Fertility services are sought by one out of every eight couples, single parents by choice, and a large portion of the LGBTQ+ community in the United States. Infertility has been linked to depression levels equivalent to people who have been diagnosed with cancer or HIV, according to studies. All of this is connected to a much greater problem in the United States: the poor status of maternity and child care.
The maternal mortality rate in the United States was over treble that of the United Kingdom in 2018, with 17 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births. Furthermore, death rates for Black women are much higher, at 34 per 100,000. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the United States, 60 percent of pregnancy-related fatalities are avoidable. Italy and Hungary, for example, have some of the longest lengths of leave, with five months paying 80 percent of salaries and 24 weeks covering 100 percent of wages, respectively.
Twelve weeks is a common time span, with the employer, social security, or both covering variable portions of pay during that time, however nations like Pakistan, Mexico, and India all cover 100% for the duration. In the United States, having a baby (without a C-section) costs between $5,000 and $11,000 without fertility treatments, any unforeseen testing, or NICU visits. That is only for the delivery. While Rhode Island, Hawaii, New Jersey, California, and New York all have state-mandated paid maternity leave, there is no national law.
Individuals and couples typically come to Resolve with a great lack of knowledge about an infertility diagnosis and what occurs next, according to Barbara Collura, president of Resolve, a group designed to bring together people battling infertility. Searching for solutions frequently leads to additional questions for people on these trips. “They have no idea that options like egg donation or IVF may not be covered by their insurance,” she explains. “Or they don’t understand the expense of gestational surrogacy and everything that goes along with it.”
Patients are frequently forced to learn about all of this while making decisions, with no guidance on where to go for options beyond an OBGYN. A sperm, an egg, and a uterus are required to generate a baby. In addition to determining what people are dealing with on that front, Collura says they must also consider economics and the path to follow in order to have a kid. “There are a lot of folks who can’t afford to do what’s best for them.” As a result, the cheapest treatment may be inadequate, but it is something people can afford. “It’s an odd form of medical care where people need it, but the financial problem plays into a really intricate, non-cookie-cutter way,” she explains.
