Infertility and fertility treatment are often compared to either a roller coaster or a Ferris wheel, and for good reason. Throughout your journey, there are many twists and turns, ups and downs - and it often feels like the entire thing is out of your control. That got us wondering, “If all the pieces of fertility treatment were like rides at an amusement park, which ones would they be?”

For the last 32 years, when I find something interesting or intriguing, I take it straight to the people I care for the most: those that need help building their family. More specifically, those faced with infertility or those in the LGBTQ+ community who need reproductive health services.

Every person deserves to have the opportunity to build a family. Infertility is a reproductive disease, and like any other disease, it should be covered by insurance. While there are an increasing number of grants out there, providing funds for the people in 31 states that have no state-mandated coverage (19 states do have limited mandated coverage, including Connecticut), would we expect someone with cardiac or pulmonary disease to apply and hope for a grant for medical treatment? Or would we expect that the medical coverage that we pay for would instead provide coverage for our medical problem? With 1 in 8 people affected by fertility issues (similar numbers to those who are challenged by breast cancer), we do not have to face these discriminatory exclusions by ourselves. When asked, many legislators will tell you that their families are among the most important aspects of their lives. We stand together, to tell our legislators that our families are as important to us as theirs are to them.

Taking a break during fertility treatment can be a real gift to yourself (if you can bring yourself to actually take the time off). One might even think of "time off" as, gasp, a vacation! A vacation from the doctor's appointments, monitoring, testing, procedures, blood draws, and more.

Infertility has been likened to a rollercoaster, a merry-go-round (though it's hard to find the merry when you’re in the middle of it), a see saw and many other analogies. You get the idea - lots of ups, downs, swoops around, and general uncertainty. Because of this, life can feel out of control.

Inherent in infertility is disappointment. In fact, the process is steeped in disappointment. Seeing the evidence every month that it hasn’t happened is a visual reminder that once again, no pregnancy.

Type A personalities have a well-deserved reputation for a penchant to control. Whether in their personal or professional lives, they can be picked out pretty easily. They’re the ones asking specific and detailed questions, tapping their smart watches, picking up any slack, and providing information that wasn’t even apparent to others that it was needed.

When it comes to Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, or PCOS, there are two major statistics you should know: One, it affects up to 15% of women. Two, it is one of the most common infertility diagnoses. If you’ve never heard of it, maybe you’re wondering why? Why is something that’s so common and so impactful on fertility seemingly a secret? We couldn’t agree more! One of our biggest goals of the RMA of Connecticut PCOS Team is to bring awareness to the condition, spreading knowledge and giving women with PCOS a fair shot at treatment, management, and family building success. That’s why, in coordination with PCOS Challenge, we’re sponsoring a grant for a woman with PCOS to pursue an in vitro fertilization cycle free of charge! Read on to learn more...