Petition for IVF on NHS in the UK - what you can do to bring about change and improvement, regardless of your view

I recently received a petition to stop the postcode lottery in the UK in relation to how IVF treatment is allocated to those needing it.

http://www.petitiononline.com/freeivf/petition-sign.html

If you support this initiative, please sign the petition. It may help someone you know who needs it and cannot afford it. Of course, not everyone is of the political or religious view that this is a good thing. Each (wo)man can only make their own decisions.

The thing which is saddest, are those who would happily take from the system if they were the man walking in those 'fertility-challenged' shoes, but do not support it from others. Isn't that a double standard?

Here is the challenge to all of us - what are you doing to be sure that there is less of a demand on the NHS for such treatments, to raise awareness of fertility issues? This is regardless of whether you don't think it should be on the NHS in the first place, or do not support such treatment morally - but if that is your view, then this applies to you even more:

• Have you spoken to everyone you know in their twenties and thirties to be sure they are/were properly informed on fertility issues?;
• Have you made sure the older generation are aware of infertility and what it is like for this generation and the next - just keeping it to the closest circle of people to you: this could be your sister, brother, daughter, son, grand-daughter or grandson; let alone a friend of yours or other family relative?;
• If you have the means and have no moral dilemma with such treatments, will you help your children set up a little fund for treatment if they need it but can't afford it, or can't get a loan to cover it?
• Do you know how much fertility treatments (e.g. IVF) cost and how many times people attempt them?
  

If the answer to any of these questions is 'no', you're a perfect candidate to become an advocate for increased (in)fertility awareness and education. We are blessed with a brain and mouth and it is up to us to put them to good use - don't waste your time gossiping - use them to do good in the world and help make it a better place for those we care about.

Silence or thinking it is somebody else's responsibility or problem does not lead to a positive outcome.