The Baby Business

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/