Fertility clinic marks birthday

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Parents who have had children through fertility treatments have gathered to celebrate the anniversary of the unit which helped them.

Since the clinic at the University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff opened its doors 19 years ago, over 3,500 babies have been born.

After undergoing IVF treatment at the unit, Victoria Davies gave birth to her daughter Kaisha, nine weeks ago.

Mrs Davies and her family attended the party along with another 300 people.

Thirty-year-old Mrs Davies from Ferndale, Rhondda Cynon Taf, started her fertility treatment in June last year.

She and her husband Andrew found out that she was pregnant on her fifth wedding anniversary, on 18 August 2006.

"The nurses at the clinic were great with us," Mrs Davies said.

"If we needed anything, we could pick up the phone and ask their advice."

"They've been unbelievable," Mr Davies added. "They've given us so much support".

When she was 20, Mrs Davies had to have her right ovary removed and she underwent artificial insemination, three times before resorting to IVF at the clinic.

Mrs Davies has had three of her eggs frozen at the clinic and she said they will be kept in storage for up to five years.

'Cutting-edge research'

Parents and babies from across south Wales and Powys, which is the area served by the CARU unit, attended the party on Saturday.

The unit's director Janet Evans said she was "proud of the significant amount of cutting-edge research carried out there".

She said pregnancy rates had increased and paid tribute to the work of a team of doctors, nurses and embryologists.

Mrs Evans also said new treatment options were available including the storage of eggs for female cancer victims.