HomeNewsSportRadioTVWeatherLanguages
UK versionInternational version|About the versions Low graphics|Accessibility help One-Minute World News
News services
Your news when you want it
News Front Page
Africa
Americas
Asia-Pacific
Europe
Middle East
South Asia
UK
Business
Health
Medical notes
Science/Nature
Technology
Entertainment
Also in the news
-----------------
Video and Audio
-----------------
Have Your Say
In Pictures
Country Profiles
Special Reports RELATED BBC SITES
SPORT
WEATHER
ON THIS DAY
EDITORS' BLOG
Last Updated: Wednesday, 30 August 2006, 00:38 GMT 01:38 UK
E-mail this to a friend Printable version
'My weight did not stop me'
Debra's story
The NHS excludes many women who are obese from fertility treatment.
Experts acknowledge there should be a threshold, but believe the NHS should be more flexible than it is currently.
When Debra Howarth decided to seek fertility treatment she thought there would be no problem.
Aged 38 when she applied for treatment last autumn, she was within the NHS recommended guidelines.
What is more the government had told NHS trusts to fund at least one cycle of IVF treatment.
But it was not to be so simple for Ms Howarth, who is now 39, as she was told she was two stone overweight with a body mass index of 32.
She said: "I was shocked when they told me I was two stone overweight.
"The staff at the clinic said I needed to lose weight or pay for the treatment myself.
Money
"I had just lost my niece to cancer and my feet were in plaster from an operation I had had. It was a very emotional time.
"We did not have the money to pay for the treatment, I didn't know what to do, I was getting older and feared my chance may have passed me by.
"I am someone who has always been on diets, trying to lose a bit of weight. But I never considered myself really overweight and certainly not enough to stop me having a family."
How many people are denied treatment and could get pregnant too?
Debra Howarth
Call for obesity IVF ban
Send us your comments
But then by chance Ms Howarth, an NHS kitchen superintendent from Barnsley, entered a competition on the TV programme This Morning and won £5,000.
"I could not believe it. We knew immediately what we would do with it. We paid for IVF and got pregnant first time.
"I now have just seven weeks to go and can't wait. But I do wonder what would have happened if I had not won that competition.
"They said because of my age and weight, my chances of becoming pregnant were lower. But I got pregnant first time.
"How many people are denied treatment and could get pregnant too? It is not fair."
E-mail this to a friend Printable version
SEE ALSO
Call for fertility ban for obese
30 Aug 06 | Health
How fertility laws might change
16 Aug 05 | Health
Fertility rules challenged by MPs
03 Jul 06 | UK Politics
Lesbian couple want 'rare IVF'
19 Apr 05 | Health
RELATED INTERNET LINKS
British Fertility Society
Infertility Network UK
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites
TOP HEALTH STORIES
Test 'can spot Alzheimer's risk'
Appetite 'control centres' found
Hope for ovarian cancer vaccine
| News feeds
MOST POPULAR STORIES NOW
MOST E-MAILED MOST READ 'White deaths': Italy's secret shame
Honour crime fear of Syria women
Rare China tiger seen in the wild
Cranes move Acropolis sculptures
Most popular now, in detail MOST E-MAILED MOST READ China communists 'falling short'
Putin told of 'assassination bid'
Sweden top for welcoming migrants
NZ police hold 17 in terror raids
Cranes move Acropolis sculptures
Most popular now, in detail
FEATURES, VIEWS, ANALYSIS Elusive leader
Little is known about the most powerful man in Chinese politics
'Deaf ears'
UN envoy says Quartet fails to address Palestinian abuse
The week ahead
What could be grabbing the headlines in the next seven days
PRODUCTS & SERVICESE-mail news Mobiles Alerts News feeds Podcasts BBC Copyright Notice Most Popular Now | The most read story in Australasia is: China communists 'falling short' Back to top ^^ Help Privacy and cookies policy News sources About the BBC Contact us |