2020 has been a challenging and despairing year for many but for some, it has brought much joy.

Some people have welcomed their longed-for baby into the world following fertility treatment at Oxford Fertility which is part of The Fertility Partnership.

The Fertility Partnership is a group of national and international fertility clinics specialising in IVF.

READ ALSO: Woodley Concert Band creates music videos of Christmas songs to celebrate festive season

It's one of the UK's largest IVF providers, with nine clinics including Thames Valley Fertility and Oxford Fertility.

Caroline Drewett, 43, and Kirsten Willis, 48, from Reading, welcomed their son, Monty, in May 2020.

Kirsten explained they had always wanted a family and were referred to Oxford Fertility.

Kirsten said: “We underwent five IVF cycles, which weren’t successful.

"The hurt and pain you experience when you’re not successful is unbearable."

The couple had one final round of IVF and when the test came back positive the couple "couldn't believe it".

Monty was born in May this year.

Kirsten said: "He is absolutely adorable.

"Every day you wake up and see him, it feels like Christmas day again.

"He has massively changed our lives for the better and we wouldn’t change it for the world."

Another couple who know the joys of successful fertility treatment is Katie and David Willott from Wokingham.

Katie explains how The Fertility Partnership helped the couple conceive three children.

The couple started IVF treatment in January 2015.

Katie said: "I produced 13 eggs, nine were fertilised and we had six good, viable embryos.

"One fresh embryo was transferred into my womb and five embryos were frozen for future use if needed.

“Two weeks later we did the pregnancy test, and it came back negative.

READ ALSO: New Year Honours 2021: Chief nurse awarded MBE for Covid-19 efforts

"But I had a spare one and the following day, I tried again, and this time it came back positive.

“Nine months later, following an elective c-section due to a low-lying placenta, Thomas was born weighing eight pounds three and a half ounces.

"When he came out and started crying, I burst into tears as I was so relieved that he was finally here, safe, and well."

The couple knew they wanted a sibling for Thomas so returned to Oxford Fertility and started a frozen IVF cycle using one of their stored embryos.

The couple had a positive pregnancy and Elodie arrived just over two years after Thomas.

Katie and David have since had a third child through IVF at Oxford Fertility - Chloe arrived during April's lockdown.

Nanny, Mel, from Reading has also become a mother this year following IVF treatment.

Mel, 29, chose to be a solo mother and explains it has been her best decision.

She explained three years ago it was confirmed that she had inherited a genetic condition.

She said: "As a nanny for eight years, I love spending my days with children.

"I realised that I could meet a man later in life, but waiting to have a baby was more risky, and for me having a baby wasn’t optional.

"So, on a mission to have a baby and to minimise the impact of my genetic condition, I decided my best option would be to save-up for IVF."

She revealed: “Waiting was so hard.

"The night before my pregnancy test I couldn’t sleep.

"When I eventually took the test, I thought I could see a line.

"With my hands shaking I took a photo and sent it to friends for their opinion. Excited replies confirmed, it was positive!"

Seth was born in August 2020.

READ ALSO: Reading’s blue, red and silver plaques and where to find them

Dr Alex Swanton is a consultant at Thames Valley Fertility, which is part of The Fertility Partnership.

195 people finally welcomed their baby into the world following treatment at Thames Valley Fertility in Maidenhead this year.

Dr Swanton revealed why some people struggle to get pregnant.

Dr Swanton said: "There are numerous reasons why you might be having difficulty getting pregnant, it can be because of ovulation problems, issues with the quality of an egg or sperm, problems with the fallopian tubes, or a combination of these."

Common factors experienced by women include Endometriosis, where the cells that line the womb (and bleed each month with a menstrual period) occur outside the womb and the quality of eggs (as women get older the quality decreases).

Common factors experienced by men include two few sperm and genetic problems or past infection.

Giving advice to others considering IVF, Katie and David said: "Our advice to anyone considering fertility treatment is to tell people you’re close to as you’ll need the support network through the process and if it doesn’t work out they’ll understand what you’ve been through, sparing you some of the pain of explanations.”