Sussex woman's appeal as 'time is running out' for IVF to work

Georgia Train was due to begin her first round of IVF earlier this year but in March her treatment had to be postponed for six months when the coronavirus pandemic hit.

The 33-year-old from Brighton, who now lives in Icklesham, near Hastings, also found out she has Diminished Ovarian Reserve (DOR), which means her fertility is compromised and it is important to retrieve some of her eggs while she is still young.

Knowing she has this condition, Georgia said it was “devastating” to have to hold off on treatment for six months.

Georgia with her partner Kenelm

She said: “I was just one of many women hearing that news in floods of tears.

“At that stage there were no rescheduled dates. Some women were halfway through treatment and they lost embryos. It was devastating for a lot of people.”

Georgia was able to begin a round of IVF privately earlier this month but was dealt another blow when she and her partner Kenelm, also 33, were told that the £8,000 treatment had not worked.

Reluctantly Georgia took to social media to appeal for support and open up about her experience as an IVF patient.

She said: “At first we did what most IVF patients do, which is to hide it from friends and family, but now I’m documenting it on YouTube and Instagram, partly to show how hard it is.

“IVF is so un-talked about. So far the response has been amazing and it has even connected me to friends who have gone through the same thing.”

Georgia has also launched a crowdfunding campaign to help pay for further rounds of IVF, as she narrowly missed out on funding for treatment through the NHS.

She said: “We were perfect on paper to have treatment funded by the NHS, as they look at things like your weight and general health and I don’t smoke and love to exercise.

“The NHS has changed its approach and there was one blood test for a hormone which I scored slightly lower on, which two years ago would not have mattered.

“To be told you’re not eligible for any funding at all is heartbreaking. It’s too much for any one couple to pay for themselves.”

Georgia in hospital

Although Georgia has already raised more than £6,000 through her GoFundMe page, she was told earlier this week that for IVF to work she will need at least two or three more rounds of treatment.

She said: “You don’t want to appear greedy but the goal posts have changed. We are back in debt again even with everyone’s help.

“It’s so much to ask people during a pandemic and I know this is the reason so many IVF patients won’t have children, because of the cost.”

Georgia described her experience of going through IVF as “very traumatising” and hopes she can help others by talking openly about it on her YouTube channel and @MakingMyBaby Instagram page.

To donate, go to her 'Making My Baby' GoFundMe page.