0:00:02 > 0:00:05In the UK, an estimated one in seven couples
0:00:05 > 0:00:08suffer fertility problems of some kind.
0:00:08 > 0:00:11Every year, thousands of these will seek help
0:00:11 > 0:00:13in the form of fertility treatment.
0:00:16 > 0:00:18For some, this will be a success,
0:00:18 > 0:00:20resulting in a much longed-for child.
0:00:23 > 0:00:27It's as real as it'll ever be and fingers crossed, everything goes OK.
0:00:28 > 0:00:31For others, it will be an uphill struggle.
0:00:32 > 0:00:36At the heart of all this is our desire to become a family
0:00:36 > 0:00:40because we have so much to give.
0:00:40 > 0:00:43This is the story of the arduous journey faced by many couples
0:00:43 > 0:00:48and individuals as they strive for their ultimate goal, a newborn baby.
0:00:59 > 0:01:02Journalist Jilly works for a well-known national newspaper
0:01:02 > 0:01:05and has been married to Peter for five years.
0:01:07 > 0:01:10Now in their efforts to start a family, Jilly and Peter
0:01:10 > 0:01:13are hoping to undergo fertility treatment and are having
0:01:13 > 0:01:16an initial consultation to investigate the options.
0:01:17 > 0:01:21- Are you allergic to anything at all? - No.
0:01:21 > 0:01:23Peter and I met on a blind date.
0:01:23 > 0:01:27I think I just knew, when we left, that Peter had a great catch.
0:01:27 > 0:01:31- I thought he's a very lucky man. - The feeling was mutual, of course.
0:01:33 > 0:01:36- How long have you guys been together? - Nearly five years.
0:01:37 > 0:01:40Jilly has been pregnant before
0:01:40 > 0:01:44but unfortunately, it did not last the full term.
0:01:44 > 0:01:45OK, that's good.
0:01:45 > 0:01:48Peter was off playing football on the Thursday night,
0:01:48 > 0:01:50I came home and I didn't feel well.
0:01:50 > 0:01:52Then I had started to miscarry.
0:01:52 > 0:01:55We knew then there was no chance of the baby surviving
0:01:55 > 0:02:02and I think I fell into a big tunnel of emotion and I just went...
0:02:02 > 0:02:04It was just really, really hard.
0:02:04 > 0:02:10- And you've never been pregnant? - Yes, we have. We lost the baby.
0:02:10 > 0:02:14- OK, when was that?- November 2009.
0:02:14 > 0:02:20I think after we lost our baby, our first baby,
0:02:20 > 0:02:24the idea of trying for another child just filled me with absolute dread.
0:02:25 > 0:02:29That's something that, if we were given the chance to become parents,
0:02:29 > 0:02:32I'm going to have to get my head around the idea that you've got
0:02:32 > 0:02:37eight or nine months, hopefully, to deal with this.
0:02:37 > 0:02:40- Medically, any problems?- Nothing.
0:02:40 > 0:02:42Apart from carrying extra weight, I suppose.
0:02:44 > 0:02:46As part of this consultation,
0:02:46 > 0:02:50all patients have their BMI or body mass index measured.
0:02:50 > 0:02:53Jilly has to get hers below a certain level before
0:02:53 > 0:02:54she can start her treatment.
0:02:54 > 0:03:00You may or may not be aware that the ideal BMI is less than 30 in terms of
0:03:00 > 0:03:05success rates, in terms of response to the ovulation induction drugs,
0:03:05 > 0:03:09in terms of sedation risks for all the procedures.
0:03:10 > 0:03:13The top level for Origin is 33.
0:03:13 > 0:03:16My BMI is too high for them.
0:03:16 > 0:03:21They prefer it to be at a certain level to have the IVF drugs.
0:03:21 > 0:03:23Whatever the drug it is they give you,
0:03:23 > 0:03:25it kind of seeks out fat molecules
0:03:25 > 0:03:28and it's got a lot of work to do with me.
0:03:28 > 0:03:32That's what I've got to do.
0:03:36 > 0:03:40As women get older, their chances of achieving pregnancy decrease
0:03:40 > 0:03:43as their egg production rapidly diminishes.
0:03:45 > 0:03:48However, egg freezing has now become an option for women
0:03:48 > 0:03:52who may want to store their eggs for possible use in the future.
0:03:57 > 0:04:01Once we've got the eggs frozen, vitrified,
0:04:01 > 0:04:07they can remain in storage for, theoretically, indefinitely.
0:04:07 > 0:04:13There are legal constraints as to how long we can keep them
0:04:13 > 0:04:15but biologically,
0:04:15 > 0:04:21they can be safely stored in liquid nitrogen indefinitely.
0:04:25 > 0:04:29Barbara is in her late thirties and is currently single.
0:04:29 > 0:04:32She has decided to investigate the possibility
0:04:32 > 0:04:35of having her eggs frozen and stored so that if she decides
0:04:35 > 0:04:37to have children in the future,
0:04:37 > 0:04:39she has a better chance of becoming pregnant.
0:04:41 > 0:04:49I've made the decision now to look at possibly freezing
0:04:49 > 0:04:52some of my eggs for future.
0:04:52 > 0:04:55I'd like to have the option in the future still to be able
0:04:55 > 0:04:57to have a family with somebody.
0:04:58 > 0:05:01At least then I know I've done something about it,
0:05:01 > 0:05:05something that is going to be of importance to me in the future.
0:05:07 > 0:05:11My body is still how I felt when I was in my 20s,
0:05:11 > 0:05:13so, I don't feel any different.
0:05:13 > 0:05:17It's just a case, I'm a little bit older now.
0:05:17 > 0:05:21I just need to find out a little bit more.
0:05:21 > 0:05:23Today, Barbara is meeting Jenny Hall,
0:05:23 > 0:05:25managing director of Origin Fertility Care,
0:05:25 > 0:05:27to discuss the procedure.
0:05:27 > 0:05:30OK, what we try to do with drug stimulation,
0:05:30 > 0:05:35is we would use hormone drugs to help you to produce more eggs
0:05:35 > 0:05:37than you would normally produce,
0:05:37 > 0:05:41then use a process called vitrification to freeze the eggs.
0:05:41 > 0:05:47I do think it's a good idea because Barbara is in her late 30s.
0:05:47 > 0:05:50If all the other parameters are OK, then she should do that
0:05:50 > 0:05:55because that is the only other choice she has at the minute.
0:05:55 > 0:05:57Because you are a little bit older
0:05:57 > 0:05:59and your ovaries may not respond
0:05:59 > 0:06:04to the drug stimulation, we may not be able to collect enough eggs.
0:06:04 > 0:06:08What we would propose to do in the first instance, is do a blood test.
0:06:08 > 0:06:09That blood test...
0:06:09 > 0:06:12I think the urgency is to do it as soon as possible
0:06:12 > 0:06:17because of my age, so that the eggs are going to be the age I am now,
0:06:17 > 0:06:20not the age next year and the year after.
0:06:20 > 0:06:25I'm quite happy to proceed if the blood tests do come back
0:06:25 > 0:06:27and they seem to be well.
0:06:27 > 0:06:29Yes, I'll be happy to go ahead.
0:06:35 > 0:06:3926-year-old Angela has been married to Mark since 2006,
0:06:39 > 0:06:42but their efforts to have a child have been hampered
0:06:42 > 0:06:44by fertility problems.
0:06:45 > 0:06:50When I was 18, my monthly periods stopped altogether,
0:06:50 > 0:06:52so I went to my GP.
0:06:52 > 0:06:55From there, they found out I had polycystic ovaries
0:06:55 > 0:06:59and they decided to put me through fertility.
0:07:04 > 0:07:08I had treatment but I over-stimulated which meant all our embryos
0:07:08 > 0:07:09had to be frozen.
0:07:11 > 0:07:14Four months down the line after that, we got pregnant
0:07:14 > 0:07:19but then I had a miscarriage after three or four weeks.
0:07:21 > 0:07:25Now, Angela wants to use her remaining frozen embryos
0:07:25 > 0:07:27in a second cycle of IVF treatment.
0:07:29 > 0:07:31I wasn't ready to give up.
0:07:31 > 0:07:36I had still some embryos frozen there, so I decided to go ahead
0:07:36 > 0:07:39and use the rest of them up and keep trying.
0:07:44 > 0:07:48Angela has a total of 11 frozen embryos,
0:07:48 > 0:07:51but during the thaw process, not everything has gone to plan.
0:07:53 > 0:07:55They thawed out six embryos but, unfortunately,
0:07:55 > 0:07:59four didn't survive.
0:07:59 > 0:08:02Two did survive but the didn't divide
0:08:02 > 0:08:05so they had to thaw the remaining five out.
0:08:05 > 0:08:11Out of the five, two were suitable for transfer,
0:08:11 > 0:08:13which is happening today.
0:08:13 > 0:08:19It's basically our last hope because that is all our eggs used up now.
0:08:19 > 0:08:22Next time round, hopefully there is not a next time round
0:08:22 > 0:08:26but if there is, it would be another fresh cycle for us.
0:08:30 > 0:08:32OK, ready?
0:08:34 > 0:08:36The embryos are prepared in the adjoining lab
0:08:36 > 0:08:40and are then placed in a catheter for transfer into Angela's uterus.
0:08:42 > 0:08:44..then pass the catheter through.
0:08:50 > 0:08:51Thank you.
0:08:57 > 0:08:59OK, they're going in now. Good luck.
0:09:03 > 0:09:06- OK.- Thank you.
0:09:08 > 0:09:10This is the worst bit for them.
0:09:10 > 0:09:14It's about waiting now two weeks to find out if the test is positive
0:09:14 > 0:09:16and there isn't anything you can do at this time.
0:09:16 > 0:09:18Two weeks is a long time,
0:09:18 > 0:09:20so it is one of the worst parts of the cycle, really.
0:09:20 > 0:09:22Whether it's a fresh transfer or a frozen,
0:09:22 > 0:09:25you still have to wait that two weeks.
0:09:25 > 0:09:26There is no easy way around it.
0:09:26 > 0:09:29It just takes two weeks and then that is it.
0:09:29 > 0:09:31We look forward to hearing from you.
0:09:31 > 0:09:35- Just give us a wee shout if you have any queries.- Thank you.- OK.
0:09:39 > 0:09:41Determined to lose weight so that she can begin
0:09:41 > 0:09:43her fertility treatment,
0:09:43 > 0:09:47Jilly has embarked on a new healthy lifestyle including
0:09:47 > 0:09:49weekly Tai Chi sessions.
0:09:50 > 0:09:54I don't think we're going to get another chance at this.
0:09:55 > 0:09:59It's an expensive process for anybody to go through and at my age,
0:09:59 > 0:10:03I need to be realistic that this is our chance.
0:10:03 > 0:10:06We are throwing everything into this chance, losing weight,
0:10:06 > 0:10:10having good vibes from people, having prayer from people,
0:10:10 > 0:10:13taking all the help we can get.
0:10:17 > 0:10:20Jilly has also opted for an alternative therapy,
0:10:20 > 0:10:23known as Maya massage, which she hopes will complement
0:10:23 > 0:10:25her fertility treatment.
0:10:25 > 0:10:26Nice, light movements.
0:10:28 > 0:10:32Maya massage is best performed three months before IVF.
0:10:32 > 0:10:36We want to start working on a body, we want to start preparing
0:10:36 > 0:10:38the body for IVF and what it has to go through.
0:10:38 > 0:10:42This movement here is both very relaxing....
0:10:42 > 0:10:44Our chances are low but at the same time,
0:10:44 > 0:10:48at least we have a chance and we're doing something positive.
0:10:48 > 0:10:52We're actually doing something active and positive about it.
0:10:52 > 0:10:56If things worked out for us within 11 months, we could be,
0:10:56 > 0:11:00not nursing basset hounds, we could be nursing a child.
0:11:00 > 0:11:04That is the possibility. We could also just been nursing basset hounds.
0:11:10 > 0:11:13Elaine and Andrew have been married for six years
0:11:13 > 0:11:16but their efforts to have a child have proven difficult.
0:11:19 > 0:11:21I think we were trying for about a year and a half
0:11:21 > 0:11:26before we both agreed, we needed to look into this,
0:11:26 > 0:11:30we should see if there's a problem and why it's not happening.
0:11:31 > 0:11:35Then we discovered there was a private clinic in Belfast.
0:11:35 > 0:11:39We booked an appointment with them and then in January,
0:11:39 > 0:11:41started the first cycle of treatment.
0:11:44 > 0:11:48But in the final stages of Elaine's treatment, a problem arose.
0:11:50 > 0:11:54There was a risk of me having Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome.
0:11:54 > 0:11:57The clinic weren't keen to continue with my treatment at that stage,
0:11:57 > 0:12:00they weren't willing to take that risk.
0:12:00 > 0:12:03So, they froze all my eggs.
0:12:04 > 0:12:07We were called up again to start the treatment
0:12:07 > 0:12:11and it was a much shorter, much easier cycle because the eggs
0:12:11 > 0:12:15were already there and it was just a matter of thawing those.
0:12:19 > 0:12:22I tested positive on the morning.
0:12:22 > 0:12:26About four o'clock in the morning I got up and tested positive.
0:12:26 > 0:12:29Eventually went to get a blood test before I could totally
0:12:29 > 0:12:33convince myself this was real and this was happening.
0:12:33 > 0:12:37Then, we went for a six-week scan which confirmed that
0:12:37 > 0:12:38the pregnancy was viable.
0:12:40 > 0:12:43In a few months' time, Elaine is due to give birth
0:12:43 > 0:12:48to the first baby to be conceived using a frozen egg in Ireland.
0:12:49 > 0:12:53Today, Elaine is having her 24-week scan
0:12:53 > 0:12:55and it is her first scan using 4D technology.
0:12:58 > 0:13:01To see the four dimensional and to see the face
0:13:01 > 0:13:06and to see life inside of me, it was absolutely amazing.
0:13:06 > 0:13:07That's amazing.
0:13:09 > 0:13:13It was the first time I had seen a 4D scan in my life and it just
0:13:13 > 0:13:20blew me away just to see how real everything was and the detail.
0:13:20 > 0:13:25We are just so positive and happy now that we know that
0:13:25 > 0:13:29we're going to have a baby very shortly and will be a proper family.
0:13:32 > 0:13:35We feel now we can go out and start planning the nursery
0:13:35 > 0:13:37and doing all the things we want to do,
0:13:37 > 0:13:42up until now, we've been thinking about and dreaming about.
0:13:42 > 0:13:45Wondering would it ever happen, I think it's as real
0:13:45 > 0:13:48as it will ever be and fingers crossed, everything goes OK.
0:13:57 > 0:14:01Barbara is in her late thirties and is hoping to freeze her eggs
0:14:01 > 0:14:04for possible use in the future.
0:14:04 > 0:14:06Today, she has returned to the clinic
0:14:06 > 0:14:08to get the results of an important blood test.
0:14:09 > 0:14:12I'm a bit apprehensive, obviously.
0:14:12 > 0:14:18Tried not to think about it too much but today, we could ultimately
0:14:18 > 0:14:22find out if we can proceed with the treatment really.
0:14:23 > 0:14:26The doctor will tell me the blood results today.
0:14:28 > 0:14:31It could come back good, it could come back negative,
0:14:31 > 0:14:35so, we'll just have to wait and see.
0:14:35 > 0:14:37The blood test was taken to measure Barbara's AMH
0:14:37 > 0:14:39or Anti-Mullarian Hormone level.
0:14:41 > 0:14:44This hormone is a good indicator of the function
0:14:44 > 0:14:47of Barbara's ovaries and how she is likely to respond
0:14:47 > 0:14:49to fertility treatment.
0:14:49 > 0:14:54Now, I have your AMH here,
0:14:54 > 0:14:57which came back as 1.92.
0:14:57 > 0:15:02This is a low AMH, and that is compatible with your age.
0:15:02 > 0:15:08- Yeah.- Right? And normally we expect a low ovarian response.
0:15:08 > 0:15:13- Therefore, we need to use the maximum dose, OK?- A-ha.
0:15:13 > 0:15:17What happens is we need, of course, to do the cycle and see how the
0:15:17 > 0:15:23ovaries will respond, because the AMH is only at best, it's not 100% accurate.
0:15:23 > 0:15:27- The actual reality is when you start the stimulation.- Yeah.
0:15:27 > 0:15:31- OK? And see what happens with that. - OK.
0:15:31 > 0:15:37Well, the doctor gave me the news of the Anti-Mullerian hormone.
0:15:37 > 0:15:39As expected, it was going to be low.
0:15:39 > 0:15:42Just due to my age, anyway.
0:15:42 > 0:15:46But this is inconclusive, so, you know,
0:15:46 > 0:15:49we can still go away with doing the treatment,
0:15:49 > 0:15:52still, you know, do the egg production.
0:15:53 > 0:15:56While at the clinic, Barbara is scanned to check
0:15:56 > 0:16:00how many follicles she produces in a normal monthly cycle.
0:16:00 > 0:16:03This is your uterus there.
0:16:03 > 0:16:06Each follicle will usually contain one egg.
0:16:06 > 0:16:08So, the more follicles she has,
0:16:08 > 0:16:11this higher her chances of producing more eggs.
0:16:12 > 0:16:15The follicle there is a small size,
0:16:15 > 0:16:20but probably that is what you would expect with a low AMH.
0:16:20 > 0:16:25So, it may take a few more days for the left ovary to develop
0:16:25 > 0:16:27and ovulate from there.
0:16:27 > 0:16:30Yeah. You know, I am still quite positive.
0:16:30 > 0:16:33At least there was some there, and up my mind at ease.
0:16:33 > 0:16:35I think still, you know,
0:16:35 > 0:16:40work on it and at least then I have had a go, at least I have tried,
0:16:40 > 0:16:43rather than just giving up at the first hurdle.
0:16:43 > 0:16:45So, no, I'm OK about it actually.
0:16:50 > 0:16:54Jilly has managed to reach her target weight to enable her
0:16:54 > 0:16:55to begin her fertility treatment.
0:16:55 > 0:16:58Those are all the things that you have to be aware of.
0:16:58 > 0:17:01Today, she is at the clinic for a scan, to see if her treatment
0:17:01 > 0:17:06is working and to check if her ovaries are producing follicles.
0:17:06 > 0:17:09What we're looking at today is just to see the response you've had
0:17:09 > 0:17:12to the stimulation. There is no set timetable
0:17:12 > 0:17:14that you need to reach, we'll just have a look at your response
0:17:14 > 0:17:16and plan it from there.
0:17:16 > 0:17:19So, you've got the ovaries, the whole area
0:17:19 > 0:17:23and then these black areas here, those are your follicles.
0:17:23 > 0:17:27I had my eight-day scan and it revealed that I have...
0:17:27 > 0:17:29the drugs are working.
0:17:29 > 0:17:33There are four main follicles which are really good size.
0:17:33 > 0:17:36And I think three or four smaller ones,
0:17:36 > 0:17:39which may or may not get to the optimum size.
0:17:39 > 0:17:40I think they need it 17 mm.
0:17:40 > 0:17:44That's a nice response. We've got a look at the chart here.
0:17:44 > 0:17:47You've got four main follicles that are developing.
0:17:47 > 0:17:48These are your leading follicles,
0:17:48 > 0:17:50so these are the ones we're interested in.
0:17:50 > 0:17:52Well, I am delighted,
0:17:52 > 0:17:54because I was really worried about coming in today.
0:17:54 > 0:17:57I just thought... We were driving down the road, I thought,
0:17:57 > 0:17:59I could be driving out of here and going back to get
0:17:59 > 0:18:01the rest of those drugs and that could be the end of it all.
0:18:01 > 0:18:05Well, that looks great. We like at least three, so well done.
0:18:05 > 0:18:07Well, that's brilliant. I am so relieved. I really am.
0:18:07 > 0:18:09No, I know.
0:18:09 > 0:18:11Yeah, I'm upbeat and I'm happy.
0:18:11 > 0:18:15I'm delighted I don't have to go down the road in tears and snotters.
0:18:15 > 0:18:19But anyway, you know, we still have to take this in a...
0:18:19 > 0:18:23just take it sensibly and not be getting too OTT about it.
0:18:23 > 0:18:25But I am...I have to say, I am thrilled,
0:18:25 > 0:18:28I am absolutely thrilled that we got this far.
0:18:33 > 0:18:37After the transfer of her embryos, all Angela and her husband Mark
0:18:37 > 0:18:38can do is wait,
0:18:38 > 0:18:43as she can only take a pregnancy test two weeks after the procedure.
0:18:45 > 0:18:48This week has been quite good, you know, I've been busy.
0:18:48 > 0:18:51I'm just worrying a wee bit about next week.
0:18:51 > 0:18:52I'm sure the days will drag,
0:18:52 > 0:18:55but I'll just have to keep myself busy and occupied.
0:18:56 > 0:19:00I just feel like everything will be fine, you know,
0:19:00 > 0:19:02the outcome will be fine.
0:19:02 > 0:19:04It will just make my family complete,
0:19:04 > 0:19:06so that's it, that's what you want.
0:19:06 > 0:19:10A family to settle down with kids, wife, that's it.
0:19:10 > 0:19:12There's nothing else we want.
0:19:12 > 0:19:14We don't want big things in life, you know, just simple,
0:19:14 > 0:19:17simple things in life to make you happy.
0:19:17 > 0:19:18That's all we want.
0:19:23 > 0:19:26At the clinic, it's an important day for Barbara,
0:19:26 > 0:19:28as she is being scanned to see
0:19:28 > 0:19:32if her ovaries have responded to the drugs she has been taking.
0:19:34 > 0:19:39The scan is to check for follicles which may contain eggs
0:19:39 > 0:19:41that Barbara could freeze for use in the future.
0:19:41 > 0:19:43This is your ovary on the left-hand side.
0:19:45 > 0:19:50At the moment, there is no...response on that side.
0:19:50 > 0:19:53- Nothing?- No.
0:19:53 > 0:19:56This is your ovary on the right-hand side.
0:19:58 > 0:20:01- And you've got one follicle.- Yeah.
0:20:01 > 0:20:05That's developing, which equates to, we'd expect, one egg.
0:20:05 > 0:20:09Which is, you know, disappointing, but when we look at that AMH level
0:20:09 > 0:20:10in your ovarian reserve,
0:20:10 > 0:20:14- it's one of the possibilities that we are facing.- Yeah.
0:20:14 > 0:20:17I mean, you can see your ovary very clearly there and there is no...
0:20:17 > 0:20:20none of the little black blobs that we would hope to see.
0:20:23 > 0:20:25So, I'm sorry, that's a bit disappointing.
0:20:25 > 0:20:28But I will take this out, we'll let you get dressed
0:20:28 > 0:20:29and then we'll have a chat.
0:20:32 > 0:20:34Unfortunately, things have not gone very well.
0:20:34 > 0:20:38She told me there is only one follicle there.
0:20:38 > 0:20:41Which may or may not have an egg,
0:20:41 > 0:20:44we never know until the time of the egg collection.
0:20:44 > 0:20:47- Yeah.- Because we can't see that on the screen.
0:20:47 > 0:20:51'I feel disappointed knowing that I'm not going to go forward
0:20:51 > 0:20:53'and have the egg collection.
0:20:53 > 0:20:55'So, that little bit of'
0:20:55 > 0:20:57peace of mind has been taken away again.
0:20:57 > 0:21:00So, very disappointing.
0:21:00 > 0:21:03If there were more follicles, even if there were three or four
0:21:03 > 0:21:06follicles, I would say yes, it's worth going ahead.
0:21:06 > 0:21:10- Because probably that is what we will get, two or three eggs.- Yeah.
0:21:10 > 0:21:12And it will be a good asset.
0:21:12 > 0:21:15But going ahead with only one follicle,
0:21:15 > 0:21:18which then we have to strip it down and see if it's mature,
0:21:18 > 0:21:22I don't think really it's worth doing it.
0:21:22 > 0:21:24- Just for one, yeah, I know. - Just for one.
0:21:24 > 0:21:27'I don't think the possibilities are there for me to do it again
0:21:27 > 0:21:29'because they need eight to ten
0:21:29 > 0:21:32'or preferably 12, so...'
0:21:32 > 0:21:37I won't be, obviously, pursuing that,
0:21:37 > 0:21:41because I would have to do quite a few cycles to actually retrieve
0:21:41 > 0:21:43that many eggs, eight to 12.
0:21:43 > 0:21:47- OK?- Thank you very much.- All right then, nice to see you.- Thank you.
0:21:47 > 0:21:49You know, I'd stress to any friend to try it
0:21:49 > 0:21:52and don't leave it too long, cos, you know,
0:21:52 > 0:21:54look at what has happened with me.
0:21:54 > 0:21:57I've left it a long time and I wish I had done it earlier.
0:22:05 > 0:22:08Today is a big day for Jilly,
0:22:08 > 0:22:11as it's finally time for her egg collection.
0:22:17 > 0:22:21Embryologist Richard is preparing for the procedure.
0:22:21 > 0:22:24So, I'm just making sure that everything is up to temperature.
0:22:24 > 0:22:27These are the dishes we are going to collect the...
0:22:27 > 0:22:29collect the eggs in.
0:22:29 > 0:22:31We're just going to keep these up.
0:22:32 > 0:22:36The first tube, you can see the yellow follicular fluid
0:22:36 > 0:22:38and the pink flesh medium.
0:22:40 > 0:22:43The fluid is taken from the follicles in Jilly's ovaries
0:22:43 > 0:22:46and then checked for the presence of an egg.
0:22:46 > 0:22:48As Richard checks each fluid sample,
0:22:48 > 0:22:51he calls out the result to the doctor in the theatre.
0:22:54 > 0:22:55Egg number two.
0:23:03 > 0:23:04Egg number three.
0:23:10 > 0:23:14Great, so four big follicles, four eggs, fantastic. That's really good.
0:23:16 > 0:23:18They will be stripped in this dish
0:23:18 > 0:23:22and then put into a pre-ICSI dish to be injected later.
0:23:29 > 0:23:31Later that afternoon,
0:23:31 > 0:23:34Richard begins the treatments of Jilly's eggs with a process
0:23:34 > 0:23:39known as ICSI or Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection.
0:23:39 > 0:23:43This process involves the selection of individual sperm for direct
0:23:43 > 0:23:46injection into each of Jilly's eggs.
0:23:46 > 0:23:50So then we are going to take this sperm in tail first.
0:23:52 > 0:23:54Pick out one of the eggs.
0:23:54 > 0:23:57And we're just going to give it a little prod just to make sure
0:23:57 > 0:23:58we are in the right place.
0:23:59 > 0:24:01And then we are going to go in.
0:24:06 > 0:24:08Suck backwards.
0:24:10 > 0:24:14And then back in, so the sperm is entering the egg now.
0:24:18 > 0:24:20And then back out.
0:24:20 > 0:24:22So, that went very smoothly.
0:24:22 > 0:24:25Good break of the cytoplasm in the egg.
0:24:25 > 0:24:28So second sperm.
0:24:30 > 0:24:34This process is then repeated on Jilly's three remaining eggs
0:24:34 > 0:24:37before all four are incubated overnight.
0:24:43 > 0:24:46OK, this is the post-ICSI dash.
0:24:46 > 0:24:50I am just going to remove the eggs from here into the dish for overnight culture.
0:24:52 > 0:24:54OK.
0:24:55 > 0:24:58No problems with the eggs, no problems with injecting them.
0:24:58 > 0:25:02The cytoplasm broke very easily, the sperm went in very easily,
0:25:02 > 0:25:04so really that is all we can do.
0:25:04 > 0:25:07And just wait till tomorrow morning.
0:25:21 > 0:25:25It's been over six weeks since her embryo transfer and Angela
0:25:25 > 0:25:30and her husband Mark are coming to terms with the negative result.
0:25:30 > 0:25:33When it fails, you just wonder why it hasn't worked and you do
0:25:33 > 0:25:38a lot of research about different avenues of what can happen next
0:25:38 > 0:25:41and you just have to keep going.
0:25:41 > 0:25:44You see people playing with their son or daughter
0:25:44 > 0:25:49going down to town or anything, it will just pop in your mind.
0:25:50 > 0:25:55Like Sunday there, for instance, I took my niece to swimming
0:25:55 > 0:25:58and it was like a family session, you know,
0:25:58 > 0:26:00all the families there with their kids and all.
0:26:00 > 0:26:03That's...just wee situations like that makes it jump
0:26:03 > 0:26:04into your mind and you think,
0:26:04 > 0:26:07"Oh, I hope I can do this one day with my child."
0:26:13 > 0:26:15After her efforts to freeze her eggs failed,
0:26:15 > 0:26:19Barbara is now getting on with life and remaining optimistic.
0:26:23 > 0:26:26I had to kind of say, don't be too hard on myself,
0:26:26 > 0:26:27at least I've had to try.
0:26:27 > 0:26:29Yes, it wasn't successful,
0:26:29 > 0:26:32but I probably would have still been curious.
0:26:32 > 0:26:38If I don't ever have my own children, I would adopt or perhaps even foster.
0:26:38 > 0:26:43I don't think my life is going to be empty as such in that way.
0:26:49 > 0:26:52Despite an initial successful implantation,
0:26:52 > 0:26:56Jilly's treatment was ultimately unsuccessful.
0:26:58 > 0:27:00We understand implantation took place with two,
0:27:00 > 0:27:03so we would've basically been having a twin pregnancy.
0:27:03 > 0:27:09And then we lost... we lost the pregnancy, basically.
0:27:09 > 0:27:14So, it was just... It has been a terrible, really awful time.
0:27:14 > 0:27:18Now, after undergoing extensive tests,
0:27:18 > 0:27:21Jilly has a possible explanation for her fertility problems,
0:27:21 > 0:27:24which provide her with hope for the future.
0:27:24 > 0:27:28There is a system that we all have called natural killer cells
0:27:28 > 0:27:31and they are the things meant to prevent us from getting cancer.
0:27:31 > 0:27:34And I have elevated levels of those.
0:27:34 > 0:27:37So, while you are meant to have under 15%
0:27:37 > 0:27:40to keep your body on the level,
0:27:40 > 0:27:43mine are in the 20s, 20%.
0:27:43 > 0:27:47So, what they do is they recognise
0:27:47 > 0:27:50any new body,
0:27:50 > 0:27:52any new cell that comes into your body
0:27:52 > 0:27:54as a foreign object and they go in and they fight it
0:27:54 > 0:27:56and they get rid of it.
0:27:56 > 0:28:00So, that has given us an explanation for what we have been through.
0:28:02 > 0:28:05We know I have a situation where we are going to go through,
0:28:05 > 0:28:07hopefully, the IVF system again,
0:28:07 > 0:28:09whether it is ICSI or whatever way they do it,
0:28:09 > 0:28:10so I feel very hopeful.
0:28:10 > 0:28:12I've always felt we'd have a little girl.
0:28:12 > 0:28:14I still feel we're going to have a little girl
0:28:14 > 0:28:17and while there is hope,
0:28:17 > 0:28:18there is every chance, I suppose.
0:28:18 > 0:28:20But I just feel we've got a better chance now.
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