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Get ready, I'm about to step onto my soapbox.  The topic: the ridiculous and unfair costs of infertility testing and treatments. 

Unfortunately, this topic is something Adam and I are all too familiar with.  And it sucks.  We are definitely not alone in dealing with infertility.  Infertility affects one in six couples, which equates to about eight million people.*  That is a lot of people.  When Adam and I started to share about our troubles, it was as if people came out of the woodwork to share about their own struggles.  It is incredibly and unfortunately common.

  

The fact that it is so common makes it hard for me to believe that the costs of treatments seem so astronomical.  It feels so wrong for doctors, insurance companies and drug companies to pray on the desperation so many people feel when trying to become parents.  While I realize options like IVF deal with some very cutting-edge technology, it still just seems unfair.

It's equally frustrating that most insurance plans don't cover infertility costs.  Adam and I recently spoke with the financial coordinator at our clinic.  We asked if there were any insurance companies that do offer coverage for infertility costs and she said that most companies do offer plans with coverage.  But they come with high premiums that employers don't want to pay.  

It's no surprise that people have started to get creative with lowering the costs of infertility treatments. When I went to a support group back in May, there was a lady there who went to Greece for IVF because the costs were far less.  I remember thinking she was absolutely crazy, but after hearing the precise costs involved in IVF, I'm not so quick to judge.  But isn't that sad?  That people have to turn to other countries to get affordable treatment?  

Even adoption comes with a hefty price tag.  And even though the costs are so high, sometimes the likelihood of success is relatively low.  It can all be a big gamble.  Many people end up taking out personal loans and doing fundraising.      

The kinds of people who spend thousands of dollars on treatment are the kinds of people who will likely make good parents.  These are people who will do just about anything to start or add to their families. Where is the justice in that?  

But, as I've come to realize and accept, life simply isn't fair.  After talking with a family member who went through IVF, she ended our conversation by saying that she felt lucky that there are options like IVF available.  If we were living even just 40 years ago, we wouldn't have options like IVF.  We would have to accept that biological children just weren't in the cards for us.  When you look at it like that, it helps put things into perspective.

So what's the point of this post?  I am just complaining?  Well, yes, partly.  But I am also hopeful that something positive will come from it.  Here are some things you could do to help.  The next time you see a GoFundMe or fundraising request on your Facebook feed for a friend or family member, consider making a small donation.  I'm sure they would appreciate any amount, no matter how small.  You could also consider writing to your local representative in support of legislation that requires insurance coverage for infertility treatments in your state.  (There are currently only 15 states that require such coverage.**)

Okay, I will get off my soapbox now.  Thanks for listening.      

*According to the Reproductive Resource Center website. 

**According to the Resolve.org website.