Keeping strong through the IVF journey

Rebekah Cilia speaks to CHARLENE FARRUGIA, a 32 year-old child minder who opens up about dealing with IVF and how she is trying to keep strong through the journey. Charlene’s story is representative of many women facing infertility problems and seeking IVF as a solution

Problems for Charlene started in 2011 when she felt a stabbing pain in her stomach and was told she had cysts that were growing at a fast rate. Following this, she was referred to hospital where she learnt she was pregnant but that the pregnancy was ectopic, meaning that the embryo was growing in her fallopian tubes. The embryo had to be removed by means of an operation.

Due to the issues she had experienced, Charlene was told to have injections to increase her possibility of getting pregnant but unfortunately they did not work. She tried to conceive naturally for two years but in 2013 was referred to the ART clinic at Mater Dei – where IVF is performed.

Charlene was told that she probably could not get pregnant because of a blockage in her tubes which may have been caused by the operation she had to remove the ectopic pregnancy. Since then, she has had two failed cycles of IVF and will soon be starting her third. This will be her last cycle that is covered by the National Health Service.

She described how, during the first phase of the cycle, she would wake up at 5.30am to do her injections as they needed to be done at the same time every day. The first cycle was especially hard “as you don’t know what to expect”. Although Charlene is strong-minded, she admits that IVF does take its physical and mental toll on the person. Once the embryo is implanted, a daily injection is needed, which is especially painful.

The body is flooded with hormones which can affect your relationships and Charlene stresses how lucky she is to have her family’s full support.

Charlene tells how, three weeks into the cycle, you get a call from the hospital to let you know whether or not the cycle has been successful. The call is the culmination of all the pain and suffering endured over the previous weeks. She describes how when you are told that the cycle has failed, “you just break down”. Luckily, Charlene is a fighter so she gets back on her feet and is ready to start the next cycle, saying: “I am young and I am strong, so I will keep on trying.” She mentions that if more cycles were possible, she would keep going.

At the ART clinic, Charlene meets several women in her situation and has made a lot of friends. Unfortunately, others are not as strong as she is and some women, after receiving news of the failed cycle, are not able to bounce back. Some even have to consult a psychiatrist.

At this stage, Charlene is not considering adoption but if she does not manage to have children of her own she would consider fostering.

Embryo freezing, adoption and surrogacy

Whilst being possibly too late for Charlene, as she is about to start her final cycle, she is in total agreement with being able to fertilise more eggs and having the possibility to freeze them. However, she says that she will use every single one of her embryos even if she does manage to get pregnant. She wants the law to be passed as soon as possible, while she is young enough to potentially have several pregnancies, saying “three years is a long time for the bill to be amended for someone in my position”.

Her partner is still uncertain about his position on embryo adoption and although Charlene is in favour, she says that in a relationship these things need to be agreed together.

She is adamant that everyone should be given a choice. If someone does not agree with embryo freezing and adoption, then they have the option not to fertilise extra embryos. She believes in the philosophy of “you live your life and let me live mine”. She has been very outspoken on this subject and has received some very hurtful comments – including being called ‘baby killer’ and being told that she should go and freeze herself. She believes that “God gave humans intelligence so we should use it. He knew we would be facing this problem. Why shouldn’t we use the intelligence that God gave us to give life? In the end, I am trying to give life – not to kill, as many people are saying. I am not killing because I am freezing them.”

Even in her current position, Charlene would definitely consider being a surrogate for anyone within her family, should they need it. “Even though I do not have children and I would have to give up the child, I would do it for a member of the family.”

Costs related to IVF treatments

As things stand, three cycles of IVF are provided by Mater Dei Hospital. However, the medication required for the treatment is not covered. Charlene notes that each cycle costs between €3,000 and €4,000 just for the medication. It is also inconvenient, as the medication can only be obtained from private pharmacies. Furthermore, the current situation for having your embryos frozen – which, as Charlene notes, provides a better chance of the treatment actually working – you would need to travel abroad. She points out how unjust the situation is, with people who can afford it can go abroad and fertilise large numbers of embryos.

The current situation in Malta

The current law on assisted procreation, enacted in 2012, dictates that two eggs can be fertilised and both must be placed in the womb. The procedure is only available for heterosexual couples in a stable relationship using their own gametes.

An amendment to the law is now being discussed through the Embryo Protection Bill which allows for embryos to be frozen and for same sex couples and single women to make use of IVF treatment. Should the woman not make use of the frozen embryos, then these must be given up for adoption.

The Government and Opposition have very conflicting views concerning the amendment, with Opposition Leader Adrian Delia vowing to reverse it, should he be in a position to do so. The Opposition has also called for the complete process to be provided free of charge, including all medication.