Infertile Couples Turning To Internet To Fund IVF - Would You?

Couples in the US have been taking to the internet to raise money for costly IVF procedures that could enable them to have their dream child.

And according to a crowdfunding website, more than a million dollars has been raised between them so far. But critics have slammed it as 'tacky' and 'presumptuous'.

Fertility treatment is expensive, both in the US and the UK. If you're not eligible on the NHS, couples can expect to pay around £5,000 per treatment. And remember, even for women younger than 35, treatments only have a 32 per cent success rate, which decreases with age.

In the US, IVF is even pricier and with no NHS, couples can be forced to spend their life savings on the hope of having a child of their own. And when they run out, so does their hope.

So some enterprising couples have taken it into their own hands, telling their infertility stories on GoFundMe.com.

"...the one thing our life is missing is a little one to enjoy all of this with us," explains Reis O'Brien, on his fundraising page.

"This past year, we spent our entire savings on trying to have a baby through IVF, which we are limited to due to medical reasons. In February, my wife got pregnant thanks to the power of modern medical science.

All went well until four and a half months later, we she miscarried due to what the doctors refer to as an "incompetent cervix" and we lost our baby girl. It was crushing."

So far he and his wife have raised $8,562 (£5,085) towards their $40k (£24k) goal.

On another couple, Deidre and Harold's, IVF funding page, one donor sends the couple her good wishes, saying: "Wishing you every success. I totally understand that deep desire for a child...my dream came true when I had my daughter earlier this year by IVF and I sincerely hope yours will too."

Like many other couples, Deirdre and Harold have gone into details about their difficult experiences trying to conceive a child, and revealing the ins and outs of previous treatment failures.

It's heartwrenching reading and the couple are a sixth of the way through their fundraising.

The website also has postings from parents planning adoptions and for children needing medical treatment and some of the responses and generous donations are incredibly touching. Gay couples have also posted pleas to help them raise money to become parents through surrogacy.

Critics feel splaying your fertility experience online is just too personal.

Jennifer Lahl, president of the Center for Bioethics and Culture, a nonprofit that campaigns on third-party reproduction issues, commented to the New York Post: “It’s pretty cynical and presumptuous to ask friends, family and strangers for money for crazy expensive IVF. It’s tacky and tasteless.

"What are they going to ask for next? The child’s private school or college fund?”

But the online 'hope jar' doesn't strike us as all that horrible. Many people have experienced the pain of infertility and are happy to donate a few pounds to help another couple potentially following in their footsteps.

Would you do it?

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