A Newtownabbey couple have opened up on their journey to start a family in bid to highlight the issue of male infertility.
Megan Larmour, 27, to help her and her 28-year-old husband, Ryan, have been together since they were 16. They got married in November 2023 and have been trying for a baby for almost four years.
Unfortunately they have been told they have a 0.5% chance of conceiving naturally and need medical help by undergoing Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) treatment. ICSI is a more invasive form of normal IVF treatment as it is involves injecting the sperm into the egg in order to fertilise it to create an embryo.
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Speaking to Belfast Live, Megan said: "Our IVF journey has robbed us of enjoying the last few years of our 20s as it’s all we can think about. It has stopped us from being able to go abroad on multiple holidays and even our honeymoon as we can’t leave the country and need to save our money for treatment.
"It's taken all the excitement, fun and privacy of trying for a baby. It's taken over our life, it’s stopped us planning anything and living our life. It’s given us darkness and it’s going to take all our savings but it's been all we've concentrated on."
For around half of heterosexual couples who are having problems conceiving, the cause of infertility is sperm-related. ICSI is the most common and successful treatment for male infertility.
Ryan told us: "When I was initially told the news about myself, I felt very alone and less of a man. Then there was also the guilt over restricting your partner. But I soon realised that there lots of other men out there in a similar situation and that we need open up and talk about it more.
"It's not good for them or their partner, who has to take all the drugs and face the injections, to keep it bottled up. You've got to be more open and supportive because at the end of the day it doesn't rally make you less of man even though you feel that way initially."
Megan added: "In the last two years we have had two failed ICSI transfers on the NHS and we have now looked at our options for going private. We have got our prices and without the consultation and prior testing again as we will need up-to-date tests carried out again and medication that I am going to need, our initial starting price has been given as £15,800. Consultation and prior testing cost £565 and the. medication can then vary in price anywhere from £800 to £3,200."
The couple have just launched a GoFundMe appeal to help them on their journey to baby Larmour, which has already raised over £2,000.
Megan added: "We are asking for £10,000 in order to help us towards our journey. We know it’s a lot to ask, but we are just asking for any help at all that anyone can afford to help us on our journey it would be greatly appreciated if you can’t donate please share our story."
You can donate to Megan and Ryan's appeal here.
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