A new centre in Wymondham near Norwich has givenBourn Hall, the world’s first IVF clinic, the opportunityto respond to all of the suggestions gained from staffand patients about enhancing the IVF journey.

“Starting with an empty shell has given us thefreedom to create a clinic designed entirely around ourpatients,” says Fran Rose-Smith, Clinic Manager. “Theground floor recovery room allows women to relax foras long as they wish following surgical procedures. Ouronly concern is that the loungers are so comfortablethey may never want to leave! We have dedicatedfacilities for men and a very nifty, discrete system for

delivering samples to the embryologists.” The opening of the Wymondham clinic means that

for the first time, both private and NHS-funded patientsin Norfolk will be able to have every stage of theirtreatment within the county.

Last year, Bourn Hall Clinic announced the birth ofits 1000th NHS IVF baby since May 1st 2009, when thecurrent NHS contract began.“We look forward to wel -coming the first IVF babiesto be made entirely inNorfolk,” says Fran.

Bourn Hall Clinic Wymondham opens its doors

23

spri

ng

20

13

I

N U

K

Natalie Gambleis founder ofthe UK’s firstspecialistfertility law firm Natalie GambleAssociates

Maternity leaverights forparents throughsurrogacy

As well as the legal work we do for clients as a lawyer,my team and I also campaign to make the law betterfor fertility patients. It’s something we do because webelieve in it (just like giving our time to charities likeInfertility Network UK) and more often than you mightthink, we get to make a difference. I am thereforethrilled to announce that, after our campaign of morethan five years, the government has finally announcedthat it will introduce employment rights for parentsthrough surrogacy.

Increasing numbers of parents now start a familythrough surrogacy, whether gay or straight, andwhether in the UK or abroad. Surrogacy involvesparents who have their own biological child (sometimesusing donor gametes, usually on the egg side) with thehelp of a surrogate mother who carries the pregnancyfor them. Surrogacy may be needed because ofrecurrent miscarriage or stillbirth, because a medicalcondition makes it unsafe for the mother to carry,because of prior cancer or hysterectomy, or for manyother reasons. It is ultimately a human solution to amedical problem. The baby is handed over immediatelyat birth, and the parents take on all the normal dutiesand demands of looking after their newborn baby.

But at law they can have virtually no rights. Thesurrogate is treated as the legal mother (and if she ismarried, her husband is treated as the legal father)even if she is not the biological mother and has no wishto ever be treated as a parent. The parents can remedythis by applying to court for a ‘parental order’ whichtriggers the re-registration of the birth certificate intheir names, but the process is lengthy and for six-ninemonths the parents are in limbo, caring for a child whois not legally theirs.

One of the cruelest side-effects of this ludicrouslyawkward and longwinded legal process has for a longtime been that parents through surrogacy have noright to time off work when their new baby arrives,unlike parents who give birth or who adopt a child.Most new parents can take up to a year off work (withat least some pay) and have protected employmentrights which prevent them being sacked or unfairlytreated. Parents through surrogacy, however, do not.This is grossly unfair, and has resulted in parentsthrough surrogacy having to quit their jobs or go backto work if their employer does not (or cannot) giveleave on a discretionary basis.

The government has now announced that this isgoing to change, as part of the government’s widermaternity leave and adoption leave reforms which areexpected to come into force in 2015. Although the fulldetail has at the time of writing yet to be confirmed, weknow that parents through surrogacy will be legally

entitled to attend two antenatal appointments duringthe pregnancy, and to adoption leave and pay after thebirth. Adoption leave is broadly equivalent to maternityleave (allowing roughly a year off work, with similarpay entitlements) with flexibility between the parentsas to who takes the main leave and who takespaternity leave. When the new rules are introduced, itwill become available to parents through surrogacywho are eligible to apply for a parental order, includingheterosexual couples and gay dads. Surrogate motherswill also retain their right to maternity leave to recoverfrom giving birth.

The government’s response to the consultation onmodern workplaces says:

We propose that intended parents in surrogacycases who satisfy the criteria for a Parental Order andintend to apply, or have applied, to a court for aParental Order will be entitled to leave and pay on thesame basis as adopters who are eligible for statutoryadoption leave and pay, subject to the qualifyingconditions and evidential requirements. In addition,both intended parents will be entitled to take unpaidtime off to attend two antenatal appointments with thesurrogate mother carrying their child.

What is so exciting about the change, as well as thepractical employment rights it will introduce for newparents, is that this is the very first time in UK legalhistory that parents through surrogacy have beenrecognised as having any rights in advance of the birthof their child. This is a very significant recognition thatsurrogacy is real and here to stay, and hopefully a firststep towards wider reform of our surrogacy laws toremove the cumbersome limbo period entirely.

2-3 November 2013 Olympia, London

spri

ng

20

13

I

N U

K

25

For those going through unsuccessful fertility treat -ment, there comes a time when they begin toquestion the wisdom of continuing and begin towonder how they would cope if they made thedecision to stop treatment. For many, adoption maynot be an answer and a future without children mustthen be faced. Whilst going through fertility treat -ment they may have found support from a numberof sources, including Infertility Network UK, but whathappens when they decide to stop? Will they feelisolated and alone? It was for this reason that MoreTo Life was set up, to provide ongoing support forthe involuntarily childless.

More To Life offers support in many forms – aquarterly newsletter, lending library of useful books,

fact sheets and the opportunity to make contact withother members (whether by letter, telephone, emailor in person) who can offer each other help inmoving forward. The network of More To Life mem -bers is expanding with Regional Member Contacts upand down the country, and Helpful Members readyto offer a listening ear. Regional Member Contactsalso organise local group get-togethers and going toa members’ get-together is a wonderful opportunityto be with others who understand exactly how youfeel.For more information about MTL, contact theI N UK head office on 0800 008 7464 Email: admin@moretolife.co.uk Website: www.moretolife.co.uk

Thinking about giving up fertility treatment?

If you have had help and information from I N UK andfound it useful, or if you would simply like to support thecharity and its vital work, please consider making a smalldonation to help ensure that our services can continue to

help many more people.Our ‘text to donate’ service could not be simpler, simplysend a message to 70070 Stating INUK03 and then your

chosen amount between £1 and £10.Your donation really will help, thank you.

DonationsComposite Lodge No.9480 Ipswich £1,665Mrs C Newman £10Mrs J Todd £10Mrs J Todd £10Mrs J Todd £10IVF Success Rates£40 donation from S & D Young in lieu

of sending Christmas cards due to being overseas at that time

£150 donation from the Clark HowesGroup in lieu of sending Christmascards

We’d like to say thank you to: Leighton Hospital,Cheshire and Burton IVF, who are the latest fertilityclinics to join our Outreach scheme. By becom ingmembers, they not only help to support the charitywho receives no statutory funding, but also ensures itspatients gain access to the support and services offeredby I N UK.

Your clinic too could benefit from joining, includedin the scheme: free link from our website, free listingin our members’ quarterly colour magazine, free copiesof this magazine for your patients’ waiting area, freeposting on our website’s Events page for your opendays and support groups, free sign up to our

eNewsletter, free posters and literatureabout I N UK to display in your clinic,help in setting up a support group anddiscounted cost of advertising on bothour website and in our quarterlymagazine.

Your patients will also benefit fromour supp ort, advice line, knowledge andinform ation on NHS funding in their area through ourFunding for Fertility section of our website … and more!

Call us today on: 0800 008 7464, to find out howyou can join this exciting clinic scheme!

The Latest New Members to I N UK’s Clinic Outreach Scheme ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

www.infertilitynetworkuk.comCharter House, 43 St Leonards Road, Bexhill on Sea, East Sussex TN40 1JA.Tel: 0800 008 7464. Fax: +44 (0) 1424 731858. email: admin@infertilitynetworkuk.com

The Infertility Network (UK) – Charity Registered in England No.1099960 and in Scotland No.SC039511 Company Registration No.4822073

or from a mobile: 01424 732361

Support

Asian The Asian support group meets inCentral London at The Harley StreetFertility Clinic, 43 Devonshire Street,London W1G 7AL. If you would likemore details: email: info@hsfc.org.ukor call: 020 7436 6838

Bedford The group meets at Bedford Health, 21St Cuthbert’s Street, Bedford MK40 3JB.For further details please contact Sue,Tel: 01234 327444 or 0800 533 5138. Email: sue@bedfordfertilityclinic.co.uk

Berkshire and Buckinghamshire The group meets regularly and is opento everyone experiencing infertility. Formore information please call Katharineon 01344 222146 or email:kgailard@hotmail.com

Blackburn & East LancashireMonthly evening meetings facilitatedby an I N UK volunteer. The group isopen to everyone and we'd bedelighted if you'd like to come alongand join us. For more information callCheryl on 078717 71095 or emailblackburnfertilitysupport@hotmail.co.uk

Birmingham A small, friendly group that meetsregularly, everyone welcome couples orsolo. For more information pleasecontact Anne on: 07891 741440 oremail Mel: melgreenbee@gmail.com

Brighton The Agora Gynaecology and FertilityCentre, Ellen Street, Hove BN3 3LN.For details of next meeting, pleasevisit: www.agoraclinic.co.uk or altern -atively email: info@agoraclinic.co.uk orcall: 01273 229410.

Cambridge Couples or individuals welcome to themonthly meetings at Bourn Hall Clinic,Cambridge. Dates and initial prog -ramme can be found at www.bourn-hall-clinic.co.uk in the ‘Your Journey’tab. To book a place please emailsupportgroup@bourn-hall.com or call01954 717210 and speak to Letty orSharon.

Colchester Couples or individuals welcome to themonthly meetings at Bourn Hall Clinic,Colchester. Dates and initial prog -ramme can be found at www.bourn-hall-clinic.co.uk in the ‘Your Journey’tab. To book a place please emailsupportgroup@bourn-hall.com or call01954 717210 and speak to Letty orSharon.

Croydon An informal group run by an I N UKvolunteer in Croydon. For more inform -ation please contact Natalie on 07940527964 or email nataliedonnelly@hotmail.co.uk

Gloucestershire Informal support group run by I N UKVolunteer Chris in the Gloucestershire

area. Chris is experiencing secondaryinfertility but the support group is opento all infertility patients. For moreinform ation please contact Chris byemailing: glosinfertility@yahoo.co.uk

Harrogate This informal group runs on the lastThursday of the month in Harrogate,North Yorkshire. For more info or tobook a space, please contact Jay on:07725 035047 or email:yorkshirefertility@gmail.com

Hertfordshire Meets on the first Wednesday of themonth between 8pm and 9.30pm atc/o Ginger Natural Health, 44 LondonRoad, St Albans AL1 1NG. To reserveyour place and for further informationplease contact Susie on 07857 352169.

Link, LiverpoolMeets on a quarterly basis at theHewitt Centre, Liverpool Women’sHospital. The meetings are from 6pm-8pm and often have a guest speaker.New members are always welcome.For more information please contactPatricia on: 0151 702 4075.

London Women’s Clinic This group meets on the last Mondayof every month from 7pm-8.30pm atthe London Women’s Clinic. 113-115Harley Street. All are welcome, not justLWC patients. For more information callAnya on 07940 589848

Mansfield Are you trying for a baby? Want tomeet people in a similar situation?Then come to CARE Mansfield’s CoffeeEvening. Contact Beverley Law, CARE,Nottingham Road Clinic, 195 NottinghamRoad, Mansfield NG18 4AA. Tel: 01623 626172 Fax: 01623 626172Email: Mansfield@CAREfertility.com

North LondonMindful Mumas-to-be is an onlineresource/community with North Londongroup meet ups for anyone trying toconceive, going through fertility treat -ment or who is newly pregnant foll -owing difficulties/worries. Join us if youare looking for support, are inter estedin learning more about mind fulnessand the mind-body link and to meetothers who are in a similar situation toyourself. Dads-to-be/same sex couplesare also very welcome. Visithttp://mindfulmumatobe.blogspot.co.ukor contact mindfulmuma@gmail. com.

Peterborough For more details, contact Sandy on:info@simplykidz.co.uk or mobile: 07713 156045.

Sheffield A new support group has been set upto help those going through infertilityand to meet others who understand.For more information call Gilly on:07985 923859 or email:sheffieldinfertility@gmail.com www.sheffieldinfertilitysupport.weebly.com

Shropshire Meetings take place on the lastThursday of every other month. Venuealtern ates bet ween The Educ at ionCentre at The Princes Royal Hospital inTelford and The Hamar Centre at TheRoyal Shrews bury Hospital. For furtherdetails ring Gwen, fertility nurse on01743 261199 – everyone welcome.

South Cheshire An informal support group is being setup by an I N UK volunteer in the Crewearea. For more information pleasecontact Sarah on southcheshireinfertilitysupportgroup@hotmail.co.uk

Wirral A new support group is being set up inthe Wirral area by Janine an I N UKvolunteer. Guest speakers are plannedas are relaxation techniques and treat -ments. Come, share and gain supportfrom others who understand exactlyhow you are feeling. Tea and Coffeeand the odd treat will be avail able.Please email infertilitysupportgroup-wirral@hotmail.com for more inform -ation.

WISH – Woking Infertility Self HelpHeld every six weeks at the WokingNuffield Hosp ital, themed evenings andguest speakers. For further inform -ation, email Suze:suze.fisher@nuffieldhealth.com

Wokingham Informal support group run by an I N UK volunteer. For more informationcontact Katy on 07557 979142 or emailkatyflello@gmail.com

York Informal support group with monthlymeetings in an informal environment.For more information please contactFiona on 07730 895006 or emailfionamaryharris@gmail.com

ScotlandAberdeen Please come along and meet peoplewho are experiencing the same un -certainties as you. We provide a safeand informal space to share exper -iences, information and ideas. Thegroup meets on the last Monday ofeach month at the Aberdeen MaternityHospital in the MacGillvray Centre from6pm–8pm. For further details, pleasecontact Sarah Murphy on 07737106748 or email: sarahmurphy@infertilitynetworkscotland.com

Artemis The group meets monthly on a Mondayat 6pm in Beechwood House, Murray -field Hospital. For dates and furtherinformation, please contact GwendaBurns on: 01294 279162 or email: gwendaburns@infertilitynetworkscotland.com

Ayrshire & Arran Meet on the last Wednesday of each

spri

ng

20

13

I

N U

K

26

England

The Support Groups listed here are for those experiencing infertility. They are not a forum for marketing information orinappropriate sales pitches.

month from 7.00pm at the ListerCentre, Crosshouse Hospital, Kilmarn -ock. For further details please contactGwenda Burns on: 01294 279162 oremail: gwendaburns@ infertilitynetworkscotland.com

Dundee Fertility Meet at Ninewells Hospital, SeminarRoom C, second Thursday of each month6pm-8pm. For further information,please see website at:www.infertilitynetworkscotland.com or contact Sarah Murphy on 07737106748 or email: sarahmurphy@infertilitynetworkscotland.com

Dumfries & Galloway For more information contact NormaWhiteford on: 07592 793308 or email:normawhiteford@infertilitynetworkscotland.com

Edinburgh Fertility Meets on the first Monday of each monthfrom 7.30pm–9pm. This informal groupwill give you the chance to talk to like-minded people, as well as learn diff er -ent relaxation and mind-body techniquesthat can help you cope better with theemotional and medical challenges thatyou face on your fertility journey. Weask for a small donation of £3 perperson to cover costs. Snacks and hotdrinks will be provided. Sessions takeplace at KnotStressed Therapies Clinicat 10a Blenheim Place, Edinburgh EH75JH. Please contact Jane Evans formore information on: 07967 002278 oremail:jane@knotstressed.com

Fife A venue is available and the support isthere. If you live in Fife and would liketo attend a fertility support group,please get in touch with Sarah Murphyon: 07737 106748 or email: sarahmurphy@infertilitynetworkscotland.com

Fort WilliamsMeet at Belford Hospital, Small meetingroom. Starting on Thursday 20th Octoberthen regular meetings every lastThursday of the month 6pm–8pm. Forfurther details please contact GwendaBurns on: 01294 279162 or email:gwendaburns@infertilitynetworkscotland.com

Glasgow Cradle Meets the first Thursday of everymonth at Glasgow Centre for Repro -ductive Medicine, at 7pm. We providesupport and inval u able inform ation toanyone who is suff ering from a fertilityprob lem, who is currently going throughfertility treat ment, trying again havingpreviously been success ful or con -sidering other options. Please see ourwebsite for further inform ation: www.assistedconception.org or call Helen: 07533 581126 email: cradle@assistedconception.org

Lanarkshire This group meets on the first Thursdayof each month at 7pm. We are meet -ing at the Cavalry Christian Fellowship,Muir Street, Motherwell. Please contactGwenda Burns on: 01294 279162 or

email: gwendaburns@infertilitynetworkscotland.com

My Fertility SupportMy Fertility Support is open to every -one and has no charge. Our newmeeting place is Natural Fertility, 13aAbercromby Place, Edinburgh EH3 6LB.Contact Elizabeth: 0131 556 5525 or07777 617473. Meetings are held onMonday at the end of the month.Contact me if you have any queries.

WalesNorth Wales A group called ‘Shared Journey’ forany one travelling the long road toparenthood. If you wish to rest and re-fuel contact Debbie on 07742 810049or email: debsbraden@googlemail.com

South Wales Informal group usually with a chat overdrinks and dinner. Most ladies are atdifferent stages of treatment. Men andcouples welcome too. For moreinformation please contact Kara at:karaellard@yahoo.co.uk or call 07841457655.

Northern IrelandOmagh This group meet on the secondWednesday every 2-3 months at 7.30pmin the Silverbirch Hotel, Omagh. Thegroup is open to anyone exper ien cingfertility problems. For more inform ationand to check the date of the nextmeeting, please contact: SharonDavidson on: 02890 825677, email:sharondavidson@infertilitynetworkuk.com or mobile 07837 987562.

Stork, BelfastStork is a support group organised bypeople who have experienced infertilityin their lives. As a group, we meet upto share information, discuss servicesavailable locally, listen to guest speak -ers and provide support to each other.We meet at the WRDA, 6 MountCharles (off University Road/BotanicAvenue), Belfast BT7 1NZ at 8pm onthe last Thursday of each month. Formore information please call Sharon onTel: 02890 825677 or mobile 07837987562 or email: sharondavidson@infertilitynetworkuk.comNew members are always welcome.

Think Positive, PortadownWe meet on the first Wednesday of themonth at 7.30pm and meetings aregenerally held every two months. Thevenue is Seminar Room 2, MedicalEducation Centre, Main Hosp ital Block,Craigavon Area Hospital, Portadown.We are open to anyone exper iencingfertility problems, both couples andindividuals are very welcome to attend.For more information and to check thedate of the next meeting, pleasecontact Sharon on: 02890 825677,email: sharondavidson@infertilitynetworkuk. com or mobile07837 987562.

Tiny Feet, Derry/Londonderry We meet on the second Wednesday ofthe month at 7pm and meetings aregenerally held every two months. Thevenue is the Social Services Con fer -ence Room, MDEC Building. AltnagelvinHospital. We are open to anyoneexperiencing fertility problems, bothcouples and individuals are verywelcome to attend. For more inform -ation and to check the date of the nextmeet ing please contact SharonDavidson on: 02890 825677, email:sharondavidson@ infertilitynetworkuk.com or mobile 07837 987562.

Channel IslandsGuernsey Infertility This group has been set up to unite allGuernsey residents experiencing infert -ility, male or female, and to providesupport. We may be able to help you,so if you would like to contact us, ourdetails are as follows, email: hello@gsyisg.org

Jersey We are a charity founded to help theJersey people experiencing fertilityissues. We come together once a monthto offer each other support. We arealso here to help raise awareness ofthe illness in the island and in contactwith the hospital to help improveservices available to people withfertility issues. For more inform ationemail: jerseyfertility@yahoo. co.uk orvisit www.jerseyfertilitysupport.com

IrelandDublin Fertility Runs on the last Monday of the monthfrom 7.30pm–9pm at St MochtasParish Centre, Porterstown, Dublin 15.For more information, please contactSiobhan on: 086-8243267 or email:siobhan.boucher@gmail.com

National Infertility Support & Information GroupFor more information tel: 1890 647 444Monday-Friday 7.15pm-9.15pm (pleasenote, Wednesday and Thursday are forsupport/queries re donor con ception)or anytime on mobile: 087 7975058Email: nisigireland@gmail.com Website: www.nisig.com

spri

ng

20

13

I

N U

K

27

WANTED!Is there anybody who wantsto meet up with others in theareas where there are nosupport groups? Please do getin touch with either Hannah athead office or the RegionalOrg an iser who covers yourarea and we will put you intouch with each other.

Groups

ACeBabesAssisted Conception Babies – supportfor families following successful fertilitytreatment. ACeBabes comes under theumbrella of The Infertility Network (UK). Tel: 0800 008 7464Website: www.acebabes.co.ukEmail: admin@acebabes.co.uk

After AdoptionA charity that helps anyone with aconnection to adoption, offering supp -ort, advice and coun selling. Our familyfinding service, Families that Last, alsofinds homes for children in the caresystem. Head Office: Unit 5 Citygate, 5 Blantyre Steet, Manchester M15 4JJ. General Number: 0161 839 4932, Helpline Number: 0800 0 568 578

Adoption UK Linden House, 55 The Green, SouthBar Street, Banbury, Oxon OX16 9ABOffice Tel: 01295 752240, Monday toFriday 9am to 5pm. Website: www.adoptionuk.org.uk

Antenatal Results and ChoicesHelpline (ARC)345 City Road, London EC1V 1LRHelpline tel: 020 7713 7486Email: info@arc-uk.org Website: www.arc-uk.org

British Agencies for Adoption and Fostering (BAAF)Saffron House, 6-10 Kirby Street,London EC1N 8TS. Head Office Tel: 0207421 2600 Fax: 020 7421 2601, Email:mail@baaf.org.uk Southern England Tel: 020 7421 2652(Advice given Mon-Fri, 9am-1pm) Fax: 020 7421 2669 Email: southern@baaf.org.uk

British Infertility CounsellingAssociation (BICA)Email: info@bica.netWebsite: www.bica.net

CHANAIs a small London based organi sat ionset up by a group of Orthodox Jewishwomen who have been along thedifficult path of infertility themselves.The aim of Chana is to help supp ortpeople who either suspect or have justdis cov ered they have an infertilityproblem, be it primary or secondary.People under going in vest igation andtreatment and couples trying to cometo terms with their childlessness. Formore information: Address: 23Ravens hurst Aven ue, London, NW44EE. Tel: 020 8203 8455, Fax: 0208202 8635, Helpline: 020 8201 5774, Email: info@chana.org.ukWebsite: www.chana.org.uk

Childlessness Overcome ThroughSurrogacy (COTS)Moss Bank, Manse Road, Lairg IV274EL, Tel/Fax: 01549 402777. Email: info@surrogacy.org.ukWebsite: www.surrogacy.org.uk

Cystic Fibrosis Trust11 London Road, Bromley, Kent BR1 1BYSwitchboard: 020 8464 7211Fax: 020 8313 0472Support Helpline: 0300 373 1000Email addresses:For general enquiries:enquiries@cftrust.org.uk For medical enquiries:asktheexpert@cftrust.org.uk For details of our outdoor, challengeevents and activities:events@cftrust.org.uk Website: www.cftrust.org.uk

Daisy Network Is the only nation wide support groupfor women who have suffered a prem -ature meno pause. They can provideadvice and support for women, theirfriends and families through what canbe a devast at ing and life-changingdiagnosis. The Daisy Network is run byvol un teers who have suff ered a prem -ature meno pause and is supp ort ed byDr Gerard Conway of the Middle sexHospital, London, who is an expert inthis con dition. Address: The Member -ship Co ord in ator, The Daisy Network,PO Box 183, Ross endale, BB4 6WZ. Website: www.daisynetwork.org.ukEmail: daisy@daisynetwork.org.ukRecorded Information Line: 0845 1228616

Donor Conception NetworkSet up by and for parents of DC childrenand those contemplating or undergoingtreatment. The network supports open- ness with children and family aboutdonor conception, but also welcomesthose wishing to explore this option.The DC Network can be contacted at154 Caledonian Road, London N1 9RD– 020 7278 2608. Website: www.dcnetwork.org Email: enquiries@dcnetwork.org

Ectopic Pregnancy TrustWas estab lished in 1998 to raise aware -ness of ectopic preg nancies amongstwomen of child bearing age, the medicalprofession and the general public.Address: The Ectopic Pregnancy Trust,c/o 2nd Floor Golden Jubilee Wing,Kings College Hospital, Denmark Hill,London SE5 9RSTel: 020 7733 2653Email: ept@ectopic.org.ukWebsite: www.ectopic.org.uk

Endometriosis UKSuites 1&2, 46 Manchester Street,London W1U 7LS. Tel: 020 7222 2781, Fax: 020 7222 2786, Helpline: 0808808 2227 Website: www.endo.org.ukEmail: admin@endometriosis-uk.org

The Fostering Network87 Blackfriars Road, London, SE1 8HA. Tel: 020 7620 6400, Fax: 020 76206401 Website: www.fostering.net Email: info@fostering.net

The Genetic Alliance UK Is a national alliance of organisationswith a membership of over 130charities which supp ort children, fam -ilies and individuals affected by geneticdis orders. Its primary goal is to prom -ote aware ness and und erstanding ofgenetic disorders so that high qualityservices for people aff ect ed by gen eticconditions are developed and madeavail able to all who need them. ContactDetails: Genetic Interest Group Unit4D, Leroy House, 436 Essex Road,London N1 3QP. Tel: 020 7704 3141,Fax: 020 7359 1447 Email: contactus@geneticalliance.org.ukWebsite: www.geneticalliance.org.uk

Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA)Is a non-departmental Govern mentbody that regulates and inspects all UKclinics providing IVF, donor insemin -ation or the storage of eggs, sperm orembryos. The HFEA also lic enses andmonitors all human embryo researchbeing conducted in the UK. Finsbury Tower, 103-105 Bunhill Row,Islington, London EC1Y 8HF Tel: 020 7291 8200, Fax: 020 7291 8201Website: www.hfea.gov.uk

Inter Country Adoption CentreA UK registered charity providing con -fid ential advice and information forprosp ective inter country adopters,adoptive families and adopt ive profess -ionals. 22 Union Street, Barnet, Herts EN5 4HZ. Tel: 020 8447 4753 (Mon & Wed 10.30am-1pm, Mon-Wed 10.00-1200, Thu-Sun closed)Website: www.icacentre.org.uk Email: info@icacentre.org.uk

JAFAJewish Association for Fostering, Adoptionand Infertility. Tel: 020 8952 3638.

Macmillan Cancer Support89 Albert Embankment, London SE1 7UQ.Tel: 0808 808 00 00Website: www.macmillan.org.uk

The Miscarriage Association17 Wentworth Terrace, Wakefield WF13QW Tel: 01924 200795 Helpline: 01924 200799Website: www.miscarriageassociation.org.uk Email:info@miscarriageassociation.org.uk

More to Life (MTL)Support for the involuntarily childless.“Our vision is that people who have alife without children will not feelisolated and alone”. More to Life comesunder the umbrella of The InfertilityNetwork UK. Tel: 0800 008 7464Email: admin@moretolife.co.uk Website: www.moretolife.co.uk

spri

ng

20

13

I

N U

K

28

Useful AddressesPlease note – always send an s.a.e. when writing to these organisations

spri

ng

20

13

I

N U

K

29

The Multiple Births FoundationIs an indep en dent charity based atQueen Charlotte’s & Chelsea Hosp italin West London. A vital resource toprofessionals and families alike, it aimsto imp rove the care and support ofmul tiple birth families through theeduc ation of all relevant profess ion als.Hammer smith House, Level 4, QueenCharlotte’s & Chelsea Hospital, DuCane Road, London W12 0HS. Tel:0208 383 3519, Fax: 0208 383 2041 Email: mbf@imperial.nhs.ukWebsite: www.multiplebirths.org.uk

National Gamete Donation Trust(NGDT)Promotes awareness of the ongoingneed for egg and sperm donors; toprovide a central ref erence point for allpotential donors; prov iding enquirerswith advice and information; inf orm -ation about their nearest recruitingclinic; and to promote links betweenrecruiters facing com mon issues. POBox 2121, Gloucester GL19 4WT. Tel:0845 226 9193 Email: info@ngdt.co.uk Website: www.ngdt.co.uk

NHS Direct24-hour nurse-led helpline providingcon fidential healthcare advice andinformation. Tel: 0845 4647. Website: www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk

NORCAPNational Organisation for the Coun -selling of Adoptees and Parents, 112Church Road, Wheat ley, OxfordshireOX33 1LU. Tel: 01865 875000, Mon-Thu 9.30am-4.30pm & Fri 9.30am-4pmWebsite: www.norcap.org.uk

OASISOverseas Adoption Support & Inform -ation Services. Website: www.adoptionoverseas.orgEmail:membership@adoptionoverseas.org

The Patients AssociationIs a UK charity which representspatient rights, influences health policy,campaigns for better patient care andprovides leaflets. PO 935, Harrow,Middlesex, HA1 3YJ. For help andinformation please call our help line:0845 608 4455 Admin Tel: 020 8423 9111 Email: helpline@patients-association.comWebsite: www.patients-association.com

Pelvic Pain Support NetworkThe Pelvic Pain Support Network is anational charity with local contacts inmany areas of the UK. We are involvedin all aspects of Women’s Healthrelated to pain in the pelvis or abdo -men. For further information we can becon tact ed via our website/messageboard: www.pelvicpain.org.uk by e-mail: info@pelvicpain.org.uk orby post at Pelvic Pain Support Network,PO BOX 6559, Poole, Dorset BH12 9DP.

Pink Parents UKWebsite at present undergoing main -tenance – no details available

The Pituitary FoundationPO Box 1944, Bristol, BS99 2UB. General Information Tel: 0117 370 1333Admin: 0845 450 0376Support & Information Helpline: 0845 450 0375Endocrine Nurse Helpline: 0845 450 0377Mon 5.30pm–9.30pm & Thur 9am-1pm Fax: 0117 933 0910; Website: www.pituitary.org.uk

Post Adoption Centre5 Torriano Mews, Torriano Avenue,Kentish Town, London NW5 2RZ. Tel: 020 7284 0555.Advice line: 020 7284 5879Website: www.postadoptioncentre.org.ukEmail: advice@postadoptioncentre.org.uk

Scottish Care and Information onMiscarriageScottish Charity. 285 High Street, GlasgowG4 0QS. Tel: 0141 552 5070Website: www.miscarriagesupport.org.uk Email:miscarriagescotland@hotmail.com

Sexual Dysfunction AssociationSuite 301, Emblem House, London BridgeHospital, 27 Tooley Street, London SE1 2PRHelpline: 020 7486 7262 Mon, Wed & Fri 9am-5pm; Website: www.sda.uk.netEmail:info@sexualadviceassociation.co.uk

Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Society28 Portland Place, London W1B 1LY Help line: 020 7436 5881 Helpline Support Email: helpline@uk-sands.org General Enquiries email:support@uk-sands.orgWebsite: www.uk-sands.org

Surrogacy UKThis organisation was formed to supp -ort and inform anyone with an interestin surrogacy with in the UK. Contact:Surrogacy UK, PO Box 323, Hitchin,Herts SG5 9AX Tel: 01989 565270Email: admin@surrogacyuk.orgWebsite: www.surrogacyuk.org

TAMBATwinline (TAMBA). Twinline is a nat -ional, con fidential, support, listeningand inform at ion service for all parentsof twins, triplets and more, and theprofessionals involved in their care.Helpline: 0800 138 0509, 10am–1pm& 7pm-10pm everyday. For out ofhours call the TAMBA office on 01483 304442 or email: asktwinline@tamba.org.ukWebsite: www.tamba.org.uk

Turner Syndrome Support Society(TSSS)13 Simpson Court, 11 South Avenue,Clydebank Business Park, ClydebankG81 2NRHelpline: 0300 111 7520; Tel: 0141 952 8006Fax: 0141 952 8025, Website: www.tss.org.uk

UK DonorlinkUK Voluntary Information Exchangeand Con tact Register Following DonorConcept ion Pre 1991. Hollyshaw House,2 Hollyshaw Lane, Leeds LS15 7BD.Tel: 0113 264 1631Email: info@ukdonorlink.org.ukWebsite: www.ukdonorlink.org.uk

VERITY (Polycystic OvarySyndrome Support Group) New Bond House, 124 New BondStreet, London, W1S 1DX, send SAE. Website: www.verity-pcos.org.uk Email: office@verity-pcos.org.ukAllow 28 days for return of information

Well Being of Women (WOW)27 Sussex Place, Regents Park, LondonNW1 4SP. Tel: 020 7772 6400, Fax: 020 7724 7725 Email: wellbeingofwomen@rcog.org.ukWebsite:www.wellbeingofwomen.org.uk

Women’s Health ConcernOffice Mailing Address: Women’s HealthConcern Ltd, 4-6 Eton Place, Marlow,Buckinghamshire SL7 2QAGeneral Enquiries: pshervington@womens-health-concern.orgOffice Telephone: 01628 478473Website: www.womens-health-concern.org

ComplementaryTherapies

Association of Reflexologists5 Fore Street, Taunton, SomersetTA1 1HX. Tel: 01823 351010 Website: www.aor.org.ukEmail: info@aor.org.uk

British Acupuncture Council63 Jeddo Road, London W12 9HQ Tel: 0208 735 0400 Website: www.acupuncture.org.ukEmail: info@acupuncture.org.uk

The Association of TraditionalChinese Medicine andAcupuncture UK5 Grosvenor House, 1 High Street,Edgware, London HA8 7TA

Tel: 020 8951 3030Email: info@atcm.co.ukWebsite: www.atcm.co.uk

The Complementary and NaturalHealthcare Council, 83 Victoria Street,London SW1H 0HW Tel: 020 3178 2199Email: info@cnhc.org.ukWebsite: www.cnhc.org.uk

The National Council forHypnotherapyPO Box 89, York YO43 4WL Tel: 0845 544 0788 Website:www.hypnotherapists.org.uk

The Society of Homeopaths11 Brookfield, Moulton Park,Northamp tonshire NN3 6WL. Tel: 0845 450 6611 Fax: 0845 450 6622 Email: info@homeopathy-soh.orgWebsite: www.homeopathy-soh.org

spri

ng

20

13

I

N U

K

30

Useful Websiteswww.adoptionmattersnw.org – The one-stop

information source for all adoption matterswww.adoptionoverseas.org – The website for

OASIS, the overseas Adoption Support andInformation Services

www.ashermans.org – Information and supportfor Asherman’s Syndrome sufferers

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/ashermans – International support group forAsherman’s Syndrome sufferers

www.babyloss.com – Information and supportonline for anyone affected by the death of a babyduring pregnancy, at birth, or shortly afterwards

www.bionews.org.uk – BioNews is a free weeklydigest of news stories in assisted reproduction andhuman genetics, published by Progress EducationalTrust

www.britishfertilitysociety.org.uk – Providesinformation about the BFS, details of events,publications and links to websites of otherassociations in the UK and internationally

www.cancerbacup.org.uk – Helping people livewith cancer

www.fertilityfriends.co.uk – Our aim is to helppeople through the difficult process of assistedconception by sharing thoughts, experiences andknowledge with others

www.fertilityzone.co.uk – Friendly infertilitysupport forums

www.hertrust.org – Charity set up to provideinformation on natural IVF

www.hfea.gov.uk – The Human Fertilisation andEmbryology Authority’s website

http://guide.hfea.gov.uk/guide – The HFEA’sFind a Clinic service

www.ivf.net – Giving information of IVF news,articles, reviews, clinics, books, mail, etc

www.mothersover40.com – Gives support viachat room and message board and variousinformation features

www.nhs.uk – Information regarding all aspects ofthe NHS

www.nhs.uk/ServiceDirectories/Pages/PrimaryCareTrustListing.aspx – Finding out whoyour Primary Care Trust (PCT) is

www.ovacome.org.uk – For those suffering fromovarian cancer

www.pituitary.org.uk – The Pituitary Foundationwebsite

www.progress.org.uk – Provides ethical and legaldis cussion on the implications of infertility andhuman genetics for the public and professionalsPET holds regular public debates and conferencesand also publishes a free web and email news andinformation service

www.thehormonefactory.com – For childrenpromoting sexual and reproductive health andresponsible decision-making

www.ukselfhelp.info – Directory of National UKSelf Help Groups and Support Organisations.

www.vasectomyreversals.co.uk

Aberdeen Fertility Centre

The Agora Gynaecology & FertilityCentre, Brighton

Bath Fertility Centre

Birmingham Women’s Hospital

BMI Esperance Hospital, Eastbourne

Bourn Hall Clinic, Cambridgeshire

Bourn Hall Clinic, Colchester

Bristol Centre for ReproductiveMedicine

Burton IVF

Cambridge IVF (formerlyAddenbrooke’s)

CARE Northampton

CARE Nottingham

CARE Sheffield

Centre for Reproductive Medicine &Fertility, Sheffield

The Centre for Reproductive andGenetic Health, London

Chelsea and Westminster Hospital,London

Create Health Clinic LLP

CRM, London

Edinburgh ACU

Ginefiv Clinic, Madrid

Glasgow ACS Unit, Nuffield Health

Glasgow Centre for ReproductiveMedicine

Glasgow Royal Infirmary, ACU

Guy’s & St Thomas’ Hospital, London

Hammersmith Hospital, London

Herts and Essex Fertility Centre

Homerton Fertility Unit

The Hull IVF Unit

Kings College Hospital, London

Leeds Centre for ReproductiveMedicine

Leicester Fertility Centre

Leighton Hospital, Cheshire

The Lister Fertility Clinic, London

Liverpool Women’s Hospital

The London Bridge Fertility, Gynaecology and Genetics Centre

London Fertility Centre

The London Women's Clinic

Lynn Fertility Centre, Norfolk

Midland Fertility Services, Aldridge

Newlife Clinic

Ninewells Hospital, Dundee

Nuffield Health, Surrey

NURTURE, University of Nottingham

Origin Fertility Care, Northern Ireland

Royal Albert Edward Infirmary, Wigan

Royal Hospitals, Regional FertilityCentre, Northern Ireland

Southampton Fertility Unit, PrincessAnne Hospital

Spire Healthcare, IVF Scotland

Torbay Hospital Fertility Unit

Walsgrave Hospital, Coventry

Wessex Fertility, Southampton

Yeovil Fertility Clinic

The Zhai Clinic, London

Zita West Clinics Ltd

I N UK Clinic Outreach Scheme MembersAll clinics who are members of the scheme are also listed on our website with links through to theirindividual website where appropriate

spri

ng

20

13

I

N U

K

31

CorporateThe Corporate Partnership scheme brings together The Infertility Network UK (I N UK) and businesses working in thefield of infertility and beyond. The aim is to develop close, effective relationships and work together in our role in theprovision of care, treatment and support of those suffering the effects of infertility. Our Partnership Scheme is basedon stepped levels from Gold Partnership, through Silver, Bronze, to Corporate Friend and Supporter of I N UK. I N UKis grateful for the support of all our current Corporate Partners. If you know of any company interested in helpinginfertility sufferers through working with us then please contact:

Sheena Young – Head of Business DevelopmentTel/Fax: 01294 218868 Mobile: 07710 764 162 Email: sheena@infertilitynetworkuk.com

GOLD PARTNERSFerring Pharmaceuticals“Ferring are a leading company in the area of infertility treatment. By working in partnership with charities such asI N UK, we hope to help all those couples struggling to cope with infertility”

Merck Serono “Merck Serono is a leading biotechnology company in the field of infertility. In line with I N UK’s work, Merck Seronobelieves that it is of vital importance that patients are well educated about the disease area and are kept up to dateon new developments, especially in times of changing political focus. All these things are necessary so that patientsare able to make informed choices about the treatment options available to them”

BRONZE PARTNERSAuxogyn“Auxogyn is revolutionising the field of reproductive medicine by translating scientific discoveries in early embryodevelopment into valuable clinical tools which deliver consistent, objective and quantitative information regardingembryo viability that clinicians and infertility patients can use to make important treatment decisions. Auxogyn iscommitted to improve outcomes, care and clinical policy by forging partnerships with scientists, clinicians, payers,patients, and organizations such as The Infertility Network (UK).”

Hologic“Hologic is a leading developer, manufacturer and supplier of premium diagnostic products, medical imaging systemsand surgical products. The company operates four core business units focused on diagnostics, breast health,gynaecology and skeletal health. With a comprehensive suite of technologies and a robust research anddevelopment programme, Hologic is committed to improving women’s lives. Hologic’s MyoSure® product is anincision-less procedure that safely and effectively removes submucosal fibroids. It is an ideal treatment option forwomen seeking to preserve their uterus for fertility and in reducing heavy bleeding symptoms.”

PregLem“PregLem is a Swiss-based speciality biopharm ac eutical company. In October 2010 PregLem became a member ofthe Gedeon Richter Group. We are ded icated to the development and licensing of innovative treatments for womenwith unmet needs in obstetrics and gynaecology. In many cases, these women have difficulty conceiving. It is ouraim to help preserve the integrity of womanhood through increased treatment options, and in partnership with TheInfertility Network (UK)”

CORPORATE FRIEND Casmed UK “I N UK’s Corporate Partnership is effective in bringing together those working in infertility, both those providing thecare and support, and those manufacturing the products used in their care. It is important that we share informationand plans for the future and that we work together for the benefit of infertility sufferers. I am grateful to all of ourCorporate Partners for their commitment to patient care and the work of I N UK” P

art

ners

hip

I N UK PatronsCheryl Baker

Chris and Diane De Burgh

Dame Judi Dench

Vivienne Parry

Anthea Turner

Professor Lord Robert Winston

Professor Adam Balen

Peter Brinsden

Dr Simon Fishel

Professor Stephen Franks

Ms Helen Kendrew

Dr Iwan Lewis-Jones

Dr Brian Lieberman

Dr Dave Morroll

Professor Alison Murdoch

John Parsons

Professor Allan Templeton

Medical Advisory Board

Providing tailored treatmentson the body’s own terms

At Ferring, we believe that patient information and support are essential and offer a comprehensive range of services designed to help make infertility treatment easier.

Patient Support:The ‘IVY – your fertility friend’ app is free on both Apple andAndroid devices and provides current and prospective patients with;a guide to managing infertility, clinic finder, glossary, note function,

calendar sync and FAQs. IVY can be found by searching ‘IVY Fertility’ in the AppStore or on the Google Play Store.

Patient Self Injection Kit:To enable patients to manage their treatment easily at home.

Home Care Service:Ferring is open to working with all Home Care providers to offer aconfidential and convenient delivery service for medication and self-injectionkits to the patient’s home.

For more information on these, or any other servicesfrom Ferring, please contact your clinic.

RG/138/2012/UK(1) Date of preparation: February 2013

FERRINGPHARMACEUTICALS

Ferring is a pharmaceutical company that develops, manufactures and markets products for infertility treatment.

Ferring Pharmaceuticals LtdDrayton Hall, Church Road, West Drayton, UB7 7PS

www.ferring.co.uk