Amy Toth experienced enough stress in her struggle with infertility without adding financial worries to her burdens. So when she arrived at RHS for treatment, she eagerly embraced the cost sharing program. "I knew it might take more than one cycle to get pregnant," she explained. "I didn't want to worry about how I would afford to keep trying."

After three cycles of IVF, the news, along with her pregnancy test, was positive. She gave birth to now ten month-old Elijah, who may be sharing the limelight soon. Amy and her husband are planning a return trip to RHS, where she felt that the staff shared more than the cost — they also understood her fears, concerns and excitement.

Octuplet Mom Gives Birth to Controversy: The recent octuplet birth has put multiple embryo transfers in the national news. RHS addressed the issue in last year's Spring newsletter.

Dr. Kubik Weighs in on Octuplet Birth: Dr. Carolyn Kubik voices her concerns about fertility ethics in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.

Dr. Albert Contributes to ALL YOU Magazine: Dr. Judith Albert shares her expertise in an article on "Protecting Your Fertility at Every Age."

Blog Improvements: Check out the exciting changes we've made to Seedlings, the RHS blog.

Do Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) affect fertility?

There are several STIs that can contribute to infertility. Gonorrhea can cause permanent blockage of the Fallopian tubes or of the epididymus in the male. The effects of Chlamydia are similar — it can damage the delicate cells that line the Fallopian tubes. The tubes remain open, but they may not work normally to transport the egg from the ovary to the inside of the uterus. However, both of these STIs can be diagnosed and treated before permanent damage occurs.

Some forms of human papillomavirus (HPV) can lead to changes in the cells that cover the cervix, contributing to infertility. These abnormal cells are also treatable if detected early. However, there is no cure for HPV.

You should get tested for STIs regularly to ensure quick diagnosis and treatment.

If I get infertility treatment, I will have a multiple pregnancy.

Multiple births as a result of fertility treatment are certainly in the news these days — the octuplets were a product of an IVF cycle in which six embryos were transferred. However, this situation is rare, because most fertility experts follow guidelines that prevent transferring such a large number of embryos. When guidelines are followed and fertility treatments are monitored properly, the majority of pregnancies, more than 75%, will be singleton pregnancies.

It's true that multiple birth rates are higher in women who receive fertility treatments than in women who don't. At RHS, our goal is always to achieve a healthy pregnancy, and single births are lower-risk and healthier for the mother and baby.

Bleak economic news surrounds us, provoking anxiety and insecurity that can add another element of stress and uncertainty to infertility. High costs and a lack of insurance coverage for many treatments can further threaten the dream of parenthood and can create an overwhelming conflict between the need to protect assets and the drive to have a baby. Like any major financial decision, undertaking infertility treatment may require some research and advance planning. Fortunately, there are several options to help bridge the gap.

• Check your company benefits carefully. While infertility treatment may not be fully covered by your health insurance plan, some elements may be, such as the costs associated with testing and medication. And, you may be able to use pre-tax dollars to cover some costs by enrolling in a healthcare flexible-spending account through your employer. Deposits to this account can be used to reimburse out-of-pocket treatment expenses. Talk to other employees in your company to learn about their experiences, and explore options through your human resources or benefits manager.
• Explore loan options. Taking out a loan or second mortgage may be the answer for some couples, especially when, as with women over 35, time is a factor that precludes saving up for the needed procedures. Much like a student loan, some patients view borrowing as an investment in the future, and they find that adding to the family is well worth the cost. At RHS, our on-staff financial counselors have relationships with local lenders that can help provide favorable terms, including discounted loans, to fund the cost of treatment.
• Consider cost sharing. RHS has developed a unique IVF Cost Sharing program to eliminate some of the financial uncertainty from IVF treatment. Traditionally, each IVF cycle is billed separately, forcing a potentially stressful decision about whether or not to proceed if an initial cycle is unsuccessful. Cost sharing provides eligible patients with a fixed cost for treatment that includes up to three IVF cycles and cryopreservation of embryos. If the first three cycles are unsuccessful and viable frozen embryos remain available, up to three frozen embryo transfer cycles are included in the cost. If treatment is terminated or unsuccessful, patients receive a partial refund of their initial investment.

If cost is a factor in your fertility decision, RHS's financial counselors are there to offer guidance. Using their experience and expertise, they can provide suggestions to help you explore the best financial options for your treatment.

The Hadleys' Story

When Jayme Hadley first discovered that she was the recipient of a free IVF cycle from RHS, she couldn't stop crying. "We suddenly felt as if this huge weight had been lifted off of our shoulders," said her husband, Dave.

Married in 2003, the couple has been trying to conceive with no luck for the past five years. Jayme, a first grade teacher, and Dave, a software engineer, have always had a love for children and knew they wanted a family of their own. As time passed and more and more of their friends became pregnant, the couple's frustration with not being able to start their own family increased.

Last year, Jayme and Dave finally decided to seek help. Upon visiting a urologist, they discovered that an issue that Dave had at birth was affecting his ability to conceive. He underwent surgery to fix the problem, but it was unsuccessful.

That's when they decided to seek help from the fertility experts at RHS. At their initial meeting with Drs. Kubik and Albert, Jayme and Dave learned that IVF treatment could help them conceive, but they were worried about being able to afford the treatments.

When Jayme heard about the IVF Giveaway, she immediately signed up. "We had no idea that we would win," she said. "But we figured that anything we could do to help have a baby was worth trying."

A few weeks later, Jayme and Dave got a call from RHS and the surprise of a lifetime. "When they said that we won, we were just so ecstatic," said Jayme. "We couldn't believe it."

Now, as the couple prepares to begin their treatment, they're experiencing a mixture of emotions: gratitude, anticipation and mostly, excitement. "We can't wait to start!"

To stay updated on Jayme and Dave's progress, check out Seedlings, the RHS blog.