Why you need to offer infertility support for your employees - and how to design better benefits

Fertility challenges impact one in six people worldwide, and one in eight couples in the US. It’s likely that a large percentage of your workforce is of reproductive age – and therefore could want, if not require, reproductive assistance. HR leaders are already concerned with the impact of pregnancy and childbirth on healthcare costs and productivity. Fertility treatment is another piece of the puzzle that, with improved technology and reduced stigma, are becoming all the more relevant in the workplace. 

Without support, your employees facing fertility and family building challenges may be paying exorbitant out-of-pocket costs to start their families and dealing with significant physical and mental health challenges. As a result, your organization may be on the hook for seen and unseen costs, in the form of total cost of care, reduced productivity, and employee attrition.

Understanding infertility and its impact

Infertility is a condition that occurs when a person is unable to get pregnant after one year of trying. The causes can vary and the condition can impact men and women. ‘Primary infertility’ occurs when a couple has been unable to conceive within a year of trying for the first time, while ‘secondary infertility’ refers to when a couple is unable to conceive after having given birth before.

Common causes of infertility

Infertility is a complex condition that’s impacted by several interlinked factors. In heterosexual couples, one-third of infertility cases are caused by female reproductive issues, another third by male reproductive issues, and the final third caused by both partners or unknown factors. Common causes include:

• Hormonal imbalances or problems with the endocrine system
• Sexually transmitted infections
• Physical blockages or impairments of reproductive organs
• Uterine disorders (like endometriosis or fibroids)
• Social infertility (the inability to find a suitable partner, or societal restrictions or stigma that prevents a person from starting a family)

The psychological impact of infertility on your employees

Infertility can have lifelong impacts on your employees’ physical health, mental health, and even financial health. Studies show that up to 40% of women experiencing infertility have a psychiatric diagnosis, and that both men and women experience higher rates of mental illness when facing infertility. To put it simply, infertility causes people a lot of stress and shame. This stress can impact their relationship with their partner, their friends, and even their coworkers. The impact often doesn’t happen all at once – in fact, it may appear invisible to the naked eye. But prolonged stress and mental health issues can impact productivity, satisfaction, and ultimately result in attrition.

There’s often a reciprocal relationship between mental health and infertility – an individual may feel frustrated, inadequate, or even ashamed because of their condition, which can further impact their mental state and consequently their fertility. Likewise, experiencing infertility may accordingly trigger latent or unresolved mental health issues.

Financial implications of infertility

Infertility treatment can be extremely expensive, especially as challenges compound. For many, especially same-sex couples, infertility treatments can be so expensive that they opt to not start families at all. For those who do pursue infertility treatment, a single round of IVF can cost between $15,000 and $30,000 without insurance or financial support. They may have to travel to find a clinic, especially if they are a member of the LGTBQIA+ community or live in rural communities, and they may have to take out loans or set up payment plans to afford it.

Stigma and misconceptions about fertility

Fertility and the perceptions thereof is anchored as much in science as it is in sociology. Different cultures have different beliefs, expectations, and concepts of fertility. There are lot of opinions – and a lot of misinformation – surrounding fertility and fertility treatments. Some may think there is no hope for them, while others may feel pressured to pursue fertility treatments or testing without any real cause or reason.

There is also a lot of stigma surrounding fertility and the LGBTQIA+ community. In many US states, insurance doesn’t cover fertility treatments for same-sex couples. Likewise, private clinics may have rules against serving same-sex couples or people who are transitioning, forcing these individuals to travel to different cities, counties, or even states to receive care. 

How can employers provide comprehensive support for infertility

A fertility journey can be all-encompassing. As an employer, there are three distinct ways you can provide support: clinical support, mental health support, and financial guidance. 

Clinical support for fertility

Supporting employees clinically entails ensuring access to high-quality services that can provide robust and holistic treatments for infertility. It’s essential that your employees are able to receive accurate diagnoses and personalized treatment plans to minimize the amount of time and money spent on treatments and optimize their chances for success.

Some common fertility treatments include:

• Fertility medication injections like Clomid or Serophene
• Injectable hormones to trigger ovulation
• Surgeries that can restore fertility
• Reproductive assistance like IVF or IUI

Fertility treatments are a team sport – your employees will likely need to consult with various medical professionals along the way, including OB-GYNs, endocrinologists, reproductive specialists, and more. Ensuring access to these professionals and their facilities is crucial to supporting employees. Consider how your health plan selection impacts access – in cases where access is limited, on-demand virtual support can easily supplement.

Mental health support

The fertility journey can be a long and arduous process. High stress, anxiety, and depression are common experiences among men and women facing infertility. Providing employees with access to mental health support, beyond insurance coverage, can go a long way. This can look like on-demand virtual support with mental health professionals, online support groups and community forums, or even mindfulness and stress management platforms that can help employees relax and unwind.

Financial support

One of the reasons fertility journeys are so stressful is money. Not only can it be expensive, it’s also complicated: finding the right services, accessing them at the right time, and paying for them through insurance and out of pocket can be a daunting process. Providing resources that can help with short- and long-term financial planning, cost management, and fertility benefits navigation will go a long way. 

If your company does offer some form of reimbursement or intends to, accessing (and administering) these benefits can pose significant challenges as well. Consider a fertility benefits administration solution to help employees – and your benefits team – manage expenses and access reimbursements without needing reams of receipts. 

Virtual fertility benefits: the modern solution to infertility support

Today’s workforce is more diverse and distributed than ever before. It’s likely you have employees in multiple locations, with different insurance plans, and different state and local regulations. Virtual fertility benefits are an effective and scalable way to overcome these challenges, providing on-demand support for many of the trials and tribulations of infertility. 

Virtual clinics are:

Convenient, discreet, and accessible

Instead of waiting months for an appointment, virtual fertility benefits can offer quick and effective appointments, issuing at-home tests and screenings to help individuals start and manage their journey. They’re accessible to people anywhere in the country, eliminating the need for excessive travel, and they’re discreet, so individuals can seek assistance without fear of reprisal or stigma. They can also connect employees to a vetted network of high-quality clinics when it's time to start fertility treatment.

Personalized with ongoing care

Virtual  fertility benefits can also more easily personalize and tailor care plans for each individual’s unique needs. Take for example an individual who is facing infertility and is diagnosed with diabetes and endometriosis. The virtual fertility benefit can refer her to support for each condition, and tailor her care plan to manage each while pursuing their ultimate goal of getting pregnant. 

All-inclusive and holistic

Because virtual fertility benefits can host providers in multiple specialties, they can offer your employees a one-stop-shop for all things fertility. By taking a holistic and comprehensive approach to  care, employees can see and react to problems faster and stay on the path to success – which results in lower total costs of care for you.

The importance of employer-sponsored infertility benefits

Fertility benefits are a crucial offering for modern employers seeking top talent. They’re highly coveted by employees, and are a key differentiator for many when choosing their next role. Over 80% of top-ranked workplaces offer reimbursement for fertility care, and studies show that employees are 1.5 times more likely to recommend working for their employer if they offer fertility benefits. Additionally, fertility benefits signal to your employees that you care about the things they care about, and are willing to support and include their unique needs and lifestyles. 

Build your infertility benefits with Maven

As fertility benefits climb in importance, employers need to consider how they can go beyond reimbursements and offer comprehensive support that really moves the needle for their employees. Maven’s Fertility and Family Building program offers your employees 24/7 access to holistic support, as well as flexible expense management programs and high-touch benefits navigation. The results speak for themselves: 

• 30% of fertility members achieve pregnancy without ART
• 55% IVF pregnancy rate
• 96% of members are more loyal to employers because they implemented Maven 

To find out how Maven can help your employees navigate infertility and integrate into your wellness program, book a demo today.