The Kindbody Blog
Your resource for all things fertility, wellness, and women's health
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- Two or more miscarriages have occurred
- Two or more IVF cycles have not yielded a pregnancy
- Family history of genetic disease
- One or both partners are a carrier of genetic disease
- One or both partners are diagnosed with genetic disease
- The female partner is of advanced maternal age (>35)
- The male partner is of advanced paternal age (>40)
In each cell of the body, 23 pairs of chromosomes are present. When these chromosomes are incorrectly arranged or when an extra chromosome is present, missing or partially altered, a chromosomal abnormality known as aneuploidy is present.
Process of PGT
How is PGT performed?
All types of PGT involve a similar sequence of events. The patient undergoing IVF has their egg retrieval as scheduled. The eggs are inseminated with sperm and the resulting embryos are monitored in the lab until they develop to an expanded blastocyst (typically days 5 – 7 after egg retrieval). At this stage, a small number of cells are removed (biopsied) by an embryologist. This consists of a small catheter removing a few cells from the trophectoderm that will later develop into the placenta. The catheter does not impact the inner cell mass (future baby). The embryo is then immediately frozen and stored at the clinic while the biopsied cells are shipped to a PGT lab. Patients are notified of the PGT results typically about 3 weeks after the egg retrieval procedure.
Frequently Asked Questions about PGT
When do I need to decide if I want PGT?
We ask that patients decide if they will be doing PGT before starting an IVF cycle.
If I already have frozen embryos without PGT, can I still do PGT?
Embryos can be thawed and biopsied so, yes, you can do PGT after freezing them. At Kindbody, the odds that an embryo survives being frozen is 95-98%, so there is a small chance that it would not survive the thaw process. The embryo would need to be thawed twice in this case – the first time to be biopsied, then frozen again to await results, and thawed a second time just before it is transferred to the uterus. So there would be a small additional risk of loss after the second thaw.
If your intent is to move forward with PGT, we strongly recommend that you do this prior to the first cryopreservation if able.
Is PGT recommended if I am using a donor egg or sperm?
PGT is always an option. The age of the egg or sperm donor is often considered in this decision but there are unique circumstances to every case so we recommend you discuss this with your provider. In some situations, the use of PGT may further increase success even when using donor eggs or sperm. For donor eggs that are previously frozen, as compared to fresh, there may be a small additional risk of an additional freeze and thaw as mentioned in the question above.
What are the risks of PGT?
With every procedure there are always risks and benefits. First, to complete the PGT procedure, the embryo must develop into a blastocyst and be expanded enough to be safely biopsied. This typically happens 5 – 7 days after fertilization in the IVF lab. If the embryo is too small or less developed, we cannot complete PGT on that embryo.
PGT requires a biopsy. Most data suggests that the blastocyst biopsy is safe but it does require this procedure to obtain genetic results.
There is a risk of contaminating cells from sperm or cumulus cells, which nourish the egg as it matures in the body and are stripped from the egg after it is retrieved. This is why most labs strongly recommend or require ICSI (intracytoplasmic sperm injection) of a single sperm into the egg to reduce this risk.
Finally, PGT is not perfect and cannot test the entire genome. PGT is 96-99% accurate using the best technologies. There is a small chance that what we say is normal may be abnormal, and what we say is abnormal may be normal. Sex of embryos has a small error rate, so, if you are completing PGT for sex selection, keep this in mind.
Completing PGT means this will be a “freeze all cycle” in order to await results expected in a few weeks. This means you cannot do a fresh embryo transfer unless it is of an untested embryo or one tested in a previous cycle.
The risk of cost should also be considered as there is additional cost for the PGT procedure.
Finally, it is important to remember that embryos that aren’t healthy tend not to implant when transferred, and if they do implant, they tend to miscarry. There is currently no test or screening process that will completely eliminate the chance of miscarriage.
What does the biopsy entail? Does this hurt my embryo or future child?
Once a blastocyst forms, typically between days 5 – 7 after fertilization, the distinction between cells that will become a fetus (baby) and the placenta become more obvious under a microscope. The biopsy consists of a catheter removing a small number of cells from the trophectoderm that will later develop into the placenta. The catheter does not impact the inner cell mass (future baby). Most published data suggests the blastocyst biopsy does not hurt the embryo or impair outcomes in subsequent transfers.
I do not have a family history of chromosomal conditions. Which type of PGT test is best for me?
PGT-A is a screening tool recommended for all patients undergoing IVF, especially as age of the egg increases, as it screens for chromosome abnormalities that occur randomly when a sperm and egg joins and the cells begin to divide.
Even if you have no personal history of chromosomal abnormalities and no family history of genetic conditions, everyone is still at risk for abnormal embryos. Conditions such as Down’s Syndrome, Turner syndrome, or other chromosomal imbalances can occur with egg or sperm from any age individual. We do know that as we age, the likelihood of chromosomally abnormal embryos increases. This is particularly true as the age of the egg increases.
Do I need to do anything to prepare for PGT?
Most importantly, discuss PGT with your provider in your consult. Once you have decided to pursue PGT, notify your team. Depending on the type of PGT the team may need to get approval from the PGT lab directly before proceeding. You must complete the associated PGT modules and consent forms prior to the start of your IVF cycle.
If we are doing PGT to test for a specific disease (PGT-M), then we need to take time to understand your DNA mutation or your partner’s DNA mutation. This often means blood or saliva samples are needed from the egg and sperm source or the carrier of the mutation in order to create DNA “probes” to test and compare to the embryo DNA. In some cases it is important to understand the heritage of the mutations so additional samples may be requested from your parents, siblings, or living children. If this cannot be done there are some situations where additional information can be gathered from embryos that have stopped developing in the lab as well. Extra information that is requested is done so to improve the accuracy of the results.
PGT-SR stands for structural rearrangement where a piece of DNA may be broken off or broken off and flipped on itself. In the process of DNA separation, in order to send only half of the amount to an egg or sperm, there tends to be more errors than predicted in cases of PGT-SR which is why it is very useful to reduce this risk. PGT-SR can detect larger deletions and duplications but may not be able to detect small ones. Most of these cases are unique and may require a consultation with a genetic counselor prior to preceding.
How accurate are my results?
PGT is 96-99% accurate using the best technologies. It is considered a screening test and does not have the capacity to screen for every possible scenario, so will not be 100% accurate in identifying all potential chromosomal or genetic anomalies. Make sure you discuss your results with your provider. We also recommend that you follow your provider’s recommendations on non-invasive prenatal testing once you are pregnant as well as amniocentesis recommendations in pregnancy to improve accuracy of and confirm results (in order to directly test fetal skin cells in fluid).
How long does it take to get my results?
Typically results are available about 3 - 4 weeks after the egg retrieval.
How will I receive my results?
Your Kindbody care PGT team will call you with your results and will share them in your patient portal. They will ask you if you want to know sex of the embryo when the report is shared. They will review your embryos and next steps. You do not need to call us to check in on the progress.
What is the cost of PGT?
The cost of PGT can range depending on many factors. Our pricing information is here. If you are a Kindbody member, your PGT may be included in your benefit.
If you are completing PGT-M there are potential added fees for running additional tests and creating a probe. If your case requires additional familial samples there also may be additional cost.
You will be responsible for fees from both the processes that occur in the lab to biopsy and freeze the embryo as well as lab fees for the genetics tests and shipping of samples.
Who should receive PGT?
We recommend that all patients undergoing IVF consider PGT. It is an optional test and it can potentially improve success of getting pregnant and staying pregnant. Please discuss PGT and types of PGT with your provider.
What is mosaicism?
Mosaicism is a result of PGT-A detecting a mix of abnormal (unbalanced) DNA in cells and normal (balanced) DNA in other cells. It is possible this result may be real or an artifact of the processing of the DNA or the testing. Some labs refer to low or high levels of mosaicism. All mosaic results must be discussed with your provider. There are circumstances where we consider transfer of mosaic embryos and some may still result in healthy pregnancies.
Does Kindbody transfer aneuploid (abnormal number of chromosomes) embryos?
At this time, we consider all cases on an individual basis. When embryos are mosaic or missing a partial amount of DNA they may be considered for transfer after extensive counseling with a genetic counselor and your provider. We also recommend that amniocentesis be performed to do further testing in the pregnancy.
What happens to my abnormal embryos?
The abnormal embryos are not discarded unless you direct us to do so after consultation with a provider and an additional consent. They are kept frozen primarily because we don’t know which are normal and abnormal until after PGT results are available. In the future these embryos can be discarded or donated to research. In many clinics, abnormal embryos would never be transferred, but as we continue to explore and understand the strength of PGT, in the future some abnormal embryos may be allowed to be transferred or considered for rebiopsy or additional testing.
How does the doctor know which embryo to transfer first?
If you did PGT, we start by looking at the embryos that are euploid (or suggest a normal balance of DNA). Of these embryos, we first look at when they were frozen. Those frozen on day 5 are a tiny bit stronger than those frozen on day 6, which are a tiny bit stronger than embryos frozen on day 7. Next, we look at the embryo grade and choose the highest grade.
Why did my embryo come back as “Undetermined”, “No result” or “Quality or quantity of DNA insufficient” when I did PGT?
Imagine this embryo is like a tiny piece of cells, smaller than a grain of sugar. We take a tiny pinch of that cell, so the amount of DNA that is examined is so incredibly small, it has to be sent to a lab where the lab amplifies the DNA on a machine. Any of the steps along the way could result in an embryo that we don’t get results for, however, you could go ahead and transfer the embryo depending on your own personal story and circumstances, or you could ask for the embryo to be retested. Consultation with a provider and a genetic counselor may be recommended or required.
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So you are ready to start a family and begin the wonderful journey of raising a human, but don’t know where to start to make sure you are prepared? Not to worry, we are here to help you. Whether you are in a hurry or simply wish to make the most of your early conception attempts, Kindbody has you covered. Read on for a review of all that you may want to keep in mind at the very start of this exciting adventure.
Not Your Average Fertility Clinic
Kindbody is not your usual fertility clinic. Folks here are not only committed, but also personable and experienced. Many of our care team members have experienced aspects of conception preparation firsthand and are excited about helping you achieve your fertility and family-building goals. We believe that readiness to conceive requires both mental and physical optimization. We believe in improving fertility care access, advancement of historically underrepresented communities, and cost control of treatment options.
We also understand that gender is a fluid concept. We understand and celebrate that not all women were designated female at birth and not all men were designated male at birth for that matter. Our caring providers stand ready to help guide trans patients towards the family of their dreams.
Uterus, egg and sperm
Those in a heterosexual relationship in which one person is genetically female and the other genetically male, and those who collectively have a uterus, egg, and sperm sources have the three essential at-home conception ingredients. If you find you do not have a uterus, egg, and sperm source, we encourage you to schedule an assessment to jump-start your efforts. We have members of our team who can assist in finding your donor source(s) if needed.
Known Challenges to “Retro” Conception
It is also worth noting that a more traditional at-home approach to babymaking is not always a great starting point if you have known genetic, surgical, illness, or injury-induced challenges to conception. If you are already aware of any such challenges, you may also wish to bypass these “natural” efforts, sometimes clinically referred to as “spontaneous conception,” as your family-building method and start the process with a more streamlined and successful treatment option.
So, as a recap, if you are in a relationship with a male and a female without known medical barriers to direct conception, and you have not been trying to conceive for over a year with no success, then here is where you start.
Rates of Successful At-Home Conception
Okay, let’s begin by setting some realistic expectations. Twelve percent of women experience difficulties becoming pregnant or carrying a child to term, and one in six couples have an unwanted delay in conception. But this is not a reason to panic, it is instead a reason to adopt a flexible mindset. Generally speaking, if a woman is in good health and under age 35, she has a 15% and 25% chance of conceiving each month. Typically 80% of women will conceive by 1 year of having unprotected intercourse, whether or not the goal of trying to get pregnant was being considered. If you are above 35, we generally recommend attempts to conceive at home for no more than 6 months prior to seeking assistance to increase time to conception.
A Personalized Fertility and Family-Building Plan (Type A's start here)
If you are the sort of person who prefers personalized and strategic planning, you may want to consider scheduling a 60-minute virtual session with a fertility specialist. This appointment allows you to learn about your fertility from the comfort of your home. We’ll discuss the fundamentals of fertility and a plan for your fertility journey. The consultation kicks off your fertility journey by reviewing your medical history and family planning goals, and creating a personalized fertility plan.
Consider Preconception Testing and Carrier Screening (Risk Averse Start here)
Preconception blood work includes testing for various hormones that determine one's fertility potential as well as ensuring sexually-transmitted disease testing is negative and titers for vaccination/viral immunity are adequate. Carrier screening is a type of genetic test which indicates if a person is at increased risk for certain genetic disorders. These genetic mutations are passed on from one generation to the next and you may not even be aware. If you are planning your first pregnancy, Kindbody suggests that you and, if possible, your partner consider carrier screening. Even if neither of you have a family history of disease or directly experience symptoms, it is still possible that you may be “silent carriers” of any of several hundred genetic diseases. As Kindbody’s Dr. Kristen Cain explains, ”... if two carriers of the same disease conceive a pregnancy together, there is a definite risk of having a baby with that disease.” (blog)
Kindbody is excited to offer genetic testing directly to consumers by 2023.
Initiation of Prenatal Vitamins
Providers recommend that prenatal vitamin supplementation begin at least 2-3 months prior to conception attempts. In addition, we encourage healthy eating habits and routine exercise. We know its not always easy, cheating is OKAY sometimes, but try your best to stick to the game plan!
Discontinue Birth Control (Risk Tolerant, Type B Begin here)
Once you decide you are ready to start to attempt conception, it is time to “pull the goalie,” as they used to say, or rather, to discontinue using birth control. If you are using barrier contraceptives, which prevent sperm from entering the uterus and fallopian tubes, either chemical such as spermicide or physical, such as a male or female condom, diaphragm, discontinued use is all that is required.
If you have been using hormonal birth control, such as the birth control pill, or plan on removing a contraceptive implant such as an IUD, we suggest discontinuing a month before you would like to begin attempting pregnancy (blog). On average, 3 months time is needed for cycles to regulate once you’ve stopped your birth control method.
- How soon after discounting the pill can I become pregnant?
- “The contraceptive pill stops your body from ovulating, but as soon you stop taking the pill this process kicks back into action and can happen as soon as 2 weeks after cessation”
- How soon after discontinuing the Depo-Provera® shot can I become pregnant?
- You could become pregnant as soon as 12 to 14 weeks after your last shot.
- How soon after discontinuing the vaginal ring can I become pregnant?
- It is generally recommended that you go off and experience at least one natural cycle before you attempt to conception, that said conception is possible immediately.
Begin Tracking Your Cycle
The next step is to begin tracking your cycle. We encourage you to download a tracker app on your phone so that you can start to create a pattern of your cycles and their characteristics. There are four phases of the menstrual cycle:
1.) Menstruation (bleeding) - for most women, this is the phase that they are most conscious
2.) The Follicular Phase - when eggs are being recruited to be prepared for maturation
3.) Ovulation - maturation and release of 1 mature egg
4.) The Luteal Phase - knowing where you are at in your cycle will help increase conception.
Timed Intercourse / Sex During your fertility Window
You can begin timed intercourse at home without any clinical intervention. Our FAQ page on Ovulation Tracking and Timed Intercourse will provide you with a quick overview. Most women who have a 28- day menstrual cycle have about 6 days each month that are considered their fertility window, or the days they are most fertile. Making the most of these days is key. Logging your cycles in an app can help you to predict when your fertility window may be if your cycles are not the typical 28 days in between menstruation.
Now that you know when you are more likely to conceive, plan on having sex regularly (we recommend every other day) and with a concerted effort to engage on the five days before and on the day of ovulation.
Will having sex too often decrease conception?
No. Despite old wisdom regarding the frequency of sex having a ceiling for conception, it is very difficult to have “too much sex.” If the activity remains pleasant and productive, and both partners feel inspired, do not feel limited.
Don’t stress
Although “not stressing” is not a cure all for every conception concern, in early days of at home conception attempts, maintaining an easy and flexible demeanor is ideal. Stressing too much over duration or timing of intercourse can make the activity less fun and in worst case scenarios, even affect your cycle.
For some, the knowledge that stress can impact conception is a vicious cycle. Some can become stressed over their level of stress.
Optimizing for conception
We invite you to read more about preparing your body for pregnancy by checking out this blog, prepare your body for pregnancy, and of course, you should do the following:
1. Stop smoking
2. Decrease (and eventually stop) alcohol consumption
3. Stop any drug use and speak to your doctor about any prescription you are on and whether they may be continued through your conception attempts and pregnancy.
4. Eat healthy
5. Avoid strenuous exercise, outside of your normal routine.
When to speak to a doctor?
Heterosexual couples who are healthy, under the age of 35, and are regularly having sex are encouraged to speak with a fertility doctor if they have not conceived within a year of unprotected intercourse whether or not they are actively trying. Remember that a delay doesn't mean that you are “infertile” or that you will need IVF. Sometimes there are simple solutions to a improve success rates of at-home conception. Your Kindbody provider will work with you to optimize yourr family-building dreams.
As my colleague, Dr. Erica Louden, wisely summarized, “Delay in pregnancy does not mean no to ever being a parent”. Get a consultation from an REI physician: get evaluated, make a plan for your ideal family size and if it doesn't happen with at home conception, don’t be afraid of reaching out for a little help.”
Get started with a New Patient Fertility Appointment
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One in eight couples experience infertility in the U.S., outpacing diseases like diabetes and cancer. 63% of LGBTQ+ millennials are considering expanding their families, either becoming parents for the first time or by having more children, and may require third-party reproduction services to do so. ARR has been partnering with and supporting intended parents, gestational surrogates, and egg donors for more than 30 years. By bringing gestational surrogacy services in-house, Kindbody is able to leverage its end-to-end care delivery model, including its nationwide network of Kindbody signature clinics, to make the path to parenthood an easier and more affordable experience with better outcomes for Kindbody gestational surrogate clients and patients.
“The path to parenthood with gestational surrogacy is complex, expensive, and can last many months and even years,” said Greg Poulos, President of Kindbody. “By bringing gestational surrogacy in-house and integrating it with Kindbody’s care delivery model, we have the opportunity to dramatically improve conception chances, lower costs, and help our patients bring home a healthy baby as soon as possible. I am delighted to welcome the ARR team to the Kindbody family and look forward to having them join the KindEOS team.”
Kindbody aims to fix fertility healthcare in the U.S., which is fragmented, inequitable, expensive, and inaccessible to most. As the owner and operator of fertility clinics, Kindbody saves employers 25%-40% by contracting directly with them to provide comprehensive virtual and in-person fertility and family-building care to their employees. By removing the middleman and serving as the direct provider of care, Kindbody is uniquely positioned to provide a seamless continuum of care, decrease cost, improve patient experience, and deliver better health outcomes.
Kindbody owns and operates 28 signature clinics throughout the U.S. in California, Colorado, District of Columbia, Georgia, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Texas, Washington, and Wisconsin. Employers who wish to learn more about how Kindbody delivers the best patient experience and outcomes while driving down healthcare costs can contact solutions@kindbody.com. If you are an intended parent or prospective gestational surrogate please contact kindeos@kindbody.com.
" ["post_title"]=> string(82) "Kindbody Acquires Gestational Surrogacy Agency Further Expanding Continuum of Care" ["post_excerpt"]=> string(0) "" ["post_status"]=> string(7) "publish" ["comment_status"]=> string(4) "open" ["ping_status"]=> string(4) "open" ["post_password"]=> string(0) "" ["post_name"]=> string(46) "kindbody-acquires-gestational-surrogacy-agency" ["to_ping"]=> string(0) "" ["pinged"]=> string(0) "" ["post_modified"]=> string(19) "2022-08-02 11:21:29" ["post_modified_gmt"]=> string(19) "2022-08-02 15:21:29" ["post_content_filtered"]=> string(0) "" ["post_parent"]=> int(0) ["guid"]=> string(28) "https://kindbody.com/?p=7547" ["menu_order"]=> int(0) ["post_type"]=> string(4) "post" ["post_mime_type"]=> string(0) "" ["comment_count"]=> string(1) "0" ["filter"]=> string(3) "raw" } } ["post_count"]=> int(6) ["current_post"]=> int(-1) ["in_the_loop"]=> bool(false) ["post"]=> object(WP_Post)#3949 (24) { ["ID"]=> int(7647) ["post_author"]=> string(1) "1" ["post_date"]=> string(19) "2022-09-12 12:54:43" ["post_date_gmt"]=> string(19) "2022-09-12 16:54:43" ["post_content"]=> string(11419) "This interview originally appeared on the Namely blog.
In this interview with Dr. Fahimeh Sasan, Kindbody’s Chief Innovation Officer and Founding Physician, we explore what is included in fertility benefits, their recent rise in popularity, and why your company should consider including them in your benefits package.
What are fertility and family-building benefits? What is included?
Kindbody: Fertility and family-building benefits include a wide range of treatments and services that are covered by employers to support their employees on their path to parenthood. They can include fertility assessments, fertility preservation, in vitro fertilization (IVF), donor and gestational surrogacy services, and adoption.
Infertility is more common than diseases like diabetes and cancer. In fact, one in eight couples experience infertility in the U.S. Fertility treatments are very expensive and inaccessible to most. Without the financial assistance of their employer, many people won’t get the high-quality care they need.
Employers have stepped up and they are changing how this critical part of healthcare is delivered. Fertility benefits have also become an important part of building an inclusive workplace culture. They have taken their place next to medical, dental, and vision as standard workplace benefits.
Why are fertility and family-building benefits an important part of an inclusive benefits package?
Kindbody: It’s important to note that today we speak about fertility care as healthcare. That hasn’t always been the case. Until recently, when we spoke about fertility, it was a conversation about infertility. Infertility is defined as not being able to get pregnant (conceive) after one year of unprotected sex. Therefore, if an employer’s benefits package doesn’t offer fertility benefits beyond an infertility diagnosis, it’s leaving out part of its workforce.
LGBTQ+ individuals face barriers to accessing fertility care since they often don’t meet the definition of “infertility” that would qualify them for covered services. The same is true for single parents by choice. It’s also well-documented that there are significant disparities in access to fertility care amongst racial minorities.
For instance, Black women are twice as likely to suffer from infertility but are half as likely to access care as white women. A comprehensive, inclusive fertility benefits program can address some of these health inequities in the workplace. That’s why we’re hearing from more and more employers that family-building offerings support their organization’s diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) goals and objectives. More than half of employers are expected to cover fertility services beyond the diagnosis of infertility this year.
Why now? To what do we attribute the extreme growth in popularity of fertility benefits?
Kindbody: A series of macro trends have brought us to where we are today. 61 percent of women have a child over age 35, compared to 8 percent a decade ago. One in three women struggle with infertility over 35 and may need assisted reproductive technology (ART) to become pregnant. Just a decade ago, the experimental label was removed from egg freezing, making it much more acceptable for women. Shortly after, marriage equality was passed, opening up more options for LGBTQ+ people who hope to start or build their families. Interest in learning about one's fertility skyrocketed during the pandemic. More than 10,000 people have attended Kindbody's virtual fertility education events in the last two years.
So, what we’re seeing is that people not only need access to fertility care, but they are also more knowledgeable about their fertility in general. This is a big shift from just a few years ago when this topic was very rarely talked about. Employers should know that there is now mainstream awareness that there are companies that offer benefits that help their employees pay for family building and workers are making important career decisions with this in mind. Our recent survey found that 81 percent of employees will stay at their company longer if their employer offers family-building benefits.
That’s an eye-opening stat! How can HR convince employers to add fertility benefits to their benefits package?
Kindbody: I believe most will agree that supporting people in this critical part of healthcare is a good thing. Employers should also know that fertility benefits help attract and keep great talent, support DEI objectives, and save on healthcare costs.
HR leaders are actively using family-building benefits as a tool to attract candidates. Our clients say that these offerings have been important to their talent strategy over the past three years. There’s a good reason for this: people want family-building benefits. When we surveyed employees, 61 percent said they would change jobs for fertility benefits.
Retaining employees leads to significant cost savings for organizations. The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) found that it costs a company around six to nine months of an employee’s salary to replace them. Framed another way: replacing an employee who makes $60,000 per year could cost around $30,000 to $45,000.
A comprehensive, inclusive fertility benefits program can address health inequities in the workplace. Our clients tell us that Kindbody’s family-building offerings support the organization’s DEI goals and objectives.
And finally, most employers naturally assume that offering fertility benefits will increase their healthcare costs. However, there is no evidence to support this. Studies show that there are areas where employers actually saved money when adding fertility benefits. There’s a reason for this: patients that receive financial support for fertility treatments like IVF are more likely to make decisions based on outcomes and not cost. This, in turn, leads to safer, lower-risk pregnancies that don’t lead to unnecessary healthcare costs for the employer.
My advice to HR leaders that want to make a case for fertility benefits is to focus on the business case. As long as talent, DEI, and cost savings continue to be a priority for organizations, so should fertility benefits.
What makes Kindbody different from other fertility benefits providers?
Kindbody: Kindbody is unique because it's the only fertility benefits provider that is in the provision of care with clinical expertise. Kindbody owns and operates clinics. We save employers 25 to 40 percent by contracting directly with them to provide comprehensive virtual and in-person fertility and family-building care to their employees. We remove the middleman, and in doing so, Kindbody is uniquely positioned to provide a seamless continuum of care, decrease cost, improve patient experience, and deliver better health outcomes.
Kindbody is also able to provide a broad spectrum of care in modalities to serve employees when and where they need it through virtual appointments, Kindbody Signature Clinics, mobile clinics, and our robust global network of partner clinics. Kindbody is the only fertility benefits solution that can provide employees and consumers with clinical visits in the comfort of their homes, no matter where they are.
Also unique to Kindbody is that we model the DEI values that are so important to our clients. Kindbody is women-owned and women-led. Our clinics are staffed to reflect the communities we serve so each individual feels seen and understood. Today, 80 percent of Kindbody’s physicians are women, 50 percent of Kindbody’s physicians identify as BIPOC, and 45 percent of Kindbody patients are BIPOC. This is incredibly rare in healthcare. Numerous studies show that sharing a racial or cultural background with one’s physician leads to a better patient experience, better adherence to medications and treatment plans, and better health outcomes. We built diversity into Kindbody’s delivery model, which is one of the things I am most proud of as Kindbody’s Founding Physician.
Kindbody is a leading fertility clinic network and family-building benefits provider for employers offering comprehensive virtual and in-person care. Kindbody's clinically managed program includes fertility assessments and education, fertility preservation, genetic testing, in vitro fertilization (IVF), donor and surrogacy services, and adoption, as well as physical, mental, and emotional support from preconception through postpartum. Kindbody is the trusted fertility benefits provider for more than 90 employers, covering more than 2.4 million lives. Many thousands more receive their fertility care directly from Kindbody throughout the country at signature clinics, mobile clinics, and partner clinics. As the fertility benefits provider, technology platform, and direct provider of high-quality care, Kindbody delivers a seamless, integrated experience with superior health outcomes at lower cost, making fertility care more affordable and accessible for all.
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This interview originally appeared on the Namely blog. In this interview with Dr. Fahimeh Sasan, Kindbody’s Chief Innovation Officer and Founding Physician, we explore what is included in fertility benefits, their […]
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