‘Three beautiful boys despite PCOS, miscarriage and an ectopic pregnancy’

Vivian and Max Barnes

Vivian and Max now have a family of three sons but their story includes two miscarriages, an ectopic pregnancy causing the loss of one of Vivian’s Fallopian tubes, the diagnosis of endometriosis and polycystic ovaries (PCOS), and two full cycles of IVF at MFS, including a total of five embryo transfers.

In 1999, after two pregnancies ended in miscarriage and an ectopic pregnancy, Vivian and Max had their first cycle of IVF. Vivian became pregnant from a frozen embryo transfer, but again miscarried at 11 weeks. In September 2001 they adopted 5½ month old Joshua, believing that adoption was their only chance of parenthood. But in 2003, after receiving funding from Dudley PCT, they began their second full cycle of IVF.

Their twin sons Ollie and Hugo were born at 30 weeks in April 2004 weighing just 3lbs and 2lbs 12oz and respectively, after two frozen embryo transfers from their second IVF cycle.

Vivian and Max then very generously donated their remaining 10 frozen embryos to give possibly two other couples the chance of parenthood.

“Despite everything we went through, we have our three gorgeous sons and we can’t believe how lucky we are,” said Vivian. “Our persistence and the expertise of the team at MFS mean we have more than we could ever have hoped for.

“All three of our boys are precious gifts in our lives and we wanted other couples to benefit from some of our good fortune, so we donated our embryos.”

‘Three pregnancies and three boys from three IVF cycles’

Diane and Steve Lilley

Diane and Steve tried for a baby for more than seven years before GP and hospital tests revealed Diane had blocked Fallopian tubes and would need fertility treatment to conceive.

Since 1997 they have had three cycles of IVF at MFS and now have three sons; Elliot was born in September 1998, Adam in August 2001 and Ethan in May 2005.

“We were so very lucky,” said Diane. “We had three cycles of IVF, three pregnancies and three single babies. We couldn’t have hoped for a better outcome from our treatment at MFS.”

‘From a couple to a family of five in 46 weeks’

Senita and Ozzy Anderson

Senita (29) and Ozzy (38) Anderson tried to have a baby for four years before GP and hospital tests confirmed they would need fertility treatment to conceive.

In early 2007 they completed a key stage of their ICSI treatment with the transfer of two blastocyst embryos back into Senita’s uterus. A blastocyst is a five day old embryo and in 2007 MFS achieved a clinical pregnancy rate of 49.2% for blastocyst transfers, compared to 38.7% per standard embryo transfer for IVF and ICSI, for women under 38 years.

Their twins Alexsia and Rhianna were born on 24 September 2007, four weeks early weighing 4lbs 2oz and 7lbs, respectively. When the twins were just three months old Senita conceived naturally and Asia was born on 19 August 2008, just 46 weeks and five days after her sisters. They will all be in the same school year.

‘Early ICSI success avoided use of donor sperm’

Lorraine and Karl Tonks

After trying for a baby for more than two years, tests on both Lorraine and Karl revealed unexplained male infertility and the need for fertility treatment. Their twins Benjamin and Kira were born in April 1998 after a single cycle of ICSI at MFS and following six unsuccessful attempts at IUI with donor sperm at another fertility clinic.

ICSI was introduced to MFS in 1994 and involves the injection of a single carefully selected healthy sperm into the cellular structure of the egg, using a glass needle 1/10^th the width of a human hair.

“MFS enabled us to have our family after just a single cycle, because it was already expert in the new ICSI treatment,” said Lorraine.

“Karl also needed an emergency surgical sperm retrieval on the day of my egg collection and staff at MFS were able to carry this out at the clinic right away, so our treatment could continue as planned. This expertise gave us such hope after the disappointment of our IUI attempts at another clinic - and means we didn’t need to use donor sperm.”

‘Paralympian and PCOS sufferer enjoy gift of donor embryos’

Shareena and Fred Howley

Shareena and Fred Howley of Cannock knew that having a baby was going to be difficult after a roofing accident in 1993, left Fred (37) with injuries to his lower spine and unable to walk. They always knew that they would need fertility treatment to help them conceive but didn’t know that it would take nine years of heartache and the gift of a couple whom they don’t know before they would have the baby they long for.

This was made more complicated when in 1999 Shareena (36) was diagnosed with mild polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a complex hormone disorder which makes it difficult to conceive and increases the risk of early miscarriage.

Following two cycles of ICSI with surgical sperm retrieval and IUI using donor sperm with no success, Fred and Shareena took a break from fertility treatment. Fred competed in the 2004 Athens Paralympics in which he won a bronze medal with the GB wheelchair basketball team and then they travelled for 18 months and worked in an orphanage in Thailand.

In 2008 they returned to MFS to consider their options and learned about embryo donation. “It didn’t matter to us that the baby wouldn’t be genetically related to me or Fred, just as we’d have loved any baby we’d adopted, as our own. And using donor embryos meant that the baby would grow inside me and that I would give birth, so it seemed to be the answer we’d been looking for.”

Their son Zach Omar was born on 9 January 2009 weighing 6lb 5oz.

‘Single NHS funded cycle results in twin girls’

Jackie and Paul Davis

Jackie and Paul tried for a baby for more than 15 years, and suffered two miscarriages, before GP and hospital tests revealed Jackie had blocked Fallopian tubes and would need fertility treatment to conceive again.

In 2001 they had a single cycle of ICSI at MFS, resulting in the birth of their twins Leah and Lara in July 2002.

“We were really lucky,” said Jackie. “We got NHS funding for our treatment and were successful after just one cycle of ICSI.”

‘Couple travel ‘the extra mile’ for successful IVF’

Heather and Kevin Tout

After trying for a baby for more than three years, Heather and Kevin were advised to try fertility treatment. They had two unsuccessful IVF attempts in Liverpool and switched to MFS, after a cousin’s successful treatment here.

After just one more cycle of ICSI their son Taylor was born in March 2003. Kevin and Heather say that the extra miles and travelling time to MFS were not an issue - they were prepared to go to wherever they had the best chance of having a baby.

‘Tubal damage and chocolate cyst result in milestone IVF daughter’

Michelle and Garry Brookes

Michelle and Garry started trying for a baby in 1994 but six years later, after they hadn’t conceived, tests revealed Michelle was suffering from an ovarian ‘chocolate’ cyst. During an operation to remove it, surgeons also had to remove one of her Fallopian tubes and ovaries, so they were advised to try IVF. After two full cycles of IVF, their daughter Francesca was born in May 2003 - and was MFS’ 2,500^th baby!

‘Double joy follows heartbreak’

Helen Roscoe and Russell Stokes

After trying for a baby for six years and being diagnosed with blocked Fallopian tubes, Helen conceived naturally and had a baby girl, Katie, in 1995. Tragically Katie lived for just four days. Then after three full cycles of IVF and ICSI treatments at MFS, including surgical sperm retrieval - and after they had discussed the possibility of using donor eggs - twins Alfie and Archie were born to Helen and Russell in May 2004.

‘Frozen embryo transfer ends eight years of childlessness’

Sarah and Steve Farmer

Sarah and Steve were referred for hospital tests and advised to have treatment at MFS after trying for a baby for seven years. After no success with two attempts of IUI, they had NHS-funded ICSI. Sarah says her parents ‘were a Godsend during my treatment. My mum injected me every day because I was afraid of needles and was with me when I had the eggs removed. I couldn’t have done it without her.’ Their son Thomas was born in June 2003 following a frozen embryo transfer on Friday 13 September 2002!