This is a long story, but I hope you stay and share my story with anyone going through something similar.

Finding where to begin is so difficult but I am 37, single and never been pregnant. That isn't without trying. I always believed it was because it wasn't ever the right person. It wasn't the reason. The reason is because of infertility.

I was always told by the NHS that conceiving naturally would be difficult but not impossible. So in 2024, after failed relationships and getting older, I decided I would like to try - as a single lady. After calling around multiple private clinics they all said the same thing; speak to your GP, this sounds like the NHS will help you.

I did just that and the first thing I was told by a nurse at the GP surgery was, "You will be eligible for IVF on the NHS due to your past medical history". Wow, the NHS will help me become a mummy?! I was overwhelmed and shocked. The blood tests were taken, which indicated abnormalities so I was then contacted by my GP who advised again that I was eligible for NHS help and he would send through the referral (at the time I was 36, with abnormal blood results already indicating low fertility). This referral was made in April 2025.

4 months later in August 2025, I had an appointment with a fertility specialist at a Leicester Hospital, except these sensitive issues were discussed over the phone, with the most insensitive doctor I have ever spoken to in my life. As soon as the appointment started he said very abruptly and matter of fact that I WILL NOT receive any help from the NHS because I am SINGLE! I couldn't believe it, my heart broke straight away. But he said they can conduct all of the initial tests; blood test to check my AMH level (egg quantity), sickle cell blood test, fallopian tube test (to ensure they were not blocked). He advised, before even doing any tests, he would recommend IUI - this is a fertility treatment where the donor sperm is placed directly into the uterus at the time of ovulation. This confused me, because I had just told him I had never conceived so would this procedure actually work? He said he is sure it would, kept telling me I was young and stop worrying before I have had the tests done.

3 months later the results were in, the same insensitive doctor, no empathy at all was about to give me devastating results with no compassion in his voice at all, and oh yes, this was ANOTHER telephone appointment. Sickle cell test was negative, my tubes were not blocked, but my AMH level was 2.8. He told me this is a very low number for someone my age, they expected it to be low but not this low and IUI was now not recommended and I would need to have IVF. I will never get pregnant naturally. Being a woman and told that so abruptly like I was not worth having any compassion for, broke me a little inside. The Dr then said again that I was not eligible for any help as I was single and to call the Leicester Fertility Centre, he couldn't even be bothered to find the number for me there and then, he said I will send it with your letter!

I could not believe the way I was being treated by the NHS who had already failed me so many times before, but specifically this Dr. I couldn't understand why he was in one of the most sensitive specialties and behaving this way.

But I did not give up, I started calling around to different fertility centres immediately and found the perfect one. Attended a webinar to get more information and felt like it was a match straight away. Made an appointment for December 2025 and attended with my mum. At this point I was feeling so many different emotions, I was anxious, excited and worried about the financial burden but I pushed that to the back of my mind. During the appointment I had a very long conversation with the Dr and an in depth ultrasound scan which revealed only one Follicle in each ovary. This wasn't good news. It meant the chances of getting an egg was very low and so the decision was made to move forward with Natural Modified IVF. This means only 1 egg will be retrieved, if there is one there. The chance of pregnancy was reduced from 40% to 20% and the live birth percentage is 12%. The Dr used the dreaded words "Geriatric Pregnancy" and told me I would need to make a decision as quickly as possible as my biological clock is ticking away. The pressure I felt instantly was immense.

As you can imagine this was a very disappointing outcome. A lot of things ran through my mind. Why me? Why do I give my whole heart to everything and everyone around me and not be able to have the one thing I really want? Am I being punsihed for something? But then I looked at the numbers again, the Dr didn't say there was a 0% chance, there is still a chance. I am not going to give up until I know in my heart it is time.

I have made big changes in my life to help increase egg quality as that is my focus now rather than egg quantity. I started the gym, I gave up caffeine and smoking, I take natural fertility supplements and try to live a healthier life.

My beautiful friends and family raised some money for me between them so I can get started with the treatment.

I still need to raise £10k for 1 round of IVF which includes, scans, medication, donor sperm, embryo freezing (if by a miracle they manage to retrieve more than 1 egg)

But most importantly, I wanted to get my story out there as I feel I have been let down massively by the NHS. I didn't ask to be infertile and I deserve the right to have a family as much as anyone else. I am not going to give up and I hope my story helps someone else and encourages them to also keep on fighting.

Thank you for taking the time to read my story.

Nadine x