Photo:
Julia Leigh said the hardest decision was knowing when to stop IVF. (ABC News)
Source: www.abc.net.au
The
Baby Business, reported by Sarah Dingle and presented by Sarah Ferguson, goes
to air on ABC, Monday 30th May at 8.30pm EDT
I
found watching this programme incredibly difficult. Seeing the pain women had
experienced either by not succeeding in their IVF journey, or in the middle of
not yet succeeding or the despair of being informed of how unlikely it was that
they would succeed, was frankly too much. The challenging and complex conundrum
associated with deciding to stop trying was heartbreaking.
I
think it was incredibly inappropriate to inform the couple of the 3% chance of
the IVF cycle working, on camera. I can only imagine that was done for the
"sensationalist" shock journalism approach. That poor family had
already identified that they were struggling with the process, it was plain to
see in their eyes and hear in their voices. I can only hope that after being
delivered such devastating news on camera they were provided with a high level
of counselling to give them the support they obviously need. I felt that was
cruel and uncalled for.
It
was going to be a hard watching a show that challenged, or questioned the very
process that we are going through. I braced myself.
The
main message of the programme was to highlight the poor results for older women
progressing through an IVF cycle. Fortunately, Ryan and I have been very
informed about the probability associated with IVF. We are under no
illusion. It is a really long shot.
Thankfully, this information has been provided freely and willingly from the
clinics that we have consulted with.
It
is an important principle of the medical sector that patients are able to make
informed choices. I agree with this approach. However, having progressed
through breast cancer I have had an experience where I really did not want to
know the survival rates. I knew that I had to stay positive. Being told
anything less than I had a 100% change of survival was not going to be mentally
useful for me. My approach was to understand my cancer treatment but I never
asked or did not allow my health professionals tell me the statistics of
survival. I am fortunate to be one of the lucky ones, I am well and my
treatment was successful. This journey was made so much more pleasant because
my medical practitioners were positive and hopeful.
My
experience is obviously different to the desire for a child, however I can
understand how women might be so eager to try for a child that the likely
success rates of IVF would be largely irrelevant when they commence the
treatment. Couples usually come to IVF after an ego crushing journey of
infertility, the IVF clinics provide that important and illusive elixir, hope.
I
expect that over time the greater the number of unsuccessful treatments the
more interested people become in reasons why. I can imagine this is where the
probability of success would become one of the key questions. There needs to be
appropriate ways to deliver the odds, complemented with professional support
mechanisms readily available to couples undertaking IVF.
The
programme raised a number of concerns with the industry that cannot be
overlooked. However, when there is a review of the sector it must be understood
that clinics are providing hope. I am
yet to come across people going through IVF that are doing it for any other
reason than to simply form a loving family. It is something that humans dream
of, it is a primal urge to create a new generation that will live beyond the
current generation. It is a positive action, it is a grand expression of hope
in humanity.
I
do not think that programmes like this help the community form a balanced view
of IVF. The overwhelming emotional
response to the programme was not positive, it made the industry look evil and
deceitful. The women currently undertaking treatment expressed shame associated
with infertility. I thought that the women were portrayed as either desperate,
bitter, weak, or slowly going insane. Based on what they had been through I am
not surprised, but they are also more than that. They are humans beings that
deserve respect. Falling fertility rates are a reality in Australia, making
people feel ashamed is not a sensible way to address the issue.
While
highly unlikely to rate well, I request a followup programme that explores why
we are facing these infertility issues and provides sensible options for people
to move forward in their lives. This is not an issue that should be shouldered
by individuals, it is a complex problem that will have significant impacts on
our community and culture. It requires and deserves a more sophisticated
response than a highly emotive sensationalist television programme.
Links:
The
Baby Business
http://www.abc.net.au/4corners/stories/2016/05/30/4469652.htm
IVF
doctors misleading women about success rates, industry experts say
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-05-30/ivf-doctors-misleading-patients-about-success-rates-experts-say/7457750
Australia’s
IVF industry under scrutiny: Why the ‘miracle pregnancy’ is a myth
http://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/parenting/pregnancy/australias-ivf-industry-under-scrutiny-why-the-miracle-pregnancy-is-a-myth/news-story/88fe1099248ee53f5a3022838f371d2b
Ovulation
Induction Drugs - Risk of Ovarian Cancer
http://www.ivf.com/ovca.html
What
others thought of the show
http://www.essentialkids.com.au/forums/index.php?/topic/1173704-the-promos-for-4-corners-tonight-are-making-me-stabby-already/
