*** PLEASE SIGN THIS PETITION TO HAVE IVF COVERED UNDER INSURANCE, NATIONWIDE ***

 

Infertility:

According to "American Pregnancy Association" (2015), “Infertility is a condition of the reproductive system that prevents the conception of children. It affects approximately 10-15% of couples throughout the United States. The diagnosis of infertility is usually given to couples who have been attempting to conceive for at least 1 year without success.

 

Conception and pregnancy are complicated processes that depend upon a number of factors, including:

~ the production of healthy sperm by the man

~ healthy eggs produced by the woman

~ unblocked fallopian tubes that allow the sperm to reach the egg

~ the sperm’s ability to fertilize the egg when they meet

~ the ability of the fertilized egg (embryo) to become implanted in the woman’s uterus

~ sufficient embryo quality

Finally, for the pregnancy to progress to full term the embryo must be healthy and the woman’s hormonal environment adequate for its development.  If just one of these factors is impaired, infertility can be the result.”

 

From 2006-2010:

According to "Centers For Disease Control And Prevention" (2015),

~ “Number of women ages 15-44 with impaired fecundity (impaired ability to get pregnant or carry a baby to term): 6.7 million

~ Percent of women ages 15-44 with impaired fecundity: 10.9%

~ Number of married women ages 15-44 that are infertile (unable to get pregnant after at least 12 consecutive months of unprotected sex with husband): 1.5 million

~ Percent of married women ages 15-44 that are infertile: 6.0%

~ Number of women ages 15-44 who have ever used infertility services: 7.4 million”

 

Different causes of infertility:

 

Endometriosis

According to "Resolve" (2015), “Endometriosis is a disorder of the female reproductive system in which endometrial tissue (the normal lining of the uterus) is found outside the uterine cavity. An estimated three to five million American women of reproductive age suffer from endometriosis.

 

Luteal Phase Defect

Abnormalities in endometrial development -- luteal phase defect (LPD) - are associated with infertility and early miscarriage. Luteal phase defect occurs when the endometrium is inadequately prepared, either because the secretion of progesterone by the ovary is below normal or because the endometrium isn't responding to the normal stimulation by progesterone.

 

Male Factor

30% of infertility is due a male problem such as structural abnormalities, sperm production disorders, ejaculatory disturbances and immunologic disorders.

 

Multiple Miscarriages

Miscarriage can leave you with deep- rooted feelings of loss and sorrow. These feelings must be confronted and dealt with, not suppressed, as is often urged by friends and family. It is important to take action and see an infertility specialist if you have experienced 2 or more miscarriages.

 

Ovulatory Disorders

Approximately 30% of female infertility problems are the result of ovulation disorders. There are many factors that can affect ovulation. In this section we will discuss mainly pituitary causes.

 

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)

PCOS is a very common hormone disorder in women, a leading cause of infertility, and one of the most under diagnosed diseases in the United States. PCOS is characterized by a myriad of seemingly unrelated symptoms and may include irregular or absent periods, lack of ovulation, weight gain, acne, excessive facial hair and infertility. Even more serious, women with PCOS may be at higher risk for developing cardiovascular disease, Type 2 Diabetes, and endometrial cancer, especially if PCOS is left untreated.

 

Poor Responder

The term poor responder has been used to define women who require large doses of stimulation medications and who make less than an optimal number of eggs. There is no uniform definition of poor responders, but many clinics have used a cutoff of less than four mature oocytes at the time of hCG or a peak estradiol of less than 500.

 

Premature Ovarian Failure

Premature ovarian failure is defined as the cessation of menstrual periods before the age of 40. It occurs in 1 in 1,000 women between the ages of 15 and 29 and 1 in 100 women between the ages of 30 and 39. The average age of onset is 27 years. Premature ovarian failure can be both shocking and devastating as there are relatively few treatment options.

 

Secondary Infertility

Although many Americans are affected by the painful experience of secondary infertility, it generally remains an unacknowledged and invisible condition. Secondary infertility is defined as the inability to become pregnant, or to carry a pregnancy to term, following the birth of one or more biological children.

 

Unexplained Infertility

Approximately one in five couples will experience unexplained infertility despite completing a full infertility work-up. The emotional response to hearing, "There is no apparent reason for your infertility" can be difficult, maddening and frustrating. Fortunately, there are many options available for the couple diagnosed with unexplained infertility.

 

Uterine Factors

Abnormalities of the uterus can have a significant impact on the ability of a woman to conceive and to carry a pregnancy successfully. Some women have an abnormally developed uterus from birth (congenital) while others may develop a uterine problem due to infection or surgery (acquired).”

 

What is IVF:

 

According to "American Pregnancy Association" (2015), “In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) is a one assisted reproductive technology (ART) commonly referred to as IVF. IVF is the process of fertilization by manually combining an egg and sperm in a laboratory dish, and then transferring the embryo to the uterus. Other forms of ART include gamete intrafallopian transfer (GIFT) and zygote intrafallopian transfer (ZIFT).

 

What is involved with in vitro fertilization:

There are five basic steps in the IVF and embryo transfer process:

~ Monitor and stimulate the development of healthy egg(s) in the ovaries.

~ Collect the eggs.

~ Secure the sperm.

~ Combine the eggs and sperm together in the laboratory and provide the appropriate environment for fertilization and early embryo growth.

~ Transfer embryos into the uterus.

 

Step 1: Fertility medications are prescribed to stimulate egg production. Multiple eggs are desired because some eggs will not develop or fertilize after retrieval. Transvaginal ultrasound is used to examine the ovaries, and blood test samples are taken to check hormone levels.

Step 2: Eggs are retrieved through a minor surgical procedure that uses ultrasound imaging to guide a hollow needle through the pelvic cavity to remove the eggs. Medication is provided to reduce and remove potential discomfort.

Step 3: The male is asked to produce a sample of sperm, which is prepared for combining with the eggs.

Step 4: In a process called insemination, the sperm and eggs are mixed together and stored in a laboratory to encourage fertilization. In some cases where there is a lower probability of fertilization, intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) may be used. Through this procedure, a single sperm is injected directly into the egg in an attempt to achieve fertilization. The eggs are monitored to confirm that fertilization and cell division are taking place. Once this occurs, the fertilized eggs are considered embryos.

Step 5: The embryos are usually transferred into the woman’s uterus three to five days following egg retrieval and fertilization. A catheter or small tube is inserted into the uterus to transfer the embryos. This procedure is painless for most women, although some may experience mild cramping. If the procedure is successful, implantation typically occurs around six to ten days following egg retrieval.”

 

How successful is in IVF?

According to "American Pregnancy Association" (2015), “The success rate of IVF clinics depends on a number of factors including reproductive history, maternal age, cause of infertility, and lifestyle factors. It is also important to understand that pregnancy rates are not the same as live birth rates.

In the United States, the live birth rate for each IVF cycle started is approximately:

~ 41-43% for women under age 35

~ 3-36% for women ages 35 to 37

~ 23-27% for women ages 38 to 40

~ 13-18% for women ages over 40”

 

STATE LAWS RELATED TO INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR INFERTILITY TREATMENT 

Updated June 2014

According to "National Conference Of State Legislatures " (2015), “Approximately 12 percent of U.S. women of childbearing age have received assistance for infertility. Usually, infertility is defined as the absence of conception after at least one year of regular, unprotected intercourse. Common methods of infertility treatment include various insemination techniques and hormone therapy to stimulate egg production. Assisted reproductive techniology (ART) are procedures in which pregnancy is attempted through the use of external means; for example, eggs are fertilized outside the womb and then placed into a woman's uterus through in vitro fertilization (IVF). More than 61,600 babies were born in the United States in 2008 as a result of non-donor ART procedures.  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that ART accounts for more than one percent of total U.S. births.

Although advances in infertility treatment have helped thousands of couples become parents, the procedures are not without controversy. Such procedures can be quite expensive— according to RESOLVE on average each cycle of IVF costs $8,158 plus $3,000 to $5,000 for medications—and debate exists about whether insurance plans should cover them. Studies have shown that assisted reproductive technologies have contributed to an increase in multiple births, which have a higher rate of prematurity than single births.

Since the 1980s, 15 states—Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Montana, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Rhode Island, Texas and West Virginia—have passed laws that require insurers to either cover or offer coverage for infertility diagnosis and treatment. Thirteen states have laws that require insurance companies to cover infertility treatment.  Louisiana and New York prohibit the exclusion of coverage for a medical condition otherwise covered solely because the condition results in infertility.  Two states—California and Texas—have laws that require insurance companies to offer coverage for infertility treatment. Utah requires insurers providing coverage for maternity benefits to also provide an indemnity benefit for adoption or infertility treatments. While most states with laws requiring insurance companies to offer or provide coverage for infertility treatment include coverage for in vitro fertilization, California, Louisiana, and New York have laws that specifically exclude coverage for the procedure.”

 

Average cost of fertility treatments:

According to "Resolve" (2015),

~ “Average cost of an IUI cycle: $865; Median Cost: $350

~ Average Cost of an IVF cycle using fresh embryos (not including medications): $8,158; Median Cost: $7,500

~ Average additional cost of ICSI procedure:$1,544; Median Cost: $1,500

~ Average additional cost of PGD procedure: $3,550; Median Cost: $3,200”

 

 

*** PLEASE SIGN THIS PETITION TO HAVE IVF COVERED UNDER INSURANCE, NATIONWIDE ***

 

Resources:

American Pregnancy Association. (2015). Retrieved from http://americanpregnancy.org/infertility/in-vitro-fertilization/

 

American Pregnancy Association. (2015). Retrieved from http://americanpregnancy.org/infertility/what-is-infertility/

 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2015). Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/infertility.htm

 

National Conference of State Legislatures . (2015). Retrieved from http://www.ncsl.org/research/health/insurance-coverage-for-infertility-laws.aspx

 

Resolve. (2015). Retrieved from http://www.resolve.org/about-infertility/medical-conditions/

 

Resolve. (2015). Retrieved from http://www.resolve.org/family-building-options/insurance_coverage/the-costs-of-infertility-treatment.html