Fertility funding struggle draws public support

A Devon couple facing repeated miscarriages seek private funding for a high‑cost IVF plan after NHS rules limit funded treatment.

Couple who just want a baby to love open up on heartbreak

Sammi and Lee Dryhurst, a couple from Tiverton in Devon, began trying for a baby in late 2020. Since then they have faced ten miscarriages, two ectopic pregnancies, emergency surgeries, and years of medical testing. Their journey has included NHS and private clinics across the UK, nine fertility diagnoses, and a shared commitment to every treatment option available. They now face the prospect of an advanced and highly medicated IVF protocol, with costs potentially exceeding £25,000. NHS rules in their area mean they do not qualify for funded IVF because couples must go two years without pregnancy, including miscarriages, before eligibility. Their fundraising appeal aims to cover private tests and the rest of the treatment, with any unused funds donated to miscarriage charities.

To move forward, the couple is planning a final round of private tests at a clinic in Epsom and weighing whether to pursue high-protocol medicated cycles or go straight to IVF. They have already cut alcohol, lost weight, and adopted a strict health routine, while Sammi has also trained as a holistic fertility and early pregnancy specialist. Their story highlights the gap between medical advances and public funding and underscores how access to care can hinge on local policy and the ability to pay.

The Dryhursts’ case shines a light on who bears the cost of fertility care in a system that often treats treatment as a mix of medical necessity and personal means. The UK debate about funded IVF is fractured by regional rules and long waiting times, which can push hopeful couples toward private routes that many cannot afford. This story reminds readers that medical breakthroughs come with a price tag, not just for treatment but for the emotional toll of repeated losses. It also raises questions about how policy should balance equity with the realities of rising success rates and age-related fertility risk. The couple’s experience signals a broader policy tension: extend support to those with time running out, or maintain current eligibility that excludes many with miscarriages and complex conditions.

Highlights

Their story is a reminder that compassion must meet cost in the fight for families.