This is Infertility is a bi-weekly podcast where we fuse narrative storytelling with experience and science to give you a new perspective on what it’s really like to go through a family building journey. Each episode dives into the emotional, physical, and financial burdens carried by those who experience infertility on their path to parenthood. Be it IVF, IUI, egg freezing, surrogacy, adoption, etc., the path is never the same and it can be long, painful, and lonely. It’s our mission to give those struggling a platform to be heard, a community connection, and an opportunity to raise awareness of the 1 in 8 who, for many reasons, struggle with infertility.
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This is Infertility

Episode 59: It Takes a Village to Grow a Family

While fertility treatments have certainly become more innovative, that doesn’t mean they are any less expensive. IVF can cost anywhere from $15,000 – $20,000, and even IUI, a less invasive treatment, can cost $1,000 – $2,000. These treatments are usually not covered by insurance, leaving many individuals and couples paying thousands of dollars out-of-pocket.

So, what’s an individual supposed to do when they can’t afford treatment? In this episode, we hear from Sharika Ramseur, who’s been struggling to have a child with her husband Gabriel for almost eight years. After seeing a number of specialists, the couple discovered that Gabriel had male factor infertility, and were recommended to try IUI – the only problem was they couldn’t afford more than one round.

Luckily, Sharika had an extremely supportive community of friends and colleagues at the hospital she worked at. We hear from Lauren and Megan, Sharika’s co-workers who fundraised almost $4,000 to help cover the costs of IUI. But even this generous gift still wasn’t enough. The couple was then told that IVF would be their best option to get pregnant, which costs a lot more than what Sharika could afford.

Once again, Sharika’s co-workers went the extra mile and applied for a grant that helps couples pay for fertility treatments. Through the help of The Samantha and Kyle Busch Bundle of Joy Fund, Sharika and her husband were able to afford one round of IVF. We’ll hear Sharika’s heartwarming story of getting pregnant after a long journey of infertility and welcoming her baby girl into the world.

Guests: Sharika Ramseur, Bundle of Joy recipient, and Lauren Strain and Megan England

Host: Claire O’Neill, Patient Care Advocate at Progyny

For more information visit Progyny’s Podcast page, and The Samantha and Kyle Busch Bundle of Joy Fund.

You can watch Sharika and Gabriel receive their Bundle of Joy grant here.

You can find the podcast episode that dives into Samantha Busch creating the Bundle of Joy Fund here.

Be sure to follow us on Instagram, @ThisisInfertilityPodcast and use the #ThisisInfertility. 

Have a question, comment, or want to share your story? Email us at thisisinfertility@progyny.com.

Podcast-Headshot-Claire-ONeill

Host

Claire O’Neill
Patient Care Advocate at Progyny and Certified Embryology and Andrology Lab Scientist

Claire has spent two and a half years in a high-volume fertility clinic lab In NYC creating embryos using the method of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) and have generated thousands of embryos during that time for patients struggling with infertility based on a range of different diagnoses. She has also worked on clinical research under the clinic’s Director of Andrology and Assisted Fertilization, primarily focusing on male infertility and has presented her research in international conferences in Reproductive Medicine in the United States and Europe. She has co-authored and first-authored several scientific papers published in peer reviewed journals on topics such as genetic testing of embryos, embryo development and the clinical outcomes associated, ICSI, and male fertility testing.

With Claire’s clinical experience, she is now at Progyny working with patients directly. She counsels them on how best to utilize their benefits and guides them through their fertility journey.

Podcast-Headshot-Sharika-Ramseur

Guest

Sharika Ramseur
Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA)

Sharika and her husband struggled with infertility for seven years. Working as a CNA in a labor and delivery unit isn’t easy but with love and support of her family and coworkers, it gave her the strength to carry on. She believes opening up them made it easier for everyone to lean on each other. There’s nothing better than knowing you’re not alone.

Music From This Episode:

Artist: Lee Rosevere
Track: Easy Life
URL: https://freemusicarchive.org/

Track: Small Steps
URL: https://freemusicarchive.org/

Track: The Secret to Growing
URL: https://freemusicarchive.org/

Track: Completely Lost
URL: https://freemusicarchive.org/

Track: In a Moment
URL: https://freemusicarchive.org/

Artist: HealthBeauty
Track: deathxmas
URL: https://freemusicarchive.org/

Artist: Monplaisir
Track: Brotherhood
URL: https://freemusicarchive.org/

Artist: Philipp Weigl
Track: Western Shores
URL: https://freemusicarchive.org/

Track: The Scent of Cedars
URL: https://freemusicarchive.org/

Track: Even when we fall
URL: https://freemusicarchive.org/

Artist: Rest You Sleeping Giant
Track: Jazzmasters and Delay Pedals
URL: https://freemusicarchive.org/

Artist: Steve Combs
Track: A Vital Piece of Music for All Your Soundtrack Needs
URL: https://freemusicarchive.org/