An Ipswich couple who froze their sperm while battling cancer to allow them to have a child have been denied IVF by the NHS.
Fiancés Ben Smith and Bethany Harman, 29 and 27 respectively from Barham, froze Ben's sperm after he was told that the chemotherapy for his testicular cancer would likely leave him infertile.
After beating cancer, the couple tried to begin IVF but were denied as they failed to meet the NHS requirements due to Ben's BMI categorising him as obese despite being healthy.
Bethany said: "It's been mentally exhausting, deeply distressing and we feel like we've done everything right to responsibly become parents but we're not being given an opportunity to have that chance."
Ben was diagnosed with cancer six years ago and was told to freeze his sperm if he and Bethany ever wanted to have children.
At the time Bethany signed legal documents that declared if Ben was to pass away from cancer, she would have legal right to his frozen sperm - a right that would be dismissed if he survived.
After winning his battle with cancer, the pair went to Ipswich Hospital to begin the process of IVF - In Vitro Fertilisation - where the egg and sperm are combined in a laboratory before being placed into the woman's ovaries.
However, once they reached the consultation, they were told that they no longer qualified because Ben's BMI was too poor for the procedure to go ahead.
Bethany added: "It's at a point where Ben's survival is being penalised, he works out three times a week, he plays football twice a week - he is healthy, the BMI system is outdated.
"The question should be around my health anyway as the IVF is dependent on my body and my BMI states that I am healthy.
"This was our 'thank goodness we have this' to hold onto throughout Ben's battle and now it has been taken away from us."
BMI - Body Mass Index - is considered a poor metric to measure health by as it doesn't count for body composition, muscle mass or metabolic health.
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"To make Ben get into the 'healthy weight' on BMI, he'd have to lose around two stone of muscle that he's worked hard to gain in the wake of beating cancer - it can't be done," Bethany said.
"But we realise we aren't the only ones in this position, this goes deeper and there will be others who are hoping to have a child through IVF but are being denied.
"It makes no sense because if Ben hadn't beaten cancer, the NHS would've let me go ahead with IVF."
The couple have appealed the decision through the Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) but are yet to hear back from anyone.
For now Ben's sperm remains in Bourn Hall clinic in Wickford - a leading IVF clinic in the UK - with the couple unable to do anything with it.
They have started a petition to have BMI removed from the NHS IVF criteria which has received more than 2,500 signatures in its first week.
A spokesman for NHS Suffolk and North East Essex Integrated Care Board said: “Every request for IVF treatment is sympathetically considered.
"The eligibility criteria have been developed to ensure equal access and a consistent approach across the East of England region.
"Anyone declined for IVF treatment funding can appeal against the decision, and any appeal will be carefully considered by a panel of health professionals.”
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