Fertility can be a particularly difficult challenge for couples who are hoping to have a baby.
While many people struggle to conceive, starting a conversation can be daunting and leave some feeling isolated. Navigating the challenges of getting pregnant, and moving past the stigma of infertility, is something that Sanford Fertility and Reproductive Medicine can provide.
In girls and women ages 15 to 49 years with no prior births, about 1 in 5 (or 19%) are unable to get pregnant after one year of trying, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About 1 in 4 (26%) women in this group have difficulty getting pregnant or carrying a pregnancy to term.
There are a number of different factors that affect a person’s fertility, including age, medical conditions, lifestyle choices or genetics, among other reasons. Both men and women can contribute to infertility.
Free download: Guide to Fertility and Reproductive Medicine at Sanford Health
“It’s more common than you think,” said Jennifer Martinson, RN program specialist with Sanford Reproductive Medicine in Fargo, North Dakota. “Once you can make that first step to come into the clinic and talk to somebody, you realize there are solutions in front of you.”
She said that from your first interaction with the front desk, ultrasound, lab staff and nursing, you’ll realize the entire clinic is there to help you succeed.
“You don’t have to worry by yourself,” Martinson said. “There’s staff here that are really passionate and caring, and are willing to help with any aspect, whether it be emotional support, answering your questions about medications, questions about financial … the clinic is a safe space for patients.”
Navigating fertility treatment options
For those who have been trying to get pregnant for a year — or six months if you are over 35, have irregular menstrual cycles or a medical condition known to contribute to infertility — fertility treatments may be an option.
Talking to your primary care provider or OB/GYN is important when trying to conceive, but if attempting pregnancy has been difficult and treatment is an option, Fertility and Reproductive Medicine may be the logical next step.
“Once patients come in for their first visit I often hear, ‘This doesn’t seem as overwhelming as I thought,’” said Caitlin Pandolfo, M.D., an OB/GYN at the Sanford Reproductive Medicine Clinic in Fargo.
Many patients can conceive with timed intercourse or intrauterine insemination (IUI). But when in vitro fertilization (IVF) becomes the next step, the IVF navigator (or IVF coordinator in Sioux Falls, South Dakota) is an important part of your team. This navigator works alongside the patient and other care team members to ensure care is timely, well-coordinated, and thorough.
The IVF process
The IVF navigator is there to support the patient every step of the way through what can be an emotional journey.
The process can last months, so having the navigator follow up every step of the way takes much of the burden of planning off the patient. They do that for each of the more than 100 patients each year who come through the doors in Fargo.
According to Martinson, IVF treatment starts about two months before egg retrieval. The part most people think of as IVF – the ovarian stimulation process and egg retrieval – is typically about 14 days.
Once the eggs are fertilized and are monitored for appropriate growth, one embryo is transferred back into the uterus approximately eight weeks later. Nine to 11 days after that, a pregnancy test can be administered. The remaining embryos can be preserved for future use.
But there’s more than just logistics and calendars to this journey. The navigator can provide emotional support as well, no matter how long the process takes.
Getting financial support
One aspect that’s overlooked in fertility treatments, at least initially, is financial support. Karen Hintz, a financial consulting representative at Sanford Health in Fargo, is among those who can help determine if insurance covers procedures such as IUI or IVF.
“New patients often have no idea of the cost,” said Hintz. “For one complete cycle of IVF treatment, including egg retrieval, it can cost approximately $21,000 before insurance. The good news is many insurance companies do have benefits for infertility. And even if someone doesn’t have benefits, we can direct them to different programs for financial assistance.”
A lasting bond
While it does take time, both Martinson and Hintz unequivocally say the best part of their job is hearing great news from new families.
“I actually want to hug them,” said Hintz. “We love to see babies here in the clinic, and we get a ton of Christmas cards.”
“We have a bond with our patients that lasts over a length of time, and that’s pretty unique,” said Martinson. “The infertility journey can be a really hard time in somebody’s life, but it can also be a thankful and appreciative time. For the clinic staff, nothing is more rewarding than hearing success stories and knowing we helped make those families possible.”
Learn more
- How infertility led one woman to empower others
- What’s it like to go through fertility treatments?
- Mental health care supports patients on fertility journey
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Posted In Fargo, Pregnancy, Sioux Falls, Women's
