Keeping up with an energetic toddler can be an exhausting job, but Mary and Zsolt from Dyce wouldn’t have it any other way. The couple welcomed their son Noah in 2023 after a long journey to parenthood with the support of Aberdeen Fertility Centre.
Now the pair, who have their own photography company, have decided to plan fundraising family photoshoot days to say thank you to the team who helped their family grow.
Zsolt says, “It’s really important to us that more and more people hear about how the clinic can help families, because some people might not realise the kind of support that is available through the NHS. Our experience was really smooth and even better than expected – we were given an 8% success rate and it worked first time!”
Mary and Zsolt began trying for a family after getting married in 2018 and, after two years with no success, they reached out to their doctor for support.
“The doctor referred us to the clinic and once we got our appointment it was just go, go, go from there,” explains Mary. “The whole process felt like it went really quickly.”
Around 1 in 6 couples in the UK will experience difficulties conceiving, and there are many different potential causes for fertility problems which can affect males and females. Aberdeen is home to one of Scotland’s four NHS tertiary fertility centres, which see a combined 7,000 patients each year.
Abha Maheshwari, Consultant in Reproductive Medicine at the fertility centre, supported Mary and Zsolt on their journey to parenthood.
“When a patient comes to see us the first thing we check is if there is an obvious cause for them not conceiving,” she explains. “If there is, and if it’s something treatable, then we treat that. If there is no obvious cause then there are lots of different tests we can do – things like tube testing, checking for eggs, and semen analysis – to give us an idea of what is going on.”
In vitro fertilisation (IVF) is the most successful treatment. This involves a woman taking medication to encourage the ovaries to produce more eggs than normal. Eggs are then removed and fertilised with sperm in the laboratory, and a fertilised embryo is then transferred into the woman’s womb. Patients in Scotland get three full cycles of IVF through the NHS. The clinic also has options like donor eggs, donor sperm and surrogacy.
“We treat everyone to the best of our abilities,” says Abha. “The people who come here want to have a baby and every member of our team goes that extra mile to make it happen. We create families here.”
Mary and Zsolt are loving parenthood.
“It’s been great,” said Mary. “The sleepless nights in the beginning were tough, but it’s just so rewarding.
“Thankful is not a good enough word to express how we feel about the team at the fertility centre, our life wouldn’t have been the same without them. Noah is such a fun little guy, and he’s got his dad’s eyes.”
“And his mum’s quirks,” laughs Zsolt.
The couple run local wedding and family photography company Somography, and when they decided they wanted to fundraise for the fertility centre it seemed only natural to offer family photography sessions.
“We’re planning several family photography days over the coming months where families can book a 15-20 minute photoshoot for £15, which will go directly to the fertility centre,” says Zsolt.
“It’s a great way to bring the family together and have some fun while supporting a cause that is so important to us.”
The pair are also offering gift vouchers for family sessions, which make the perfect present for loved ones.
Claire Robertson, Supporter Engagement Assistant at NHS Grampian Charity, says, “We are so incredibly grateful to Mary and Zsolt for choosing to raise money for Aberdeen Fertility Centre.
“The centre provides a fantastic service to families across the north of Scotland – not just from Grampian, but the Highlands, Orkney and Shetland too.
Struggling with fertility when trying to conceive can leave people feeling so overwhelmed and alone, so this is a great way of helping spread the word about the support that is available, and the money raised will support current and future patients.”
Abha agrees, saying, “People often try to find a reason for their infertility but sometimes there isn’t a reason. Sometimes taking their mind off it helps. We have seen lots of patients over the years who have started the process with the clinic then gone on to conceive naturally. There is always a chance – don’t give up hope.”
This is advice Mary and Zsolt have taken to heart as the couple, who were planning another round of IVF next year to have a second child, instead found themselves conceiving naturally and are going to be welcoming Noah’s little brother in just a few short months. Congratulations to the whole family!
Want to book your family photoshoot with Somography? It’s easy, just click the links below:
Saturday 14th June at Newburgh Beach
Saturday 21st June at Dyce River