I am a mother, blessed with a beautiful daughter conceived naturally eight years ago. Since that joyous time, my journey to extend my family has been marked with heartache. Having been diagnosed with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), my husband and I have endured multiple miscarriages over our seven-year relationship. Despite three years of Gynecological treatments, including medication and a medical procedure known as ovarian drilling, natural conception remains a struggle.

PCOS is a leading cause of female infertility, impacting between 6-12% of women of reproductive age in the UK (NHS, 2018). Unfortunately, women who have had children but are now experiencing infertility due to conditions such as PCOS are often overlooked. Currently, the NHS stipulates that IVF is only accessible, for free, to women who have not yet had children.

This policy leaves many women, like myself, in despair. If conventional treatments do not work, the next step is often privately funded IVF – a costly process not within the financial reach of everyone.

We plead to the NHS and UK Health Authorities to reassess their policy and extend free IVF treatments to women struggling with secondary infertility. Every woman, regardless of her previous fertility history, should have the right to medical means to conceive if natural conception becomes an impossible dream.

Please sign this petition and join our call for change, for fertility equality, and for every woman and family's dream to grow.