A couple from Blaenau Gwent have opened up about their struggles to start a family as they aim to raise £5,000 for a final round of IVF treatment.
Alexandra and Christopher Walters of Tredegar are hoping to go through their third bout of the treatment after having two previous attempts through the NHS - though the procedure, as they describe it, is one that comes with much more than just a financial cost.
Both say due to the intense nature and physical stress the IVF causes, this will now be their last effort at having their own biological child through the treatment, before they begin exploring other potential options for starting a family.
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Born and raised in Tredegar, Alexandra, 31, who works as a theatre assistant, for the NHS described the emotional struggles the pair have endured in order to make their dream of starting a family come true.
She said: "Chris and I have been together for around seven years and we couldn't be happier. We got married last year but we have also been trying for a baby for the last four years, and having kids and a family of our own is something which would really mean the world to us.
"The difficulties we faced weren't a surprise to me as I'd had problems with fertility even before I met Chris and I'd known there was something wrong for a while. In 2019 I was diagnosed with PCOS, or Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, which can cause difficulty in getting pregnant due to irregular ovulation.
"Shortly after I had my ovaries drilled to try and stimulate ovulation but unfortunately that didn't work and as a result we were forwarded on to IVF. With the NHS in Wales you're only entitled to two rounds of the treatment and as it's a very stressful and painful thing to go through there's so much disappointment when it doesn't work.
"Physically I was also quite rough after the second round, and adding that we did it during the pandemic with only me and Chris to support each other meant all these factors seemed so much worse. Chris actually couldn't be with me at all during the IVF due to hospital restrictions and at that time it was a very lonely place to be.
"A lot of people go through this, both across Wales and even just in Blaenau Gwent, so we felt it was important to share the difficulties of what we've experienced. However we're hopeful that by starting the fundraiser to try treatment privately there is going to be a light at the end of the tunnel for us and this time it will work."
Chris, 33, who works as a civil engineer said the process which saw his wife go through numerous trips to the hospital by herself had also caused a lot of stress and frustrations for him as well.
"When we went through the first two rounds of IVF it was very frustrating for myself as due to Covid restrictions I had to spend most of my time waiting in the car, just sat there worrying about Alex, not knowing exactly what was going on," he said.
"Luckily we do have amazing families behind us and we're always there for each other which is the main thing that got us through this, and we're still chasing our dream.
"We would love nothing more than to start our own little family which is why we're doing everything we can to raise money for another round of IVF, and we can't thank the people enough who have donated as it gives us another chance.
"If it doesn't work this time then there are other options on the table we can consider but for now we want to give it another try, as with the physical strains it puts on Alex we know it will be our last."
And Alexandra, who has fought her fertility battle for over 10 years, says it's not just the opportunity to have a child of their own on that's on offer, but the chance to raise awareness around the mental effects of fertility treatment as well.
She said: "It's about letting people know what others in our situation are going through as it's a really important subject. I think you have this feeling that when you get together you get married and naturally have children but it doesn't always work out like that.
"We've always been open about it and never hid from the fact that we had fertility problems which has definitely helped us in many ways, but there's always that conversation where people ask if you've got kids, which is a little awkward and sometimes hurtful.
"We think it's always good to spread awareness around these sort of issues, and generally educating people about the process is also important to us. It's not as straight forward as just transferring a baby, but the medication, the heart-ache, and the sleepless nights are all big things that people go through when they're in this sort of situation."
To help Alexandra and Chris reach their goal of £5,000 you can donate here : https://gofund.me/ecc81402
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