A comprehensive fertility benefits package should support every aspect of an employee’s family building journey, from fertility testing to treatment, medications, and emotional support. But just as important — it needs to be simple, inclusive, and easy to use.
That’s why Progyny’s solution centers around Smart Cycle, a unique benefits currency that makes fertility coverage both comprehensive and understandable.
What is a Smart Cycle?
Progyny bundles all the individual services, tests, and medications required for a particular type of fertility treatment into one complete unit of care. Each treatment option — such as IVF, IUI, or egg freezing — is assigned a Smart Cycle value or fraction, allowing members and their doctors to create personalized plans without worrying about running out of coverage mid-treatment. This simplifies the process, reducing financial strain and the stress that can be a major factor in the fertility journey.
What’s included in a Smart Cycle?
A Smart Cycle covers the full range of fertility-related needs:
- Comprehensive coverage – Diagnostics, testing, lab services, treatment, and medications are all included.
- Ease of use – Each treatment is a portion (or fraction) of a Smart Cycle, so members can easily track benefit balances.
- Flexibility – Members and their doctors can mix and match treatments to build customized treatment plans.
- Equity – Smart Cycles support all paths to parenthood, including same-sex couples and single parents by choice.
Examples of how Smart Cycles work
Progyny’s Smart Cycle can be tailored to fit every family-building path:
IVF (in-vitro fertilization) Fresh Cycle – 3/4 Smart Cycle
Katherine and her husband Tom are experiencing infertility. Katherine discovers she has diminished ovarian reserve and decides to pursue IVF. With the help of her Progyny Care Advocate (PCA), Katherine chooses an in-network reproductive endocrinologist and completes an IVF Fresh Cycle. One fertilized embryo is transferred to her uterus, and the rest are tested and frozen for future use.
IUI (intrauterine insemination) – 1/4 Smart Cycle
Marcy has been trying to have a baby for a year and decides to see a doctor. Marcy contacts Progyny, and her PCA helps her find an in-network endocrinologist. She receives a diagnosis of unexplained infertility. She then undergoes IUI, where her partner’s sperm is inserted directly into her uterus.
Egg Freezing – 1/2 Smart Cycle
Nora knows she wants children someday but isn’t ready to start her family yet. Her gynecologist suggests that she complete a consultation with a board-certified reproductive endocrinologist. Nora calls Progyny to activate the benefit, and her PCA helps her find a provider and schedule an initial consultation. Nora undergoes egg freezing and stores her eggs until she is ready to use them.
Reciprocal IVF – 1 1/4 Smart Cycles
Jessica and Letitia are a same-sex female couple that would like to expand their family. Both partners would like to be involved in the family building process, so they elect to pursue reciprocal IVF. Letitia will carry a baby created from Jessica’s egg. Jessica and Letitia purchase sperm (1/4 Smart Cycle), complete an IVF Frozen Cycle to retrieve and fertilize Jessica’s eggs (3/4 Smart Cycle), and transfer to Letitia (1/4 Smart Cycle).
Surrogacy – 1 1/2 Smart Cycles
Jonah and his husband Mike want to build their family and have decided to use a gestational carrier. They purchase a cohort of donor eggs (1 Smart Cycle) and create embryos with Mike’s sperm (1/2 Smart Cycle). Because their employer also offers a surrogacy reimbursement, they can use those benefit dollars to cover eligible costs for their surrogate.
The Smart Cycle removes confusion and financial uncertainty, empowering employees to make decisions based on medical need, not coverage limitations. For employers, it delivers a streamlined, equitable fertility benefit that improves satisfaction, retention, and outcomes.