The baby girl born from IVF

Alexandra and Luke Fletcher from South Manchester had help from science to get their little girl, Evie.

After trying the fertility-enhancing drug Letrozole, IVF was the next step for the couple. 

The first cycle didn’t work. After taking some time to heal from the disappointment, they started a new round, which gave them their daughter.

“She is a very wanted child, and we are so glad to have her with us,” Alexandra said.

Going through the process of IVF is tough. It’s expensive, and the success rate is low, decreasing with the mother’s age. It is an emotional rollercoaster that can leave couples feeling isolated from family and friends who have experienced ‘normal’ pregnancies. Male partners sometimes feel sidelined and don’t always have anyone to talk to.  

After going through the process, Alexandra and Luke urge others to seek help early if they are worried about their fertility and to not give up.  

Luke added: “Don’t take it personally if it doesn’t work straight away, it’s down to science. Talk to others who have gone through it because it does give you that glimmer of hope.  

“You also notice that more people are going through IVF than you realise and that there is still some stigma with discussing it. It can feel like a failure to be going through IVF, but it is an opportunity to do something good.”   

Creating new life

Evie was created using a method called intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), which involves the sperm being injected directly into the egg. It’s a precise surgical procedure on a microscopically small scale. The embryologists performing it are highly skilled and have what Alexandra refers to as the “most steady hands in the world.”    

She added: “Without them, Evie wouldn’t exist.” She also described the important relationship between the embryologist and patient: “They were always open to me asking questions, and they were able to explain the quality grading for the embryo, which helps in understanding the likelihood of a successful pregnancy.”