Angela and Martin Roberts, a couple from Bedfordshire, struggled for 10 years to conceive a child. In 1991, after undergoing one round of in vitro fertilisation (IVF) treatment at Bourn Hall in Cambridgeshire, their wishes were finally granted. They welcomed two twin girls into the world. Nearly 30 years later, one of the twins, Nikki Roberts, went to the same clinic to have her second child.
The Roberts family wants to inform prospective parents that struggling with fertility is okay, and it is okay to not have children naturally. The family is hopeful that the upcoming Netflix film, Joy, about IVF pioneers Patrick Steptoe, Robert Edwards, and Jean Purdy will put a focus on issues of infertility.
Mrs. Roberts found out she had blocked fallopian tubes due to complications she suffered from peritonitis and appendicitis. She said that it was never possible for them to conceive naturally. A doctor recommended IVF, and they were able to conceive their twins after one round of private treatment at Bourn Hall.
The National Health Service (NHS) states that IVF does not always result in pregnancy and it can be both emotionally and physically demanding. According to the NHS, the success rate of IVF depends on the age of the woman and is only 32% if the woman is under 35 years old. It drops to 4% once they reach the age of 44. Nikki Roberts, one of the twins, had hormonal concerns in her childhood and underwent intrauterine insemination (IUI) treatment to conceive her second child.
The film Joy, out next month, focuses on three British scientists who were pioneers in developing IVF treatment. The film, starring Bill Nighy, James Norton, and Thomasin McKenzie, highlights the treatment that was once considered controversial. The Roberts family hopes that the film will draw attention to infertility and the path forward
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More
