When constant ovulation tracking and major dietary and lifestyle changes are insufficient, navigating opaque and expensive fertility treatments are often the last available option.
As author and fertility expert Leslie Schrock is quick to point out, most men are unaware that they are responsible for half of all fertility problems. Conditions like DNA fragmentation in sperm are a cause of recurrent miscarriage, but the test is not yet a part of standard semen analysis.
High out-of-pocket expenses with uncertain outcomes, inadequate services for underserved communities, and a lack of consideration for the mental toll of infertility exacerbate an already long and isolating journey.
With only 19 states mandating fertility coverage, no national mandate outlined in the ACA, and increased enrollment in high deductible health plans, Americans experiencing infertility are left to shoulder the heavy financial burden alone and choose to do so by any means necessary.
As late as February 2021, paid surrogacy was illegal for individuals in the state of New York, making it nearly impossible for LGBTQ+ couples and heterosexual couples who are unable to carry a child to term to become parents.
As struggling patients navigate treatment options and undergo procedures, the roadblocks can take a devastating toll on their mental health, so much so that half of women and 15% of men rank infertility as the most upsetting experience of their lives.
From virtual care to remote patient monitoring, digital fertility solutions that meet patients where they are can achieve what the traditional health system has failed to accomplish at scale: empowering women and men to make informed decisions about their own reproductive health journeys.
A key characteristic of successful digital fertility solutions, particularly those providing virtual or in-person care, will be the integration of mental health interventions into their clinical model.
Internal build out of mental health services by fertility solutions will likely continue as well as targeted M&A of fertility solutions by broader sexual health and wellness solutions with existing mental health capabilities, such as Ro’s recent acquisition of Modern Fertility.
When paired with this guidance, remote monitoring devices and digital companions provide patients with highly personalized ways to navigate their fertility journey, and much needed support for complex treatment protocols.
Ultimately, companies like OathCare are taking the power of collective knowledge to offer a complete support community for parents while also bringing medical providers, like-minded peers, and a trusted facilitator together in an intimate group setting.
As the demand for fertility treatments continues to increase, I’m hopeful employers will step up – especially those attempting to attract and retain top talent while providing cost-effective care options.
For example, Pera Labs uses AI and microfluidic chip sorting to rapidly analyze and identify the best reproductive cell candidates for IVF treatments, streamlining the fertility assessment process, reducing the need for multiple expensive treatments, and increasing treatment success rates.
There is still a lack of awareness and education on treatment options accompanied by unaffordable testing and procedures, which leaves infertile individuals and couples in a bleak position.
Alyssa Jaffee is a Partner at 7wireVentures where she focuses on investments in digital healthcare and technology-enabled services that empower consumers to be better stewards of their health in today’s changing healthcare ecosystem.
Alyssa’s prior experience in venture capital includes her time as an investor at Pritzker Group Venture Capital where she led investments in Bright.md and Tovala as well as worked closely with Apervita, Mingle Health, and AiCure.
There, Alyssa was charged with expanding new business through the sales of technology platforms. With an extensive travel regimen, Alyssa met with hundreds of hospital executive teams to understand their strategic needs and recommend various solutions.