Washington, D.C. — Shady Grove Fertility has been a leader in infertility awareness, community outreach, and education since the practice first opened its doors more than 2 decades ago. As a RESOLVE Visionary Partner, Shady Grove Fertility supports the “Infertility Uncovered” movement and campaign message of National Infertility Awareness Week (April 21- April 27, 2019). NIAW is a yearly initiative founded by RESOLVE to encourage and unite the community in an effort to remove the stigmas and barriers that stand in the way of building families.
A common misconception about infertility is that it’s uncommon. Some couples wonder, “Am I the only one having issues getting pregnant?” When in reality, the uncovered truth about infertility is that 7.4 million people are impacted—that is 1 in 8 couples struggle to conceive. Helping people realize “you are not alone” is what normalizes infertility and connects others who are on a similar journey.
Another uncovered truth about infertility, “If we keep trying on our own, it will just happen.” When in fact: A woman in her early 30s has a 15 to 20 percent chance of pregnancy per month when she initially starts trying to conceive with her partner. About 60 percent of couples will get pregnant within the first 4 to 5 months. After 1 year of trying to conceive without success, however, the chances of pregnancy decline to 1 to 2 percent per month. “Patient are often shocked to learn the true statistics behind their likelihood to conceive on their own if they’ve been trying for more than 1 year. The uncovered truth is the chances of success decline quickly if you’ve been trying on your own for more than a year, which is why seeking help from a fertility specialist sooner provides much higher success rates than if you continue to wait,” shares Dr. Stephanie Beall, of SGF’s Columbia and Towson, MD offices.
A common fear among couples who are trying on their own is “Fertility treatment won’t work for me.” “The uncovered truth is a positive one and at SGF, we encourage our patients by reminding them there are now treatments available to help nearly everyone conceive. We take an evidence-based, stepped-care approach to treatment that’s personalized and continually optimized to ensure you have every advantage to reach your dream of having a baby,” adds Dr. Beall.
“I’ve heard my patients say that they feared infertility treatment because they assumed in vitro fertilization, or IVF, was their only option,” says Dr. Beall. “When in reality, the uncovered truth is, at SGF about 50% of treatment cycles are considered what we call low-tech. This often means we start couples with oral medications and timed intercourse or a simple intrauterine insemination (IUI) as the first line of treatment. We often can start with the simplest and most cost-effective approach first and only move on to more advanced treatment options if absolutely necessary,” says Dr. Beall.
Another common misperception of infertility treatment is that it’s not affordable, when in fact SGF has one of the largest infertility insurance networks in the nation and accepts over 30+ insurance plans. In fact, 90% of patients are covered for the initial physician consultation, and 70% are covered for at least some if not all diagnostic testing and treatment. For those without insurance coverage, SGF offers unique financial options, even a 100% refund guarantee, designed specifically so that cost is not a barrier to seeking treatment.
“Speaking of truths, the harsh reality is that infertility doesn’t discriminate and is not just a woman’s problem. In fact, male factor infertility accounts for nearly 40 to 50 percent of all infertility cases, which is why SGF tests both the male and female during the initial infertility work-up to determine an appropriate diagnosis. I’m surprised to hear my patients reveal, often during second opinions, that they initiated treatment elsewhere before even testing the male partner. In our practice, given the high rate of infertility being related to a problem with the man’s sperm, we never initiate treatment for infertility unless both partners are tested. And testing for a male is simple with a private, at-home collection for a semen analysis in most cases,” reminds Dr. Beall.
To learn more about overcoming infertility from SGF physician experts, information seekers are invited to attend free virtual webinars during National Infertility Awareness Week:
April 23 | Online | What to Expect When You’re Not Expecting | Dr. Naveed Khan
April 24 | Online| In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) | Dr. Jason Bromer
As well, SGF provides on-demand webinars on such topics asGetting Pregnant with Endometriosis, Low-Tech Treatments,PCOS, Weight and Fertility, Financial Options, and more. Visit the Shady Grove Fertility calendar of events for live seminars throughout MD, VA, D.C., GA, and FL and virtual events happening regularly.
Since establishing a partnership with RESOLVE, Shady Grove Fertility has helped to raise not only awareness about infertility, but more than $300,000 in support through annual events that advance RESOLVE’s programming, such as support groups, educational content, public awareness initiatives, and advocacy to ensure that family building options are available to everyone.
SGF can provide physician experts for interviews on all aspects of infertility, as well as personal patient stories from women and men who have overcome or are still living with infertility. To schedule an interview, contact Dana DeBoer at [email protected].
To stay connected with SGF during NIAW, follow them on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, and visit their website www.ShadyGroveFertility.com. To schedule an appointment at one of SGF’s 34 domestic locations, please call 1-888-761-1967 or visit ShadyGroveFertility.com.
