Home and Away fans have been airing their frustration over the current fertility storyline involving Mackenzie Booth (Emily Weir) and Levi Fowler (Tristan Gorey).
The couple have been actively trying for a baby for six weeks on the show, but after Mack revealed her medical history, the couple have already started looking into alternative fertility options. The character has suffered from a heart attack in the past and also experienced an ectopic pregnancy back in 2021, resulting in her losing a fallopian tube.
However, some Home and Away fans have called the storyline “unrealistic” and believe the couple should be trying to conceive naturally for longer than six weeks.
“This storyline with Mack and Levi trying to conceive is giving me the s**ts. In the show, honestly, how long have they been ‘trying’ [to get pregnant]?,” one person asked. “Levi, being a doctor, should know better and even if it is just a TV show, many couples will tell you it could take months to years before Mack could fall pregnant.
“Even healthy reproductive couples don’t necessarily fall pregnant overnight! Most GPs will do all the necessary tests first, and maybe if nothing happens after six months, then the next step you would get referred to a fertility specialist. To jump into exploring IVF already is just unrealistic… they are putting so much pressure on themselves too early.”
Another agreed, saying: “I know ‘it’s just a [TV] programme’ but I’d think they would want to portray and educate the community in a more realistic way than panicking after two months and getting ovulation kits and the whole shabang. So dumb.”
“My thought is they should have introduced the IVF scenario better, more positively. Too many portray it and think the worst,” a third pointed out.
When do experts recommend seeking specialist advice for couples struggling to conceive?
Jam Rodriguez, Nurse Manager at City Fertility, tells Chattr that healthy females under the age of 35 should try to conceive naturally for a year before seeking expert advice.
“If you are under 35 and haven’t conceived after a year of trying, or over 35 and haven’t conceived after six months of trying, then you should look into speaking to a fertility expert,” she says.
However, there are some caveats. “If you have an obvious medical condition — such as endometriosis — or have been diagnosed with unexplained infertility by a doctor, we recommend you seek medical advice,” she adds.
Their website indicates other issues that could push females to seek early treatment, such as irregular menstrual cycles, absent periods, Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), a history of tubal damage, recurrent miscarriage, genetic conditions, or a family history of menopause.
For males, early treatment could be beneficial if they have abnormally shaped or slow-moving sperm, a low sperm count, the presence of anti-sperm antibodies, ejaculatory problems or no sperm present, or if a vasectomy has been performed.
With all of Mack’s past history with miscarriage and losing her fallopian tube, perhaps the couple seeking medical advice may not be so farfetched as Home and Away fans originally thought.
Home and Away airs Mondays – Thursdays at 7pm on Channel 7 and 7Plus.
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