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Starting a family and planning a family is meant to be one of the most joyous moments in life; however across Peterborough some couples are facing intense distress.

After the suspension of IVF treatments across the North West Anglia Trust, couples are realising the mental, physical and financial costs of the process.

Amber Izzo, 24 and her husband Marco, 40, from Parnwell, began trying for a pregnancy four years ago.

Facing complications, the couple were told they needed IVF; however they now face the harrowing reality that no IVF treatment is available on the NHS locally.

Amber consulted doctors when she was unable to become pregnant, she was then diagnosed with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS).

She explained: “When you’re in your early twenties and in good health, you don’t think it will take long.

“We started to accept something wasn’t right after 18 months.”

PCOS is a condition that affects how ovaries work and can cause irregular periods and polycystic ovaries.

After a specialist referral in 2018 and a subsequent laparoscopy, it was discovered that Amber had two fully-blocked fallopian tubes.

This meant the couple would be unable to have children without fertility treatment.

Amber then had both tubes removed and awaited a Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG ) review before the couple decided their next steps.

The CCG suspended almost all of its specialist fertility services in 2017, including IVF to save money.

Then the CCG decided in August this year, that services will remain suspended indefinitely until their deficit is eliminated and returns to a sustainable financial surplus.

Amber tells of the couple’s disappointment at the indefinite IVF removal: “We understand the need to make cuts, however knowing if we lived minutes down the parkway we would get a round of IVF free makes it harder. Treatment should be equal for everyone.

“We pay our National Insurance and taxes just like everyone else in all the other counties.

“The fact it is a postcode lottery makes the whole situation a harder pill to swallow. Infertility on its own is hard Like us on Facebook and speak out FACEBOOK.COM/PETERBOROUGHTODAY

‘Knowing that if we lived minutes down the parkway we would get a round of IVF free makes it harder’

Marco and Amber Izzo have been frustrated by the IVF ‘postcode lottery’