‘A huge relief’: Rhode Mum on extension of State-funded IVF

By Rebekah O'Reilly

Rhode Mum Anna May has said the extension of State-funded fertility treatments will come as a 'huge relief' to couples across Ireland.

Speaking to the Offaly Independent in January of this year, Anna and her partner, Will May, highlighted how the previous criteria for eligibility were far too narrow, meaning many couples missed out on the chance to start or grow their families.

However, in recent weeks, The Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, announced a significant expansion in access to state-funded Assisted Human Reproduction ("AHR") treatments.

Effective from June 30 last, couples with one existing child in their relationship are now eligible to access State-funded AHR treatments, provided they meet all other existing criteria.

Minister Carroll MacNeill said: "Since we introduced publicly-funded Assisted Human Reproduction treatment in September 2023, close to 2,500 couples have been referred by Reproductive Specialist Consultants, and many have achieved their dream of starting a family.

"Fertility issues can be devastating, and I am conscious that secondary infertility is a significant issue, with many people facing huge financial and emotional difficulties in their attempts to have a second child.

"I have listened to the requests from parents in this difficult situation, and I am pleased that we are now in a position to make this potentially life-changing treatment available to more people," said the Minister.

Anna and her partner Will May conceived their first child, Lilah, through private in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) treatment, welcoming their little girl into the world in December 2023.

The couple first realised they were struggling to conceive a child in 2017, after they had been trying for a number of years with no success.

"We got married in 2019, and at that point we had been trying for a few years and nothing was happening," Anna said. "We were told that if we wanted to have a baby, IVF would be our only option."

The Rhode couple went entirely private for the IVF treatments, which led to the birth of baby Lilah, resulting in huge expense.

"Of course, we had our first child through IVF, but we have no frozen embryos. Under the new criteria, it does seem that we would be able to receive state-funding for a second child. Its an absolutely huge relief, because we have exhausted whatever savings we had, any loan options, just to have one baby.

"It is a huge relief that the option is there if you want to add to your family and grow your family and experience the whole having a baby again.

"You don't do IVF thinking you might want to have a second baby in the future, but now we are thinking we would like Lilah to have a sibling. The only reason we don't have another child is funding and money."

Under the expanded criteria, couples with one existing child in their relationship who meet all other conditions can now access one full cycle of state-funded: In-vitro fertilisation (IVF), Intrauterine insemination (IUI), or Intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).

In response to a request to clarify whether families who have previously conceived a child through treatment would be eligible for State-funded care under the scheme, Minister MacNeill confirmed a maximum of one State-funded treatment would be covered. This means that couples who have previously paid for private IVF treatment may be eligible for State-funded care to achieve a second pregnancy.

"Couples referred for IVF or ICSI are still offered a maximum of one publicly-funded IVF or ICSI cycle, which comprises one episode of ovarian stimulation, egg retrieval, fertilisation and transfer of one fresh embryo... followed by the freezing of other suitable embryos and the subsequent publicly-funded transfer of such frozen embryos until depletion or a live birth has been achieved," stated the response on behalf of the Minister.

"The State will also pay for the storage costs of any remaining frozen embryos for two years subsequent to a live birth."

"At the same time, the publicly-funded AHR treatment scheme allows for a maximum of two cancelled IVF/ICSI cycles (instances where, based on clinical determination, the egg collection procedure did not proceed following ovarian stimulation). A publicly-funded cycle could also potentially include a Testicular Sperm Extraction (TESE) procedure, for instance."

Anna said the expansion will benefit a wide range of families who were previously excluded.

"It extends treatment to a whole range of people," she said. "There could have been couples where one partner had a child from a previous relationship, and that meant they were excluded under the previous criteria. There are so many people that are going to be able to have a child who had probably come to terms with the fact that if we don’t have the money, the government aren't going to help.

"The government talked about extending State-funded IVF in the last budget, so it is positive to see it introduced before the next one. Even if you’re not included in the criteria yet, it feels like a step in the right direction.

"People who weren’t included this time last year are now included... it gives a little bit of hope."