This is Infertility

It Takes a Village to Grow a Family

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Episode notes

While fertility treatments have certainly become more innovative, that doesn’t mean they are any less expensive. IVF can cost anywhere from $15,000 – 20,000, and even IUI, a less invasive treatment, can cost $1,000 – 2,000. These treatments are usually not covered by insurance, leaving many individuals and couples paying thousands of dollars out-of-pocket. So, what’s an individual supposed to do when they can’t afford treatment? In this episode, we hear from Sharika Ramseur, who’s been struggling to have a child with her husband Gabriel for almost eight years. After seeing a number of specialists, the couple discovered that Gabriel had male factor infertility, and were recommended to try IUI – the only problem was they couldn’t afford more than one round. Luckily, Sharika had an extremely supportive community of friends and colleagues at the hospital she worked at. We hear from Lauren and Megan, Sharika’s co-workers who fundraised almost $4,000 to help cover the costs of IUI. But even this generous gift still wasn’t enough. The couple was then told that IVF would be their best option to get pregnant, which costs a lot more than what Sharika could afford. Once again, Sharika’s co-workers went the extra mile and applied for a grant that helps couples pay for fertility treatments. Through the help of The Samantha and Kyle Busch Bundle of Joy Fund, Sharika and her husband were able to afford one round of IVF. We’ll hear Sharika’s heartwarming story of getting pregnant after a long journey of infertility and welcoming her baby girl into the world. Guests: Sharika Ramseur, Bundle of Joy recipient, and Lauren Strain and Megan England Host: Claire O’Neill, Patient Care Advocate at Progyny For more information visit Progyny’s Podcast page, and The Samantha and Kyle Busch Bundle of Joy Fund. You can watch Sharika and Gabriel receive their Bundle of Joy grant here. You can find the episode that dives into the creation of The Bundle of Joy Fund You can find the podcast episode that dives into Samantha Busch creating the Bundle of Joy Fund here. Have a question, comment, or want to share your story? Email us at [email protected].