From her first retrieval in 1995 to the thousands of families she has helped build since, Dr. B has been the heart of RRC. While we will miss her dearly, we are so excited for her well-deserved retirement.

Starting May 15th, Reproductive Resource Center is joining forces with Heartland Center for Reproductive Medicine (HCRM). You’ll see the same friendly staff and nurses you love, now joined by five incredible new physicians dedicated to your journey.

Please read Dr. Brabec’s letter to her patients past and present.

The post Dr. Brabec’s Letter to Patients appeared first on Reproductive Resource Center Kansas City IVF.

One employee is heading into yet another fertility appointment after weeks of medications, side effects, and waiting for answers. Another is newly pregnant after a previous loss, balancing excitement with anxiety. A new parent is returning to work, navigating sleep deprivation and the pressure to perform at home and at the office.

These experiences are common, and they expose a critical gap in how most family building benefits are designed.

Benefits often focus on procedures, providers, and outcomes, but family building isn’t just a clinical experience. It’s one of the most emotionally demanding periods in an employee’s life, where true resiliency and compensatory strategies are required as they navigate a complex medical process, sometimes for the first time in a member’s life. When that reality is overlooked, the gap between what employees need and what benefits provide becomes hard to ignore.

Family building is more than a clinical journey

Fertility treatment, pregnancy, postpartum recovery, and early parenthood can come with intense emotional highs and lows. At the same time, employees are managing work responsibilities while navigating infertility, pregnancy complications, loss, complex decisions, changes to their relationship dynamics, and financial strain.

In a recent Progyny member survey, 75% reported they experienced increased stress during the family building journey without benefit support. The most common stressors included work-life balance, cost of care, the complexity of the healthcare system, personal health concerns, and finding the right provider.

Despite this, traditional benefits models often leave employees to manage the emotional side of the experience on their own.

Mental health affects outcomes, not just experience

Mental health support is often treated as an add-on. In reality, it plays a direct role in whether employees stay engaged in care and achieve successful outcomes.

Stress, anxiety, and emotional fatigue are often cited as the primary reason employees delay treatment, disengage from benefits, struggle with decisions, or drop out of care entirely.

At the same time, the mental load affects workplace performance. Employees are often managing complex treatment schedules, financial uncertainty, and shifting responsibilities – while coping with fear, disappointment, and constant uncertainty. The result is reduced focus, lower productivity, and decreased engagement at work.

Forward-thinking employers are starting to recognize that mental health isn’t separate from family building outcomes – it’s a key driver of them.

What whole-person care actually requires

This is where many benefits fall short. Support is often fragmented, reactive, or disconnected from care. The most effective family building benefits take a different approach – integrating emotional support into every stage of the journey, from preconception through early parenthood.

That means:

• Embedding emotional support alongside clinical care
• Providing continuous, proactive guidance, not only episodic interactions
• Identifying stress, anxiety, or depression early
• Helping employees navigate uncertainty and complex decisions in real time
• Connecting members to higher levels of care, e.g., EAPs and other Behavioral Health Solutions proactively.

The impact of continuous, personalized support

Progyny’s model is built around this kind of whole-person care. Each member is paired with a dedicated Progyny Care Advocate (PCA) – a consistent guide who supports both the clinical and emotional aspects of the journey.

Unlike traditional models where support is fragmented, the PCA relationship is continuous and personal.

“Some members may not have a community, family, or friends to talk to,” says PCA Vanessa L. “When a member calls in to complete onboarding, their PCA helps them feel comfortable, confident, supported, and seen. That one-on-one connection can make a meaningful difference in their overall experience.”

PCAs go beyond logistics. They help members process decisions, understand what to expect, and stay engaged in care – even during the most uncertain moments.

“They’re managing medications, waiting for results, and trying to plan around an unpredictable timeline all at once,” explains PCA Corin T. “There’s a lot of uncertainty, and it can be mentally exhausting. We help ease that stress by talking through their worries, giving clear next steps, and being a steady source of support throughout the process.”

Just as important, support is proactive – not something members have to seek out on their own.

PCA Ashely D. explains, “Taking the responsibility of reaching out off of their shoulders helps members have a better experience. Even small moments of support can reduce stress and help them feel more confident.”

That support has measurable impact on Progyny members:

Closing the gap for employers

Employers have an opportunity to rethink how family building benefits are designed. When mental health is treated as separate, employees are left to carry a significant burden on their own, and that can lead to lower engagement, poorer outcomes, and higher drop-off from care. When it’s integrated into the experience, employees are more likely to:

• Stay engaged in treatment
• Make informed decisions
• Feel supported and confident throughout the journey
• Achieve better clinical and emotional outcomes

For employers, that translates into stronger retention, greater trust, and a more meaningful benefits experience. Progyny members report this kind of support changes how they experience care: 75% say they wish every healthcare experience came with a knowledgeable, trusted advocate like a PCA.

The benefits that matter most

The most effective family building benefits don’t treat mental health as an add-on, they build it into the foundation of care. When employees feel supported, seen, and confident during one of the most personal and uncertain times in their lives, they don’t just remember the outcome; they remember who supported them along the way.

If your current approach separates clinical care from emotional support, it may be leaving both outcomes and employee trust on the table. Learn how you can empower your employees with a seamless experience at scale, with empathy and measurable impact.

The post Why mental health is the missing piece in family building benefits appeared first on Progyny.

It can start with waking up at 3 a.m. and not being able to fall back asleep. Or suddenly feeling more anxious than usual. Maybe you’re forgetting words in the middle of a conversation, struggling to focus at work, or noticing your periods have become less predictable.

Symptoms aren’t always obvious, and, as a result, many women spend years wondering what’s happening to their bodies before realizing the answer may be perimenopause or menopause.

Could this be menopause? 

Menopause is officially defined as 12 consecutive months without a period, and it typically occurs between ages 45-55 though it can sometimes occur earlier in life for a certain proportion of women. The transition time leading up to menopause, known as perimenopause, can begin years earlier — sometimes as early as your late 30s or early 40s. During this time, changing hormone levels can affect nearly every system in the body, and symptoms can include:

• Trouble concentrating, brain fog, or difficulty finding words 

• Anxiety, irritability, or depression 

• Difficulty sleeping, insomnia, or waking up in the middle of the night 

• Joint pain or body aches 

• Irregular periods or changes in your cycle 

• Hot flashes or night sweats 

• Vaginal dryness or discomfort 

• Heart palpitations or a racing feeling in your chest 

Many women don’t realize these symptoms may be connected. Instead, they can seem unrelated, and they’re treated that way.

Why so many women are left guessing 

Women often seek help symptom by symptom and specialist by specialist, spending months – or years – trying to get answers. Brain fog may lead to a neurologist. Anxiety or mood changes may lead to a therapist or psychiatrist. Sleep problems may lead to a sleep study. Irregular periods may lead to repeated OB-GYN visits. And heart palpitations may result in a visit to a cardiologist or even the emergency room.

The problem isn’t that these symptoms aren’t taken seriously – it’s that they’re rarely looked at together as one whole picture. Progyny refers to this as fragmented care, and it can create unnecessary costs, frustration, and delayed treatment.

Why menopause care often falls short 

One reason so many women struggle to get answers is that the healthcare system isn’t designed to support menopause care well. Despite affecting more than 50 million women in the U.S., most providers have very little training on how to diagnose and treat it. In fact, only 6.8% of primary care providers (including ob/gyn; internal and family medicine physicians) feel adequately prepared to help women manage menopause symptoms.

As a result, women are often told they’re simply experiencing stress, anxiety, burnout, or aging, and they’re offered treatment one symptom at a time. When care is provided through a system of trial and error, women often pay the price in time, cost, and quality of life.

Menopause doesn’t stay outside of work 

When menopause symptoms go unsupported, the effects don’t stay at home. Sleep disruption, anxiety, brain fog, and difficulty concentrating can make it harder to stay focused, participate confidently in meetings, or keep up with the demands of work.

Nearly 11% of women report missing work due to symptoms, and nearly 1 in 5 women have considered leaving their jobs entirely because of the impact menopause has had on their lives and careers.

Menopause isn’t just a health issue — it’s a workplace issue.  

What good menopause care looks like 

Good menopause care should help you understand what’s happening, connect you with providers who are trained in evidence-based best practice menopause care, and give you support between visits. It should include:  

• Access to menopause-trained providers who understand the full range of symptoms 

• A coordinated care plan that addresses both physical and emotional health 

• Coaching and support between appointments 

• Education that helps you recognize symptoms earlier 

• Treatment options that may include hormone therapy, non-hormonal medications, nutrition support, sleep support, and mental health care 

• Help navigating next steps 

Progyny’s Menopause and Midlife Care solution is designed around this comprehensive approach. Members have access to menopause-trained providers, ongoing clinical coaching, and personalized treatment plans that address the root cause of symptoms, not just the symptoms themselves. This holistic approach, combining education, access, and integrated care, results in faster recognition of symptoms, fewer misdiagnoses, and better outcomes.

You don’t have to figure this out alone 

If you’ve been wondering whether what you’re experiencing could be menopause, trust yourself. You’re not imagining it, you’re not alone, and you deserve care that supports you during this stage of life and helps you feel like yourself again.

Better menopause care may already be available through your employer benefits. Talk to your HR or benefits team to learn whether your organization offers Progyny’s Menopause and Midlife Care benefit.

Start the conversation in your workplace with these resources:

• Menopause support in the workplace: A guide for employers 

• Menopause: Frequently asked questions  

The post Is this menopause? Why so many women are left guessing, and what to do next appeared first on Progyny.

The first trimester begins at week 1 of pregnancy and lasts through week 13. This early stage is a time of rapid change for both you and your baby.

You may feel excited, nervous, or unsure as you adjust to being pregnant. It’s very common to have a mix of physical symptoms and emotions as your body begins to support a growing pregnancy.

What to expect physically

During the first trimester, your body is adjusting to changing hormone levels and increasing energy demands.

Many people notice changes early on, sometimes before they even realize they’re pregnant. Fatigue and nausea – often called morning sickness – are among the most common symptoms.

You may also notice:

• Tender or swollen breasts
• Food cravings or aversions
• Frequent trips to the bathroom
• Mild headaches
• Digestive changes, like constipation or heartburn

Symptoms can vary widely, and not everyone feels them in the same way.

Emotional changes

Hormonal shifts during early pregnancy can affect how you feel. It’s normal to have a range of emotions, sometimes all at once or in the same day.

You might notice mood swings or feel more emotional than usual. You may also have moments of anxiety or uncertainty, especially as you adjust to the idea of pregnancy.

At the same time, you may feel excited as you begin to think about what’s ahead. If your emotions start to feel overwhelming or interfere with daily life, talk with your healthcare provider.

Your baby’s development

Even though it may not be visible yet, your baby is growing quickly!

Early in pregnancy, the brain, spinal cord, and heart begin to form. Soon after, the heart starts beating, and small buds that will become arms and legs begin to appear. As development continues, major milestones include:

• Formation of major organs
• Development of fingers and toes
• Early facial features taking shape

By the end of the first trimester, your baby is about the size of a lime and has many essential structures in place.

Prenatal care and early appointments

Schedule your first prenatal visit as soon as you know you’re pregnant. Early prenatal care plays an important role in supporting a healthy you and a healthy pregnancy.

At your first appointment, your provider will likely:

• confirm your pregnancy
• estimate your due date
• review your medical history
• talk with you about nutrition, exercise, and lifestyle habits
• collect blood and test urine

These visits often include guidance on what you can expect in the coming weeks, what food and drinks to avoid, and prenatal vitamins, which include important vitamins like folic acid.

This is also a good time to ask questions and share any concerns you may have. It can help to make a list of them before you go can help.

Common concerns

Some symptoms during the first trimester can feel concerning, especially if you’re not sure what’s typical. While many changes are normal, there are times when it’s important to check in with your provider.

Contact your care team if you have:

• Severe or persistent nausea and vomiting
• Vaginal bleeding or heavy spotting
• Strong abdominal pain or cramping
• Fever

When in doubt, it’s always okay to reach out.

Taking care of yourself

The first trimester can be physically and emotionally demanding, so it’s important to take care of yourself in ways that feel manageable.

Try to rest when you’re feeling tired and eat small, frequent meals if nausea makes it harder to eat. Staying hydrated and taking a daily prenatal vitamin can also support your health.

It may also help to:

• Stay as active as you were before pregnancy, but be careful when it comes to your torso and abdominal area
• Focus on sleep when possible
• Ask for support from family or friends
• Take ginger to help with nausea

Small adjustments can make a big difference during this time.

Looking ahead

This is the beginning of your pregnancy journey. While it can come with challenges, it’s also a time of important growth and development.

When people move into the second trimester, many begin to feel more energy and less of the early symptoms. For now, try to focus on caring for yourself and staying connected with your provider.

Progyny is here for you, too. Please contact your Progyny Care Advocate for support.

Recommended reading

• What should I look for in a prenatal vitamin?
• Your guide to healthy eating during pregnancy

Disclaimer: The information provided by Progyny is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for medical guidance.

The post What to expect during the first trimester appeared first on Progyny.

Preeclampsia is one of the most common pregnancy complications. Did you know that there is still a risk after childbirth?

Let’s go over what to know about postpartum preeclampsia. Please be sure to talk about your risk and how to stay safe with your healthcare team.

What is postpartum preeclampsia?

Postpartum preeclampsia is high blood pressure that starts after childbirth. It may come on suddenly. It usually begins in the first 2 days after birth, but it may happen any time in the first 6 weeks after birth.

Most people with postpartum preeclampsia recover without any issues. But without proper treatment, it may cause serious problems. This can include organ damage (including the kidneys, liver, lungs, or brain) and seizures. In severe cases, it may be life-threatening.

Am I at risk?

Postpartum preeclampsia can happen to anyone, although some people have a higher risk. Risk factors are similar to preeclampsia during pregnancy and include:

Personal risk factors

• Age 35 or older
• Body mass index (BMI) of 30 or more before pregnancy
• Mother or sister had preeclampsia
• Being Black, Native American, or Alaska Native
• Having a lower income

Pregnancy-related risk factors

• Had preeclampsia in a pregnancy before
• This is your first pregnancy
• Carrying multiples (twins or more)
• Used in vitro fertilization (IVF) to become pregnant

Health-related risk factors

• Chronic high blood pressure
• Diabetes or gestational diabetes (diabetes during pregnancy)
• Kidney disease
• Autoimmune disease such as lupus

Know the warning signs.

You may not feel any symptoms with postpartum preeclampsia. Often, you can’t feel high blood pressure.

This is why your appointments after pregnancy are key. It’s a chance for your healthcare provider to check your blood pressure and urine to make sure you are doing well.

Sometimes, postpartum preeclampsia does have warning signs. If you have any of these, get medical help right away. It’s always OK to call if anything just feels “off.”

Diagnosing preeclampsia

Preeclampsia is diagnosed if blood pressure is 140/90 or higher. It’s high if either the top (systolic blood pressure) or the bottom (diastolic blood pressure) number is high.

Your provider may also check for protein in the urine, a sign that the kidneys have been affected by high blood pressure. Blood work may show other signs of preeclampsia.

Managing postpartum preeclampsia

High blood pressure from postpartum preeclampsia may be lowered with medicine (that is safe for chestfeeding or pumping).

Sometimes, more serious preeclampsia may need to be managed in the hospital and require additional medication. For example, magnesium, an intravenous (IV) medication, may be given to help prevent seizures. Your team will carefully monitor you.

What can I do?

Be sure to go to all your postpartum appointments. By working closely with your healthcare team, you’re taking big steps to keep yourself healthy.

Your doctor may recommend that you:

• Take any medicine as prescribed to help manage blood pressure or other conditions.
• Check your blood pressure at home. Your team will show you how to do this and go over what to look for.
• Eat balanced meals rich in fiber, potassium, protein, fruits, and vegetables — and low in salt, sugar, and saturated fat.
• Stay physically active. It has many benefits for your health, including lower risk of preeclampsia.
• Chestfeed your baby if you can. Studies show this may lower your risk of heart disease.

Your takeaway

You can take steps to help lower your risk and know the warning signs, and your healthcare team is here to support you. Your Progyny Care Advocate is also available to answer questions and help you get ready for your upcoming visits.

Explore related topics in this series:

• Recovery after preeclampsia
• How can preeclampsia affect my future health?

Disclaimer: The information provided by Progyny is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for medical guidance.

The post Postpartum preeclampsia: Know the risk after birth appeared first on Progyny.

Preeclampsia is high blood pressure that starts during pregnancy or after childbirth. It’s one of the most common pregnancy complications.

One of the risk factors for preeclampsia is in vitro fertilization (IVF). Let’s talk about what the research says and how you can partner with your healthcare team to stay safe.

Why IVF may raise preeclampsia risk

Studies have found that pregnancies with IVF have higher rates of preeclampsia than pregnancies without IVF. The risk appears to be higher when a donor egg is used.

We aren’t sure exactly why, but there may be a few reasons. For one thing, people using IVF are more likely to have other risk factors for preeclampsia, such as:

• Being 35 or older
• First-time pregnancy
• Having conditions such as polycystic ovary syndrome

Some experts think that the high hormone levels used in IVF may affect the placenta. (Preeclampsia is related to issues with the placenta and its blood vessels.)

Using a donor egg may raise the risk further. One reason may be that the body has an immune response when something new enters the body. And this immune response may affect the placenta.

What about other types of fertility treatments?

Intrauterine insemination (IUI, also called artificial insemination) does not appear to raise preeclampsia risk. With IUI, sperm is placed directly in the uterus to help increase the chance of pregnancy.

Using donor sperm in IUI may lead to a small increase in risk. This may be because it causes an immune response that may affect the placenta.

Your healthcare team will support you.

Your healthcare provider knows about your personal situation, and they will help you take steps to stay safe.

One of the best things you can do to protect yourself?

Go to your pregnancy and postpartum checkups. Routine blood pressure checks and urine tests will give your provider important clues about your health.

Your provider will guide you through other steps to manage your risk. You’ll work together on the plan that’s right for you, and you can always ask anything that’s on your mind. Your Progyny Care Advocate is here to provide personalized support, as well.

Explore related topics in this series:

• Preeclampsia: Get informed to stay safe
• Blood pressure: Get measured at every visit
• My partner is at risk for preeclampsia: How can I help?

Disclaimer: The information provided by Progyny is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for medical guidance.

The post Does IVF raise the risk of preeclampsia? appeared first on Progyny.

If you have preeclampsia or if you’re at risk, it’s a good idea to know how preeclampsia may be managed.

Most people with preeclampsia recover without any issues and have healthy babies. But preeclampsia can affect your pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum recovery, and it’s helpful to learn more.

A team-based approach

Your healthcare team will work closely to guide and support you. People with preeclampsia may see different healthcare providers, who may include:

• Your OB/GYN or midwife for ongoing care
• A maternal-fetal medicine specialist with expertise in high-risk pregnancies
• A neonatologist who specializes in the care of babies who are born early or have special health needs
• Nurses who provide care and education

Your plan will be tailored to you.

Your healthcare team will decide how to manage preeclampsia based on:

• How severe the preeclampsia is
• How far along you are in the pregnancy
• Your health and the baby’s health

Before 37 weeks of pregnancy

If preeclampsia starts before 37 weeks, you and your provider may work on a plan that delays delivery as long as possible, while keeping you safe.

To keep a close eye on how you’re doing, you’ll have checkups frequently – sometimes weekly or more. These visits are a chance to:

• Monitor your blood pressure and symptoms
• Test your urine for protein
• Get blood work, including for the kidneys and liver
• Do other tests if needed, such as ultrasounds or checking the baby’s heart rate
• Talk about your questions and how you’re feeling

Your provider may also recommend that you:

• Take medicine as prescribed. This may include medicine to lower blood pressure.
• Check your blood pressure at home. Your team will show you how to do this and go over what to look for.
• Reduce physical activity. Bed rest is generally not recommended, but your provider may ask you to reduce your activity.
• Pay attention to your baby’s movement. Ask your provider if they recommend kick counts to track changes in your baby’s movement.
• Choose nutritious foods. You can ask if supplements such as vitamin D or calcium may be helpful for you. It’s interesting to know that preeclampsia is not managed by lowering salt, the way “regular” high blood pressure is.

Sometimes, more serious preeclampsia may need to be managed in the hospital and require additional medication. For example, magnesium, an intravenous (IV) medication, may be given to help prevent seizures. Steroids may be given (typically as an injection) to help the baby’s development.

It’s possible to need an early delivery for your health and safety. The timing of delivery depends on how severe the preeclampsia is and how you and your baby are doing.

Week 37 and after

When preeclampsia is diagnosed after 37 weeks, delivery is generally recommended.

Having preeclampsia doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll need to have a C-section. The safest way to deliver depends on your health and your baby’s health, how severe the preeclampsia is, and how far along in the pregnancy you are.

You and your provider will talk about the safest way to deliver, and you’ll work together to make a plan that’s right for you.

After delivery

After delivery, your team will continue to monitor your blood pressure.

Some people may be prescribed medicine to keep blood pressure in a safe range. These medicines are often decreased and stopped by the 6-week visit. Your provider will choose medicine that is safe for chestfeeding.

When you go home, it’s important to continue checking your blood pressure. Your team will show you how to do this and go over what to look for.

Postpartum preeclampsia

Preeclampsia can happen for up to 6 weeks after birth, and is more likely in the first week.

Your team will monitor you carefully while you’re in the hospital. If you have any signs of preeclampsia when you’re back home, let your provider know right away. You may need treatment in the hospital.

Know the warning signs.

You may not feel any symptoms with preeclampsia. Often, you can’t feel high blood pressure.

Sometimes, preeclampsia does have warning signs. If you have any of these, get medical help right away. It’s always OK to call if anything just feels “off.”

Some of these (like swelling or headaches) may be similar to symptoms that can happen during pregnancy. For your safety, always call if you have any of these symptoms.

You’re not alone.

Your healthcare team is here for you every step of your pregnancy and recovery after birth. For extra help, information, and support, reach out to your Progyny Care Advocate. You always have a team behind you as you manage preeclampsia and take steps to stay healthy.

Explore related topics in this series:

• At-home blood pressure monitoring
• Could preeclampsia affect my birth plan?
• Recovery after preeclampsia
• How can preeclampsia affect my future health?

Disclaimer: The information provided by Progyny is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for medical guidance.

The post How is preeclampsia managed during pregnancy? appeared first on Progyny.

The post The new reality of fertility: Why employers are being pulled in appeared first on Progyny.

In honor of National Infertility Awareness Week, we’re diving into IVF and what you can do to better understand and optimize your chances of building a family!

We’re honored to be joined by Dr. James Grifo, Director of the NYU Langone Fertility Center to discuss the role of age, how to get ahead of fertility planning, and the key factors that can influence outcomes. We also dive into egg freezing and preimplantation genetic testing, unpacking how these tools work to support the development of a healthy embryo, along with common misconceptions that can shape how people approach treatment.

Dr. Grifo is a true leader in the field. As a pioneer of both egg freezing and preimplantation genetic testing, his work has helped transform IVF outcomes.

Guest: Dr. James Grifo, Director of the NYU Langone Fertility Center

Hosts:
Dr. Janet Choi, Chief Medical Officer, Progyny
Lissa Kline, LCSW, SVP, Provider and Member Services

Progyny Resources:

• Progyny: Talk to HR: Bring benefits to your workplace
• Resolve: Get help
• NYU Langone: Fertility center
• ASRM: National Infertility Awareness Week

The DocTalk series, where we discuss current events on the full spectrum of women’s health and family building and what they might mean for you. From news, research studies, pop culture, and everything in-between, we’re going to break it all down and sift through the noise with the help of our expert Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Janet Choi and host, Lissa Kline, LCSW. This show does not constitute medical advice.

The post IVF & optimizing your chances at family appeared first on Progyny.

If you’ve learned that your partner is at risk for preeclampsia, it can be an emotional experience for both of you. You may be wondering about the best ways to help.

We’ll go over what preeclampsia is and share ideas for supporting your partner — and yourself.

What is preeclampsia?

Preeclampsia is high blood pressure that starts during pregnancy or after childbirth. It may come on suddenly, and it usually begins:

• In the last few weeks of pregnancy (though it can start as early as 20 weeks)

• Up to 6 weeks after giving birth

With prompt diagnosis and treatment, most people with preeclampsia recover and have healthy babies.

But without proper treatment, preeclampsia may cause serious problems. This can include organ damage and seizures. For the baby, it may cause slowed growth or being born early. In severe cases, it may be life-threatening.

Know the warning signs. Be an advocate. 

One of the most important things you can do is know the warning signs so your partner can get help quickly.

Preeclampsia doesn’t always cause symptoms. And sometimes people may downplay what they feel or think it’s a normal part of pregnancy.

If your partner has any of these warning signs, call their provider or 911. It’s always OK to call if anything just feels “off.”

Provide support at checkups. 

Your partner may have frequent checkups during pregnancy or after birth. Here are ideas for supporting them:

1. Ask your partner if it would be helpful to go to checkups together. 

2. Give rides and help solve scheduling conflicts or other issues. 

3. Help take notes and bring questions to appointments. 

4. Ask the provider to explain things in another way if anything isn’t clear. You can ask questions like: 
   
   
   
   • “What is the next step for us to do?” 
   
   
   • “What are we watching for, and why?” 
   
   
   • “When do we call you, and when do we get emergency help?”  
   
   

Help with the care plan at home. 

Your partner and their healthcare team may have a care plan to help lower risk and spot signs of a problem early. You can play a key role in that plan.  

Depending on what is recommended, you may help: 

• Check blood pressure. Remind your partner to check their blood pressure at the same time every day.

• Know when to call. Learn the blood pressure cutoffs for when to call and when to get emergency help.

• Stay on track with medicine. Help your partner remember to take aspirin or other medicine as recommended.

• Take part in a healthy lifestyle. For example, you may cook and eat healthy meals together. Walking together (if advised) can help you both stay active and help manage stress.

Learn about birth possibilities. 

If preeclampsia develops, the baby may need to be delivered early. This may mean using medication to induce labor or having the baby by C-section. 

Things can change quickly. Here are a few ideas to consider as you get ready for the unexpected: 

• Have the hospital bag packed and ready. 

• Help sort out coverage plans for work, childcare, or pet care. 

• Plan how you’ll communicate with loved ones. 

Be on the lookout after birth.

Preeclampsia is still a risk after birth. Postpartum preeclampsia usually begins in the first 2 days after birth, but it may happen any time in the first 6 weeks. The signs are the same as during pregnancy.

When you go to appointments, always mention that your partner was recently pregnant.

Take care of yourself too. 

Supporting someone who’s at risk for preeclampsia can be challenging. It often brings up a range of feelings.

Keep in mind, being strong and supportive doesn’t mean you need to do everything alone or hide your emotions. 

• Share how you’re doing with someone you trust — a therapist may also be a good option.

• Let people know how they can help. Often, people want to help but aren’t sure how. It’s OK to ask directly and rely on your support network.

• Do something that grounds you every day. Ideas include physical activity, music, reading, or cooking. Whatever brings you moments of calm.

Your Progyny Care Advocate is also here to support you and your partner with resources and clinical guidance.

Explore related topics in this series: 

• Preeclampsia: Get informed to stay safe

• Checking your blood pressure at home

• Could preeclampsia affect my birth plan?

Disclaimer: The information provided by Progyny is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for medical guidance. 

The post My partner is at risk for preeclampsia: How can I help? appeared first on Progyny.

Your pregnancy and postpartum checkups are a great chance to ask questions and track your baby’s progress. They also help your healthcare provider look for possible warning signs early.

In fact, every visit should include a blood pressure check. High blood pressure during pregnancy can be dangerous for you and the baby. It often doesn’t cause symptoms you can feel.

If you’re at risk, your provider may ask you to check your blood pressure at home, as well. You’ll work together on a plan that’s right for you.

Types of high blood pressure during pregnancy

In general, your blood pressure is considered high during pregnancy if it’s 140/90 or higher. It’s high if either the top (systolic blood pressure) or the bottom (diastolic blood pressure) number is high.

There are several related blood pressure conditions:

• Chronic hypertension is high blood pressure that someone has before becoming pregnant, or that develops during the first half of pregnancy.
• Gestational hypertension is high blood pressure that starts after the 20th week of pregnancy. It does not involve protein in the urine.
• Preeclampsia is gestational hypertension that typically begins in the last few weeks of pregnancy or up to 6 weeks after birth. Preeclampsia shows signs of organ damage, including protein in the urine or changes in bloodwork.
• Eclampsia is a serious complication of preeclampsia involving seizures that can be life-threatening.
• HELLP syndrome is a severe form of preeclampsia. It affects the blood and liver, and can be life-threatening.

Provider visits can help keep you safe.

Going to your pregnancy and postpartum checkups is one of the best things you can do to protect yourself.

Routine blood pressure checks and other tests give important clues about your health. Urine and blood tests let your provider know the difference between gestational hypertension and preeclampsia. For example, these tests look for:

• If the kidneys are leaking protein in the urine
• If the kidneys, liver, and platelets have been affected by high blood pressure

If you have any issues going to your checkups, reach out to your healthcare team. They will work with you to find solutions and support you. You can also reach out to your Progyny Care Advocate for additional support and guidance.

Explore related topics in this series:

• Preeclampsia: Get informed to stay safe
• How is preeclampsia managed?
• Checking your blood pressure at home

Disclaimer: The information provided by Progyny is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for medical guidance.

The post Blood pressure: Get measured at every visit appeared first on Progyny.

If you have gestational diabetes, you’ll have special considerations for childbirth.

We’ll walk through some general things to think about. Your healthcare team is always there to answer questions and help keep you and your baby safe.

What kind of delivery can I expect?

Most people with gestational diabetes can reach full term (39 weeks) if their blood sugar levels are in their target range. Vaginal delivery is possible, although gestational diabetes can increase the chances of needing a C-section, especially if the baby is expected to be large.

You and your team will come up with a plan based on:

• Your blood sugar levels during pregnancy and at delivery
• Your baby’s expected size
• Other risk factors or complications you may have
• Possible concerns for your health or the baby’s health

Preparing for delivery

Blood sugar often goes up in the weeks before delivery, so your healthcare team may adjust your care plan over time. You may use physical activity, healthy eating, and medicine (which may include insulin) to manage your blood sugar.

It’s helpful to talk with your healthcare provider about your birth wishes, concerns, and questions. This can help you feel more prepared and make decisions together. For example, you may ask:

• What can I expect during delivery?
• What can I expect after delivery?
• Am I at risk for any complications, and what is our plan to manage risk?
• What is the plan for my medicine, such as insulin, during and after delivery?
• How can we plan to feed my baby right away? (Tell them if you plan to chestfeed or bottle-feed.)

Delivering the baby

Your healthcare team will monitor your blood sugar while you’re in the hospital.

• If your blood sugar is high, you may receive insulin.
• After delivery, it’s common for your blood sugar to go down. Sometimes, it can drop too low, especially if you’re on insulin. Your team will check for this.

Your team may also monitor your baby for low blood sugar. Low blood sugar is a risk because:

• When the baby is exposed to high blood sugar in the womb, they make extra insulin to lower their blood sugar.
• After birth, the baby is no longer exposed to high blood sugar. The extra insulin can cause blood sugar to become very low, and this can be dangerous.

Low blood sugar for the baby is most common in the first 1 to 2 hours after birth. The risk goes down after 2 to 3 days.

If your baby has low blood sugar, they may receive special care. Feeding your baby soon after birth may help prevent low blood sugar, so talk with your provider about your feeding plan.

Tell a nurse right away if the baby has any warning signs of low blood sugar:

• Trouble breathing
• Bluish or pale skin
• Loose or floppy muscles
• Shaky or sweating
• Doesn’t feel warm

After delivery

For most people, gestational diabetes is temporary, and blood sugar starts going down after delivery. Be to sure to ask your provider about how your treatment plan will change. Most people with gestational diabetes don’t need medicine after delivery.

Your team may check your blood sugar while you’re still in the hospital. Rarely, some people continue to have high blood sugar after delivery, which may require medicine or checking blood sugar at home.

Gestational diabetes raises the risk for diabetes in the future, so your team may recommend additional blood sugar testing, often at the 6-week visit. Let your primary care provider know that you had gestational diabetes as well. They can help you with ongoing diabetes screening.

Feeding your baby

If you’re able to chestfeed, it has benefits for both you and your baby.

Talk with your provider or lactation specialist about any medicines that may cross into your milk. Insulin does not cross into milk.

Emotional support

Supporting your emotional wellness after birth matters. It’s important to know that people with gestational diabetes have a higher risk of postpartum depression. Signs include feeling very sad, withdrawing from others, or having thoughts of harming yourself or your baby.

If you have any of these signs or are concerned about your risk, speak to your provider. They can work with you to get the help you may need.

Going to your first postpartum checkup is one of the best things you can do to support your physical and emotional health after birth.

Your takeaway

It’s common for blood sugar to rise in the last weeks of pregnancy. Following your care plan helps keep your blood sugar in range and reduces the risks that come with high blood sugar at birth.

Your healthcare team will help you get ready for delivery. You can also reach out to your Progyny Care Advocate for information and support.

Disclaimer: The information provided by Progyny is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for medical guidance.

The post Getting ready for childbirth with gestational diabetes appeared first on Progyny.

One question to think about during pregnancy is how you’ll feed your newborn. If you have gestational diabetes, you may wonder how that affects your feeding plan.

It can be helpful to discuss your wishes with your healthcare team ahead of time. With planning, most people with gestational diabetes can safely chestfeed (breastfeed). If that doesn’t feel right for you, you have other options.

Let’s go over a few things to consider with feeding your baby when you have gestational diabetes.

Benefits of chestfeeding

Chestfeeding has benefits for you and your baby. In fact, you are encouraged to chestfeed for at least 6 months if you can.

For you, chestfeeding may help:

• Lower the risk of type 2 diabetes, some types of cancer, osteoporosis, arthritis, and high blood pressure
• Manage your weight after pregnancy
• Ease recovery from childbirth

For your baby, chestfeeding may help:

• Lower the risk of type 2 diabetes and obesity later in life
• Build the immune system and a healthy gut
• Lower the risk of asthma, breathing problems, eczema, and ear infections

For both of you, chestfeeding helps with bonding through increased skin-to-skin contact.

What if chestfeeding isn’t right for us?

There are many things to consider when deciding how to feed your baby. These include your preferences, schedule, health considerations, and ability to produce milk. Some babies have challenges as well.

If chestfeeding isn’t right for you and your baby, that’s OK. Talk with your team about other options for nourishing your baby:

• Formula feeding
• Donor milk
• A combination of formula, donor milk, and/or your own milk

Many people supplement with formula or donor milk if they don’t produce enough milk, or if they’re trying to increase their supply. And pumping can add flexibility when you’re not near your baby every few hours.

How does chestfeeding affect blood sugar?

After delivery, your blood sugar levels may change, so your team will monitor you closely while you are in the hospital.

Chestfeeding may make it more likely for you to have low blood sugar, especially if you take insulin. Your healthcare provider will work with you on a plan. For example, you may:

• Check your blood sugar before and after feeding
• Have a snack before feeding to help prevent a low
• Drink lots of fluids to stay well hydrated

Having consistent blood sugar levels can help with your milk supply. Your team can support you in this goal with a combination of healthy eating, physical activity, and possibly medicine.

Will medicine cross into my milk supply?

You may need medicine after birth, and some medicines may cross into milk. Most diabetes medicines (including insulin) do not cross over.

Work with your team to know which medicines and supplements are safe for your baby. Together, you’ll decide if chestfeeding or bottle-feeding is best. If your medicine doesn’t last long in the body, a lactation specialist may help you create a pumping or feeding schedule that’s safe for your baby.

Feeding your newborn in the hospital

Find out ahead of time if you need a referral to meet with a lactation specialist in the hospital. They can be a great resource as you and your baby learn to feed together.

Also talk with your team about a plan to feed your baby right after birth.

• This helps prevent low blood sugar in the baby.
• The first milk you make (colostrum) has the richest nutrition and provides important antibodies for your baby.

To get your milk supply started, aim to feed your baby every hour for the first several hours.

The first week at home

Your newborn needs to feed often: 8 to 12 times over 24 hours.

• This means feeding every 1 to 3 hours.
• Each feeding may take 15 to 60 minutes.

It may take a few days for your milk to come in. It’s OK to supplement with formula or donor milk as you work on increasing your milk supply.

With chestfeeding, it’s important to stay hydrated and get enough nutrition from a variety of healthy foods. Your provider may recommend that you keep taking your prenatal vitamins.

For most people, gestational diabetes goes away soon after delivery and blood sugars begin to normalize. If your provider asked you to continue checking your blood sugar, let them know if your readings are out-of-range or you see any new trends.

Finding support

Feeding your baby can bring up a wide range of emotions and challenges, and your experience may change over time. Throughout it all, you have support.

You can reach out to your healthcare team or lactation specialist any time – there’s no need to wait until your next scheduled visit. They will work with you to come up with solutions together.

Your Progyny Care Advocate is also here to connect you with resources, information, and support.

Disclaimer: The information provided by Progyny is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for medical guidance.

The post Feeding your newborn when you have gestational diabetes  appeared first on Progyny.

When you’re pregnant, it’s helpful to learn about all sides of pregnancy. This includes the exciting things to plan for, as well as the possible risks to know about.

Preeclampsia is a type of high blood pressure that happens during pregnancy or after childbirth. If you’re at risk, you’ll work closely with your healthcare team to stay safe.

Most people with preeclampsia recover and have healthy babies. Sometimes, though, preeclampsia requires the baby to be born early.

We’ll talk about this at a high level in this article, but this is not medical advice. Every situation is unique, so be sure to talk with your healthcare provider about your plan together.

When is the baby delivered early?

Preeclampsia is caused by the pregnancy itself, so your plan will carefully balance the risks for you and your baby’s health. An early delivery is recommended in certain situations. You and your healthcare team will create the plan that is safest for you and the pregnancy.

When preeclampsia is first diagnosed, you may be admitted to the hospital for several hours or even a day or two. This allows your team to monitor your blood pressure, do bloodwork, and check the baby’s well-being.

• With mild preeclampsia, the goal for delivery is generally 37 weeks of pregnancy, which is early but not preterm. If you’re diagnosed before this, you may check your blood pressure at home, take medicine, and have more frequent checkups and testing (including ultrasounds and monitoring the baby’s heart rate). If you’re diagnosed after 37 weeks, delivery is often recommended.
• With severe preeclampsia, people are often admitted to the hospital for close monitoring of the pregnant person and baby. Delivery may be recommended earlier, around 34 weeks of pregnancy.

You and your provider will talk about which kind of delivery is best for you:

• Using medication to induce labor and try a vaginal delivery
• Having a C-section

It will depend on your health, how severe the preeclampsia is, and how far along you are in the pregnancy.

What happens after delivery?

If the baby is born healthy at 37 weeks or later and you do not have complications, you may be monitored in the hospital and sent home.

If the baby is born before 37 weeks, the baby may need to stay in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). The type of care depends on the baby’s gestational age, development, and condition. Depending on your health, you may also need to stay in the hospital for care or monitoring.

Preeclampsia can also happen up to 6 weeks after birth. Listen to your body and call your provider if you have any warning signs or anything feels wrong.

Know the warning signs.

You may not feel any symptoms with preeclampsia. Often, you can’t feel high blood pressure.

This is why your appointments during and after pregnancy are key. It’s a chance for your healthcare provider to check your blood pressure and urine to make sure you and the baby are doing well.

Sometimes, preeclampsia does have warning signs. If you have any of these, get medical help right away. It’s always OK to call if anything just feels “off.”

Some of these (like swelling or headaches) may be similar to symptoms that can happen during pregnancy. For your safety, always call if you have any of these symptoms.

Planning for the unexpected

We can’t see the future or know what will happen. But you are already doing some of the best things you can to keep yourself and your baby safe:

• Learning about possible risks, warning signs, and when to call
• Talking with your healthcare team about your personal situation
• Working together on a plan to help you stay safe
• Asking questions and let your team know what’s on your mind

We know this can be stressful or bring on a range of emotions for many people. Remember, you are not alone.

If you’re at risk or dealing with health concerns, it can be helpful to talk with someone about how you’re feeling. Please talk with your provider or reach out to your Progyny Care Advocate for support and resources.

Explore related topics in this series:

• How is preeclampsia managed?
• Postpartum preeclampsia: Know the risks after birth
• Recovery after preeclampsia
• How can preeclampsia affect my future health?

Disclaimer: The information provided by Progyny is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for medical guidance.

The post Could preeclampsia affect my birth plan? appeared first on Progyny.

If you have preeclampsia, you and your healthcare team will be focused on your safety throughout pregnancy and postpartum. Another important area to think about is your future health.

Let’s start with this: you can take small steps to help stay healthy. And you always have support by your side. In fact, by reading this article you’re on your way. It’s a great idea to talk about your possible health risks with your team and ask how they can help you.

Risks from preeclampsia

Preeclampsia usually goes away after delivery, and most people fully recover.

Even so, preeclampsia does raise your risk for some health conditions in the future. You may be more likely to have:

• Preeclampsia in a future pregnancy
• Chronic hypertension (ongoing high blood pressure outside of pregnancy)
• Heart disease or stroke
• Kidney disease

Be sure to talk with your provider. Everyone is different, and your risk may depend on things such as:

• How severe your preeclampsia was
• How early your preeclampsia developed
• Other health risk factors you may have

What can I do to protect myself?

You and your provider can talk about what’s recommended for you. You’ll think about your health history, lifestyle, and plans.

Managing your blood pressure

Keeping your blood pressure in a healthy range can help lower your risk of developing preeclampsia in a future pregnancy. It also helps lower your risk of heart disease and stroke. Your provider will let you know what your blood pressure goal is.

Here are some ideas that may help reduce blood pressure:

• Eat balanced meals rich in fiber, potassium, protein, fruits, and vegetables – and low in salt, sugar, and saturated fat. Limit alcohol as well.
• Get 30 minutes of physical activity at least 5 days a week.
• Manage stress in ways you enjoy. Ideas include deep breathing, time outside, a gratitude journal, and connecting with others.
• Prioritize sleep by going to bed and waking up at the same time each day.

If it applies to you, chestfeed your baby if you can. Studies show this may lower your risk of high blood pressure and heart disease. If you take medicine for high blood pressure, your provider will choose one that is safe for your baby.

Future pregnancy

If you become pregnant again, your provider will work with you to manage your preeclampsia risk. For example, they may recommend:

• Taking low-dose aspirin
• Frequent checkups
• Urine and blood tests
• Checking your blood pressure at home

For extra care and planning, you may also work with a maternal fetal medicine specialist (an expert in higher-risk pregnancies).

Checkups and screenings

Your team will let you know which checkups and screenings you may need over time. These may include:

• Blood tests for glucose (sugar) and cholesterol levels
• Blood tests and urine checks for kidney health
• Regular blood pressure measurements

Always be sure to tell any future providers you had preeclampsia.

Birth control

If you have high blood pressure outside of pregnancy, your provider may recommend that you do not use birth control with estrogen. This includes certain birth control pills and the patch.

Emotional support

You might find it helpful to lean on others as you manage emotions, cope with stress, and make small changes to stay healthy. You may wish to try these ideas:

• Take regular walks with a friend or coworker.
• Ask your family to join you in preparing healthy meals.
• Talk to a family member or friend about how you’re feeling. Sometimes we need a listening ear.
• Explore mental health benefits and coverage you may have from your employer.
• Connect with your Progyny Care Advocate (PCA) for support and resources.
• Ask your provider about finding a licensed therapist to help you manage the range of emotions you may feel.

Looking ahead: You’ve got this

Your healthcare team will work with you step by step on your journey. You can also reach out to your PCA for information, lifestyle tips, and emotional support.

Explore related topics in this series:

• Preeclampsia: Get informed to stay safe
• Recovery after preeclampsia

Disclaimer: The information provided by Progyny is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for medical guidance.

The post How can preeclampsia affect my future health? appeared first on Progyny.

If you’re at risk or have preeclampsia, you may wonder what recovery may look like. Recovery after preeclampsia is different for everyone. And it involves tending to your emotional well-being as well as your physical health.

Please feel reassured that your healthcare team is always a phone call away. Your Progyny Care Advocate is also here for support.

Self-care at home

When you leave the hospital, your team will give you instructions about steps to take, signs to look for, and when to call. If anything isn’t clear, it’s always OK to reach out to your hospital care team or the provider who cared for you during your pregnancy.

Your recovery plan will depend on many things. This includes how severe the preeclampsia was and any complications you may have had.

Many people may take these steps once they’re back home:

• Check your blood pressure. Your team will show you how to do this, how often, and go over what to look for.
• Keep your follow-up visits. These are a chance to ask questions and see how you’re doing. More on this below.
• Take medicine as prescribed. If you’re chestfeeding or pumping, your healthcare provider will choose a medicine that is safe for your baby.

It’s always OK to call if anything just feels “off.”

Emotional recovery

Preeclampsia is stressful and can even be traumatic for some people. Whatever you feel is valid – and help is available.

Many people find it helpful to talk about their feelings with family, friends, or others who have been through a similar experience. Managing your recovery with a newborn can be extra challenging, so lean on others for day-to-day support.

It’s common to talk with a therapist as you process your preeclampsia experience. Your doctor or Progyny Care Advocate can help you find a licensed therapist who is a good fit for you. You may also have access to mental health support and resources from your employer.

What can I expect with my blood pressure?

For many people, blood pressure will go up in the days after birth. Your team will monitor you since you will likely be in the hospital during this time. Then, it typically goes down over a period of about 3 weeks and levels off, although this varies.

After delivery, all birthing people are still at risk for developing preeclampsia for up to 6 weeks after birth. It’s more likely in the first week. If you have any signs of preeclampsia when you’re back home, let your provider know right away. You may need treatment in the hospital.

Some people may be prescribed medicine to keep blood pressure in a safe range. These medicines are often decreased and stopped by the 6-week visit.

After recovering from preeclampsia, many people do not have blood pressure issues. But preeclampsia does put you at risk for long-term high blood pressure (chronic hypertension). This is part of the reason it’s important to follow up with:

• Your care team after delivery
• Your primary care provider after the postpartum period

Follow-up care

People with preeclampsia or other complications need extra follow-up visits.

You may have multiple visits in the first days and weeks after birth. And you’ll continue to see your primary care provider at least every year to support your ongoing health. You and your team may:

• Check your blood pressure
• Do bloodwork, urine checks, or other tests as needed
• Discuss your baby’s feeding plan
• Adjust medicines that are safe for you and your baby
• Talk about how you’re doing emotionally
• Explore lifestyle changes to support your health
• Transition to your OB/GYN or primary care provider if you were seeing a specialist

Your Progyny Care Advocate can talk with you before or after your visits. We’ll help you prepare and understand the information your provider shared.

What about the baby’s recovery?

Recovery for a baby will depend on many things, like when the baby was delivered.

Many babies are healthy and recover well. If your baby is born early or needs special care, your team will be with you every step of the way. Support is also available from professional counselors and support groups.

Your takeaway

Recovery from preeclampsia can vary widely, but you will not be alone. Talk with your healthcare team about anything that’s on your mind and reach out to your Progyny Care Advocate for support and resources.

Explore related topics in this series:

• Postpartum preeclampsia: Know the risks after birth
• How can preeclampsia affect my future health?

Disclaimer: The information provided by Progyny is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for medical guidance.

The post Recovery after preeclampsia appeared first on Progyny.

Here are 7 preconception tips to start you on the path to parenthood!

7 Ways to Improve Your Chances of Getting Pregnant

1) Prepare Your Body

Studies have found that the healthier you are, both physically and mentally, the higher likelihood for conception. This also carries over into carrying your baby to full-term, and giving birth to a healthy baby. This information is true for those who get pregnant without assistance, as well as those who need fertility treatments.

It doesn’t seem like it, but something as simple as getting your body healthy for your baby is the most important thing you can do to begin the parenting journey.*

2) Consider Your Age

Your biological age, regardless of your sex, affects your fertility rate. The so called “biological clock” starts ticking for men around age 45, however for women, it begins at around 35. If you are under 34 years old, give yourself a full 12 months of trying to conceive before scheduling an appointment with a fertility specialist. 

If you are 35-38 years old, give yourself six full menstrual cycles, and if you’re 38+, check with a specialist after 3 cycles of consecutive attempts to conceive.

3) Time conception with ovulation

If you’re tracking your ovulation, and waiting until you are actually ovulating to have intercourse, it is likely you are actually missing the fertility window. Because sperm live longer than eggs, we recommend having sex for the few days leading up to your ovulation, as well as a few days after to allow for you to take advantage of the whole ovulation window.

Read, When is the Best Time for Sex: Timing Intercourse for Conception, for details.

4) Have sex often

Research shows that couples who have sex more regularly, even outside of the “fertility window” get pregnant easier and more often. 

5) Inform Your Male Partner About What He Can Do Too.

Men play an equally important role in conceiving, and having your partner prepare as well increase chances of conception. There are many things men can do to increase their fertility from losing weight and ceasing unhealthy lifestyle habits, to doing all he can to increase his sperm count and motility.

6) Make a Preconception Appointment with your OB/GYN

Your yearly visit to the OB/GYN is extremely important. Being at these appointments lets you learn all kinds of things, like whether your periods are normal or not, where any signs or symptoms of latent reproductive health issues will be flagged, and where you can get some initial advice about conception! Be completely honest with your gynecologist so that they can provide you with the BEST treatment tailored just for you.

7) Prioritize Your Mental Health

Your mental health should be just as important, and healthy, as your physical health when you are trying to conceive. Living a life full of stress is unhealthy normally, but current research has found that stress can cause issues with your fertility rates. Take the time to break your stress cycle by finding relaxation techniques that work for you. The less stress in your life, the better chance you have of conceiving.

If you think it is taking longer than you expected to get pregnant, check in with us here at the Reproductive Resource Center and schedule a fertility consultation.

The post 7 Preconception Tips: Preparing for a Healthy Pregnancy appeared first on Reproductive Resource Center Kansas City IVF.

Each year, The Conference Board’s Employee Health Care Conferences bring together a wide range of perspectives from across the employer health landscape. What stood out this year wasn’t just what’s changing, but how quickly expectations are shifting. Across sessions and conversations in New York and San Diego, a few themes came through clearly.

Here are three takeaways that stood out to me.

1. Employers are shifting toward greater accountability

For years, the focus was on adding more. More programs. More vendors. More solutions intended to support an increasingly complex workforce. That approach is evolving.

Employers are still investing, but with a more disciplined lens. The conversation is shifting from adding solutions based on perceived gaps to selecting partners that can demonstrate clear value.

As a result, employers are asking a different set of questions. Not just what else can we offer, but what is actually working? Where are we seeing measurable outcomes? How are we managing total cost of care?

There is growing pressure to ensure that every dollar spent is tied to impact. That means moving beyond utilization as a proxy for success and focusing on clinical outcomes, employee experience, and long-term cost management.

This isn’t about doing less. It’s about doing what works and holding every part of the ecosystem accountable for results.

2. Fragmentation is becoming a liability

Benefits ecosystems have grown increasingly complex. What started as targeted solutions to address specific needs has, in many cases, turned into a fragmented experience for employees and an operational challenge for employers. That fragmentation is no longer sustainable.

Employers are reaching a point where disconnected programs create more friction than value. Employees are left to navigate multiple entry points, inconsistent experiences, and unclear care pathways. The shift now is toward integration.

Organizations are looking for ways to connect data, navigation, and care delivery into a more unified model. One that feels seamless to the employee and is measurable from a business perspective. Because when systems are connected, access improves. Decisions are made earlier. And outcomes follow.

3. AI is only as valuable as the care model it supports

There’s no question that AI is reshaping the conversation, but the most grounded discussions were not about replacing care. They were about improving it.

The real opportunity is in how AI is applied. When used responsibly, it can help identify risk earlier, guide employees to the right care at the right time, and support more personalized decision-making.

At the same time, there was clear recognition that healthcare is deeply human. Moments like navigating fertility, pregnancy, loss, the NICU, or managing chronic conditions require more than technology.

The organizations seeing the most impact are not choosing between technology and human support. They’re combining both. AI can strengthen the system, but it’s the care model around it that ultimately determines the outcome.

What this means moving forward

The throughline across these conversations is a clear shift in mindset. Benefits are no longer being evaluated as a collection of programs. They’re being evaluated as a strategy. One that must balance cost, outcomes, and experience. One that must work across the full employee lifecycle. And one that must stand up to increasing scrutiny from both leadership and the workforce.

What stood out at The Conference Board’s Employee Health Care Conferences this year is how aligned employers are on the need for change. The question now is how quickly organizations move from recognizing these shifts to operationalizing them.

Employers have an opportunity to move beyond fragmented, episodic approaches and build models that are integrated, outcomes-driven, and designed around how people actually experience care.

That shift is not just operational — it’s strategic. For organizations that get it right, the impact is measurable. Better outcomes. More predictable costs. And a workforce that feels supported in moments that matter. That’s where the conversation is going, and where the real opportunity is ahead.

The post 3 Takeaways from The Conference Board’s 2026 Employee Health Care Conferences appeared first on Progyny.

The post Progyny unveils fertility benefit option for smaller employers appeared first on Progyny.

On paper, that’s a shocking number — but when you look around and realize that the one in six people are in your neighborhood and at your workplace, it’s heartbreaking.  

As an employer, you can offer a powerful display of support when you acknowledge how commonplace infertility is, as well as the physical and emotional toll it takes on those trying to build their families. Whether your organization offers a comprehensive women’s health and family building benefit or not, National Infertility Awareness Week (NIAW), April 19–25, 2026, provides a natural entry point for important conversations that will send the strong cultural message that you support your employees’ whole-being. 

Preparing for a NIAW workplace campaign doesn’t have to be time-consuming either. Small acts go a long way when someone is navigating a challenging life experience, and taking the time to support them this week is an easy way to make them feel seen and heard. You could:     

1. Learn something new about infertility. Did you know 30 – 40% of infertility cases are attributed to the male partner? Or that fertility preservation may be the only way someone recently diagnosed with cancer can ever have a family? From debilitating pain to intense financial pressure, there are a myriad of obstacles those experiencing infertility may be navigating. The more aware you are of what goes into the infertility journey, the easier it is to know where you can step in and help.  

2. Listen to the stories of those who’ve experienced infertility. Infertility can be an isolating and vulnerable experience, making it hard for friends, family, and colleagues to open up. But that doesn’t have to stop you. Below are a few stories from people with completely different infertility journeys. Each is about 20 minutes long — you may be surprised how much you can relate, and how much hearing their stories can shape your next conversation with someone navigating their own family building journey. 
   • Episode 164: Endometriosis, Male-Factor Infertility, and the Waiting Game | Progyny
   • Episode 187: A Decade with Whitney: Freezing her Eggs, Winning the Bachelor, and Becoming a Mom | Progyny 
   • Episode 217: Redefining Family: Choosing to Move on After Recurrent Loss
   • Episode 218: Building Family After Breast Cancer: A Broken Brown Egg AHA Grant Winner’s Story
   • Episode 219: Building Military Families: Julie’s Journey from Loss to Community   

3. Promote infertility awareness. Getting a diagnosis of infertility can be earth-shattering — and the stigma around it often leaves people feeling isolated and ashamed. If you’re not sure how to support someone experiencing infertility, start by normalizing the disease. Speak openly about the stories you’ve heard and the knowledge you’ve gained. Raise awareness in your community and show those who feel alone in their journey that you support them, whether they feel comfortable talking about it or not. Organizations like RESOLVE: The National Infertility and Family Building Association (which founded NIAW in 1989) offer helpful resources for those looking to learn more.  

This NIAW, let’s work together to raise awareness about infertility and support those around us — at home and at work — as they pursue their family building dreams. 

If you’re interested in exploring how organizations can better support employees through infertility and family building, our team can help.

The post 3 Ways to support your team during National Infertility Awareness Week appeared first on Progyny.

There are so many exciting aspects of pregnancy and having a baby. One area that’s harder to think about is problems to look out for. Fortunately, knowing the basics and talking with your provider can help protect your health and your baby’s health.

Let’s talk about preeclampsia, a type of high blood pressure that happens during pregnancy or after childbirth. It affects up to 1 in 12 pregnancies and has become more common over time – so getting informed is important.

We’ll go over the basics together. Your healthcare team is at your side throughout pregnancy and afterwards to support you.

What is preeclampsia?

Preeclampsia is high blood pressure that starts during pregnancy or after childbirth. It may come on suddenly, and it usually begins:

• In the last few weeks of pregnancy (though it can start as early as 20 weeks)
• Up to 6 weeks after giving birth

With prompt diagnosis and treatment, most people with preeclampsia recover and have healthy babies.

But without proper treatment, preeclampsia may cause serious problems. This can include organ damage (such as the kidneys, liver, lungs, or brain) and seizures. For the baby, it may cause slowed growth or being born early. In severe cases, it may be life-threatening.

This can be hard to think about, but learning more puts you in a powerful position.

Am I at risk?

Preeclampsia can happen to anyone, although some people have a higher risk. Risk factors include:

Personal risk factors

• Age 35 or older
• Body mass index (BMI) of 30 or more before pregnancy
• Mother or sister had preeclampsia
• Being Black, Native American, or Alaska Native
• Having a lower income

Pregnancy-related risk factors

• Had preeclampsia in a pregnancy before
• This is your first pregnancy
• Carrying multiples (twins or more)
• Used in vitro fertilization (IVF) to become pregnant

Health-related risk factors

• Chronic high blood pressure
• Diabetes or gestational diabetes (diabetes during pregnancy)
• Kidney disease
• Autoimmune disease such as lupus

Know the warning signs.

You may not feel any symptoms with preeclampsia. Often, you can’t feel high blood pressure.

This is why your appointments during and after pregnancy are key. It’s a chance for your healthcare provider to check your blood pressure and urine to make sure you and the baby are doing well.

Sometimes, preeclampsia does have warning signs. If you have any of these, get medical help right away. It’s always OK to call if anything just feels “off.”

Some of these (like swelling or headaches) may be similar to symptoms that can happen during pregnancy. For your safety, always call if you have any of these symptoms.

Diagnosing preeclampsia

Preeclampsia is diagnosed if blood pressure is 140/90 or higher. It’s high if either the top (systolic blood pressure) or the bottom (diastolic blood pressure) number is high.

Your provider may also check for protein in the urine, a sign that the kidneys have been affected by high blood pressure. Blood work may show other signs of preeclampsia.

What can I do?

Be sure to go to all your pregnancy and postpartum appointments. By working closely with your healthcare team, you’re taking big steps to keep yourself and your baby healthy.

To lower your risk, your doctor may recommend that you:

• Start low-dose aspirin between 12 and 16 weeks of pregnancy. This has been shown to reduce preeclampsia risk.
• Take other medicine as prescribed to help manage blood pressure or other conditions.
• Check your blood pressure at home. Your team will show you how to do this and go over what to look for.
• Eat balanced meals rich in fiber, potassium, protein, fruits, and vegetables – and low in salt, sugar, and saturated fat.
• Stay physically active. It has many benefits for your health and pregnancy, including lower risk of preeclampsia.
• Chestfeed your baby if you can. Studies show this may lower your risk of heart disease.

Sometimes, preeclampsia needs to be managed in the hospital, and it’s possible for the baby to be delivered early.

Preeclampsia often goes away after birth. But you are still at risk after having the baby. Listen to your body and call your provider if you have any warning signs.

Your takeaway

You can take steps to help lower your risk and catch preeclampsia early, and your healthcare team is here to support you. Your Progyny Care Advocate is also available to answer questions and help you get ready for your upcoming visits.

Disclaimer: The information provided by Progyny is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for medical guidance.

The post High blood pressure in pregnancy: Get informed to stay safe appeared first on Progyny.

While well-intentioned, this approach has created new challenges. Vendor management has become complex, and the impact of these solutions is difficult to measure due to siloed platforms and a lack of member-specific outcomes data. 

This challenge is especially pronounced in women’s health — a complex, longitudinal area of care that spans multiple life stages, conditions, and care settings. Without a more integrated approach, it becomes even harder to deliver meaningful outcomes or understand what’s truly working. 

Why fragmented women’s health benefits are falling short 

While many vendors have expanded to offer broader solutions, most still operate within disconnected systems and experiences. The result is a fragmented ecosystem that places the burden of coordination on both employees and benefits leaders. 

For employers, managing these solutions can be complex: 

• Multiple vendor relationships, contracts, eligibility rules, and claims processes

• Limited visibility into outcomes and siloed data, making it difficult to assess value and ROI

• Increased administrative burden from managing disconnected experiences

For employees, fragmentation can make an already emotional and complex experience feel even more challenging. According to Progyny research, many report spending more time than expected trying to understand costs and coverage, navigate authorization requirements, and manage treatment logistics, all while facing the stress of potentially spending money on ineffective treatments or medications.  

Increased costs and reduced outcomes 

When care isn’t coordinated, employees are more likely to delay treatment, disengage from available resources, or miss opportunities for earlier intervention. Disconnected fertility and maternity support can contribute to higher-risk pregnancies, more avoidable complications, and increased medical spend.  

These poorer outcomes drive higher costs for both employees and employers. At the same time, siloed programs make it difficult for employers to identify trends, intervene earlier, and understand what is driving costs across their population. 

Integrated care models create a different dynamic. With connected care journeys, employers gain a more complete view of member needs and can better support earlier, more proactive care. 

The future is coordinated, outcomes-driven care

A unified women’s health benefit influences employee satisfaction, productivity, retention, and workforce participation. It also shapes how employees perceive their employer and whether they feel supported during critical life moments.  

The most effective models share several characteristics: comprehensive care across life stages, human-led support, transparent reporting, and accountability for outcomes. 

Progyny’s integrated solution delivers this through: 

• One trusted partner across fertility, maternity, menopause, and related care needs

• Access to specialized, high quality provider networks

• Human-led care, navigation, and coaching

• Technology-enabled navigation and insights 

• Robust, transparent data, reporting, and performance measurement 

• Accountability for both member experience and clinical outcomes 

Progyny members work with a dedicated Progyny Care Advocate who understands their history, helps them navigate care, and connects them to the right providers and support at the right time. 

The result is a better member experience and stronger outcomes. Progyny members experience: 

The future of women’s health benefits is not a collection of disconnected programs. It’s an integrated strategy designed to improve employee experience, strengthen outcomes, and deliver measurable business value. Employers that make the shift now will be better positioned to support their workforce — and compete for talent — in the years ahead.  

The post The future of women’s health benefits is integrated care appeared first on Progyny.

I’ve worked in digital health long enough to have witnessed how positively transformative technology can be — when it’s done right. I’ve also seen just as many times how sideways things can go when innovation is rushed, untethered from purpose, and disconnected from the people it should serve.

Nowhere is this tension more visible than in today’s race to bring AI solutions to market. No company sets out to build AI that makes healthcare less human. No executive stands up in a boardroom and says, “Let’s dilute empathy. Let’s make this journey feel more transactional.” And yet, that’s what I see happening far too often. Chat-only front doors replacing relationship-based care. IVRs optimized for speed and deflection rather than continuity. Patients reaching out in vulnerable moments, only to start over with someone new every time.

But the issue isn’t the AI itself. It’s the absence of a North Star.

When technology is deployed without a guiding purpose, efficiency quietly overtakes empathy. What’s pitched as a pursuit of convenience and efficiency ends up eroding quality of care and member trust.

Progyny’s North Star: Member First, Always

For the past decade, every technology decision at Progyny has been run through the same lens: does this enable a more human experience and a better outcome?

We’ve been unwavering in our belief that all healthcare experiences require empathy and deep-seated trust. That trust has two dimensions: the human connection members feel with their care team, and the confidence that their most sensitive data is always protected. We view security, privacy, and thoughtful compliance as core to our member-first commitment — not just legal obligations. And nowhere is that more important than in women’s health and family building, where member experiences are deeply personal journeys requiring a trusted, relationship-based approach to care.

Mark Weiser, longtime head of Xerox PARC, captured something essential about technology that I’ve returned to often throughout my career. He said, “The most profound technologies are those that disappear, weaving themselves into the fabric of everyday life until they are indistinguishable from it.” Technology, he insisted, “should create calm, not demand our focus.”

Today, AI that disappears — that doesn’t demand our focus — is almost hard to imagine. But that’s precisely what we’re building toward at Progyny: a platform where AI is woven into the fabric of care, bringing more empathy, clarity, and calm to every member interaction.

Too often in our industry, AI efforts fall for the allure of scale and speed, prioritizing what’s easy to measure over what actually matters. Automation rates become a core KPI. The result, ironically, is a model that moves us backward not forward: fragmented, low-touch, impersonal experiences that may appear to be modern but feel disappointingly familiar.

That’s not the experience women deserve. Or the kind of healthcare experience any of us want.

AI in Service to Relationship-Based Care

If we want healthcare to feel more human, can AI really help? Can we design it to bring people closer rather than push us apart? At Progyny, we believe we can – and must.

The beating heart of our care model is the Progyny Care Advocate, or PCA — a dedicated care partner who guides members through every step of their journey. Our investments in AI are squarely focused on enabling them to deliver the most human, most impactful care experience possible.

We’re currently pursuing that goal across three categories:

1. Alleviating administrative burden. Healthcare is mired in administrative work — authorizations, lab orders, leave policies. When AI supports those processes, the member experience improves and costs come down. We recently showed a large client that their utilization with Progyny increased while costs went down — not through revenue cycle machinations, but through a system that simply helps more people access the right care at the right time.
2. Making every conversation smarter. Our challenge in today’s data-rich environment isn’t access to information — it’s making it useful in the moment. AI can surface what’s relevant so our PCAs have a complete, timely picture of a member’s journey before a call even starts. The result: PCAs enter every conversation fully informed and prepared to help. We’ve talked forever in healthcare about enabling providers to work “at the top of their license.” This may be the moment when we move past talk and finally make it happen.
3. Reaching new levels of quality and accountability. Most so-called quality assurance is little more than a sampling exercise — a handful of calls reviewed weeks after the fact. AI enables clinical and service quality reviews across every interaction, in near real-time. That’s a radically different kind of feedback model for driving continuous improvement.

When you remove administrative noise, surface the right information, and create time and space for care partners to be fully present, something remarkable happens: real conversations, real moments of connection, real relationships built on trust.

Consider this story of a Progyny member who entered care with a history of pregnancy-related trauma. When her baby arrived early at 34 and a half weeks due to an infection and spent 2 weeks in the NICU, her PCA was there to guide and assure her. During a postpartum check-in, when her PCA took the time the moment called for — asking questions, empathizing, and offering thoughts, the member broke down — realizing for the first time that she’d been in denial about experiencing postpartum depression. Her PCA was again there for her, connecting her to resources and support. The member later wrote to the PCA to say she’s not sure how she would have made it through those dark days without her support.

That breakthrough moment would never have happened with a chatbot. And it didn’t happen because of AI. But it was made possible by everything AI was quietly doing in the background: clearing distractions, providing context, and “creating calm” and space for human connection.

Humanity: The True Competitive Edge

This is an exciting moment for women’s health and family building. We’re finally seeing the kind of investment, innovation, and healthy competition this critical space deserves. Across the industry, companies are moving fast to stake out their AI story with new copilots, chat interfaces, and automation layers.

This is great news — we’ll all be lifted by this rising tide of competition and investment. But without a North Star, I fear much of that innovation will yield more of what we don’t want and can’t afford: care that’s impersonal, transactional, and less effective. Impressive technology that, by removing the human connection we all crave, fails the people it is meant to serve .

The future of women’s health won’t be won by whoever automates the fastest or launches the most features. It will be won by whoever stays most relentlessly focused on the member — applying every technological innovation in service of moments like the one above: a member, at her most vulnerable, finally feeling seen and supported.

The post AI Can Make Healthcare More Human—If We Design It That Way appeared first on Progyny.

Join us to learn:

• What to expect during each stage of the fertility and family building journey
• The many paths to parenthood, including fertility treatments, surrogacy, adoption, & more
• How to take care of your mental and emotional well-being, or help to support a loved one

Whether you’re early in exploring your options, already in the fertility or family building process, or want to support a loved one going through their journey, this webinar is for you. If you know someone who may find this webinar helpful, please share it. Progyny webinars are free and open to everyone.

Can’t make it? Register for the webinar to receive the recording after the event.  If you have any questions, please email education@progyny.com.

Tuesday, April 21 at 3 pm ET

The post What to Expect on a Family Building Journey appeared first on Progyny.

AI is transforming how care is delivered, helping analyze data, identify patterns, and guide decision-making in ways that weren’t possible just a few years ago. In women’s and family health, these technologies promise earlier insights, more personalized recommendations, and more connected experiences across fertility, pregnancy, parenting, and menopause.

That progress is meaningful. But it also raises an important question: as healthcare becomes more intelligent, is it also becoming more effective for the people it serves?

Because in women’s and family health, tech alone isn’t enough. It doesn’t account for what it feels like to navigate a pregnancy loss, to have symptoms dismissed for years, or to face the uncertainty and isolation when trying to conceive shifts from something expected to something uncertain.

Women’s health isn’t a point solution

Women’s and family health spans years, often decades, of evolving needs. From fertility and pregnancy to parenting and menopause, these aren’t isolated clinical events. They’re interconnected experiences that require coordination, continuity, and support over time.

For example, a fertility journey doesn’t end with a positive pregnancy test. It can carry into high-risk pregnancy care, postpartum recovery, and even long-term health considerations. Similarly, symptoms dismissed earlier in life can resurface later as more complex conditions, requiring a deeper understanding of a person’s history.

The complexity behind the clinical and emotional decisions people are making at each stage is best met with both tech and human-centered support.

When benefits treat these stages as separate events rather than a continuous journey, it can lead to missed risk signals, more reactive care, and a more fragmented member experience.

Where AI excels—and where human-centered care matters most

AI is improving access to information and helping streamline care. It can surface insights, identify patterns, and suggest the next best actions grounded in clinical guidelines and member-specific context. And while it certainly unlocks meaningful new capabilities and reach, it’s best done in connection with human expertise, care, and support.

1. Context

AI is great at recommending next steps based on data, surfacing signals, and suggesting the next best actions grounded in clinical guidelines and member-specific context. These recommendations are most effective when they’re interpreted and applied within the context of each individual’s needs.

Human expertise is critical to fully extend support and understand context—why someone may hesitate, what constraints they’re facing, or how personal, financial, and cultural factors shape decisions.

In women’s and family health, context directly impacts outcomes, and translating insights into the right action requires both technology and expert guidance.

2. Trust

Decisions across fertility, pregnancy, and menopause are complex and deeply personal. Trust isn’t built through recommendations alone. It’s built through consistent, informed guidance and the ability to ask questions, validate concerns, and make decisions with confidence.

3. Advocacy

AI is able to guide someone through options and surface the right next steps, and translating those insights into the right decisions and actions often requires an additional layer of advocacy and support.

In high-stakes moments, support is best when it can extend beyond direction to active guidance and advocacy.

Navigation is only part of the solution

AI has made it easier to navigate healthcare, helping people find providers, understand options, and move through the system more efficiently. That matters. But navigation alone doesn’t ensure better outcomes or better experiences.

Knowing where to go doesn’t mean someone feels confident in what to do next, especially when decisions are complex or emotionally charged. That’s where human support becomes essential—bridging the gap between insight and action.

The limitations of a purely digital model

As healthcare becomes more technology-driven, care is often treated as a coordination problem. How does women’s and family health best fit into these workflows? How are we creating the right workflows and environments for women’s health to thrive?

When care becomes too transactional, context can be overlooked, decisions can become oversimplified, and member experience can suffer.

Engagement alone isn’t a proxy for outcomes. Care models need to be designed to support both. Because no model can predict what matters most to a person in that moment.

AI works best when it supports care

AI has a clear role to play in improving women’s and family health. It can help identify risks earlier, streamline access to care, and surface insights that improve decision-making. Used well, it can make care more efficient, more personalized, and more scalable.

When applied thoughtfully, AI is able to surface signals earlier and anticipate member needs, enabling more proactive, anticipatory, and personalized care across the member journey. This creates an opportunity not just for better coordination, but for earlier intervention and stronger outcomes.

This also reduces the inefficiencies and added costs that often come from fragmented, point-solution approaches. Its value is maximized when it supports a broader care model, not when it replaces it.

The most effective approach combines technology with human-centered care:

• Continuous relationships: Dedicated support that understands the full member journey and provides continuity across life stages
• Integrated guidance: Clinical, emotional, and practical needs addressed together, not in isolation
• Active support and advocacy: Helping members navigate decisions, interpret care, and access the right resources at the right time

This allows care teams to focus on higher-value, human-led support—guiding decisions, building trust, and supporting members through complex moments.

In this model, technology enhances care delivery and frees clinical experts and care advocates to focus on what matters most: supporting the person behind the data.

The bottom line

AI will continue to play a growing role in healthcare, and in women’s and family health, better technology works best when paired with the right support. Because the most important question isn’t just, “What’s the next step?” It’s also, “Is there the right support in place to help someone take it?”

At Progyny, we believe the future of women’s and family health is both intelligent and deeply human, where technology helps anticipate needs, and people provide the context, trust, and advocacy that turn insight into meaningful outcomes.  

To learn more about how Progyny supports women’s and family health, connect with our team.

The post What AI gets right—and what it can’t replace in women’s and family health appeared first on Progyny.

This checklist will help you get up and running with your benefit. Your Progyny Care Advocate (PCA) is always here to support you, personalize your experience, and answer any questions along the way.

1. Get going with your app (portal)

• Download the Progyny app from Google Play or the Apple Store, or log in to the Progyny portal on a computer.
• Locate your Member ID under “My Account.” You’ll share your Member ID whenever you schedule clinic and lab appointments.
• Find your Member Guide under “My Benefits.” It describes coverage details, your financial responsibilities, treatment authorizations, and more.

2. Understand financial responsibility

• We’ve partnered with leading menopause providers to support you with convenient telehealth visits.
• Learn about Smart Cycles. Smart Cycles are like a currency that bundles all the services, tests, and treatments you may need. This gives you and your doctor the ability to create a plan that’s right for you. Learn more about how Smart Cycles work.
• Understand your financial responsibility. Learn what you may owe for consultations, diagnostic testing, treatment, and medications. This varies based on your medical plan, so it may help to read details in your Member Guide. q Use the cost calculator to plan ahead. This tool will help estimate your out-of-pocket costs for treatment based on your medical plan’s cost-sharing design.

3. Let us help you find a provider

• Search for a clinic or provider. You have access to the highest quality specialists through the Progyny fertility network. Find a provider who’s a great match for you.
• Prepare for your first consultation. Learn what to expect at your initial fertility consultation, and reach out to your PCA for individualized guidance.
• Expect a confirmation statement. After your clinic requests an appointment authorization for you, you’ll get a confirmation statement from Progyny. Having this before the visit can help billing and treatment move along as expected.

4. Personalize your experience

• Contact your PCA with questions. Your Progyny team is here for you every step of the way. Message your PCA in your app or portal if you have a question.
• Tap into one-on-one clinical support. Your PCA will help connect you with a team of clinical educators with specialized fertility experience.
• Find answers to your questions. Explore expert education and resources on a wide range of topics in your member app or portal.

Everyone’s journey is unique. We hope these tips help you get started and feel supported in your path ahead.

The post Your checklist to getting started with Progyny appeared first on Progyny.

You may have heard it called a “birth plan,” but a better term might be a birth wish list.

Labor and delivery can be unpredictable, and things don’t always go according to plan. A birth wish list reflects this reality and allows you to share your hopes and priorities while staying flexible if circumstances change.

What is a birth wish list?

It’s a simple summary of your preferences for labor, delivery, and newborn care. A wish list can help you outline your goals, indicate any concerns, and share what’s important to you with your care team.

Rather than mapping out every detail, think of it as a conversation starter that keeps everyone on the same page while leaving room for the unexpected.

Benefits of writing a list 

In the process of creating one, you can:

• Clarify what’s most important to you

• Reduce anxiety about labor and delivery

• Help your partner or support person advocate for you

• Encourage meaningful conversations with your healthcare provider about your options

Even if every preference isn’t possible, having these discussions can help you feel more prepared and supported.

What do you want to include in your list?

Keep your list focused on what matters most to you. Aim for one page, use bullet points, and review it with your provider before your due date.  

Here are some common areas to consider: 

Labor and comfort 

Think about how you’d like to experience labor and what will help you feel calm and supported. 

• Who would you like in the room with you? 

• Do you want freedom to move around or try different labor positions? 

• What environment feels most comforting (dim lighting, music, limited interruptions)? 

• Are you interested in medical pain relief methods, non-medical options, or a combination? 

• How would you like your care team to communicate with you during labor? 

Delivery preferences  

If you’re planning a vaginal birth, you may want to consider: 

• Would you like your support person involved (encouragement, counting during pushing, cutting the umbilical cord)? 

• Do you prefer immediate skin-to-skin contact after birth? 

• Would you like delayed cord clamping? 

• What are your preferences regarding cord blood collection? 

• Would you prefer that newborn assessments happen while your baby remains on your chest, if possible? 

If a C-section becomes necessary or is planned, consider including: 

• Would you like immediate skin-to-skin contact in the operating room, if possible? 

• If you’re unable to hold your baby right away, would you like your support person to provide skin-to-skin contact? 

• Would you like your provider to explain what’s happening during the procedure? 

• Are you interested in viewing the delivery through a clear drape or mirror, if available?  

After birth 

Your wish list can also include newborn care preferences. 

• How do you plan to feed your baby (breastfeeding, bottle-feeding, combination feeding)? 

• Do you prefer your baby to room-in with you, stay in the nursery at certain times, or always remain with you if available? 

• Who would you like to be around during the first hours after delivery? 

If plans need to change

Birth can be unpredictable. You may want to include a note about communication. For example, if your provider has a recommendation, you can ask them to explain it or answer your questions before a final decision is made.

Final thoughts 

Every birth experience is unique. Focus on what matters most to you, keep your list simple, and stay open to the unexpected. Your care team’s shared goal is a safe and healthy delivery for you and your baby.

If you’d like a template to get started, we suggest using this one from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Be sure to review it with your provider during a prenatal visit.

If you have questions or concerns, Progyny is here for you. Please contact your Progyny Care Advocate for support.

Disclaimer: The information provided by Progyny is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for medical guidance.

The post Planning for labor and delivery: your birth wish list appeared first on Progyny.

When I started working at Progyny in 2016 as a human resource director, employer fertility support across the U.S. was scarce, at best. Fortunately, I knew that I was hired by a truly special company that was at the forefront of fertility benefits, providing remarkable opportunities for women and families. Progyny’s comprehensive benefits approach would not only change the entire industry; it would change my life—and my dreams.

Fast forward to ten years later, and now as Progyny’s chief human resource officer for more than 800 employees, I marvel at both the clinical care advancements and widespread expansion of benefits coverage we’ve seen. With a dedication to outcomes that matter so much, Progyny has been a passionate champion and leader in the fertility industry and for its clients and members. It’s been a privilege to be a part of building something so meaningful. At the same time, it’s been personally rewarding as I marvel at my two sons, deeply grateful for them and the unwavering support I’ve received in growing our family.

A journey of support

For those on the path to family building, each journey is unique, and many come with a mix of celebrations and setbacks. While our fertility story began with enthusiasm for our egg retrievals, we also experienced unsuccessful treatment rounds and loss. In those years, I sought different providers and strategies, and various mediations and treatments including preimplantation genetic testing. I was “all in.” While in some respects, 10 years seems not that long ago; in the world of fertility, so much has changed in terms of availably of access, information, and treatment advances.

When the quest for optimal fertility care led me across the country to a clinic in California, I was fortunate to have a built-in support system – including an understanding employer and manager. Working for Progyny also gave me the unique access to Dr. Georgia Witkin, a clinical psychologist and infertility expert, who I’m now happy to call a treasured confidant and friend. For anyone on the fertility journey, having your team of people is so critical in both making confident, informed decisions and staying grounded through uncertainty.

With the advanced fertility support and services my company provides, I experienced the joy of having my son, Emmett, the first ever Progyny employee baby, in 2019. His brother, Hudson, joined our family in 2021.

A decade down, forever to go

Over the past decade, employer-provided fertility coverage has evolved significantly. When I joined Progyny, the benefit was just emerging—only about 25% of large employers offered IVF coverage, and just 5-6% covered egg freezing. Even then, Progyny stood apart, leading with comprehensive, evidence-based benefits for both members and employees well before the support became mainstream.

Ten years later, Progyny has grown to over 800 employees serving more than 600 clients, providing family building and women’s health benefits through a managed network of top fertility specialists, member coaching and support, digital tools, prescriptions, and more. Others have followed suit. According to the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans’ Employee Benefits Survey: 2024 Report, 42% of U.S. organizations now offer fertility benefits—up significantly from 30% in 2020.

While we have traditionally worked with large, self-insured employers, today we’re expanding into the fully insured market, allowing fertility benefits to reach a much broader group of employers through standard insurance plans. It’s an exciting time to be in benefits. As fertility coverage has expanded, clinical care options have also significantly advanced with better techniques, more clinics, and stronger outcomes.

Facilitating lasting support

As the expanding fertility industry reaches more women on their journeys, we must continue to support whole-person health. Fertility efforts are most successful when care begins before conception and considers physical, hormonal, and emotional health. Despite this, only about 20% of women have a dedicated preconception visit before pregnancy. Overall wellness requires appropriate screenings, chronic condition monitoring, and mental health management through child-baring years, menopause, and beyond. Comprehensive, personalized, continuous support is the key to healthier women and thriving families.

When women have access to the right care at the right time, outcomes improve. Along members’ fertility journeys, we celebrate their success stories with “Yeah Baby Day” on March 25^th. We hope you’ll share your baby story, and how trusted support has made a difference in your family’s life—this decade, and beyond.

The post A Decade in Fertility: The Progress, People, and Path Forward appeared first on Progyny.

Nine months of pregnancy build up to the delivery, the climax of a long period of anticipation, change, and growth. With so much focus on conceiving, then fetal development, weekly physical changes, and regular prenatal visits, 40 weeks starts to look a lot like the finish line. On the contrary, maternal care is only just beginning!

With the challenges and uncertainties the “fourth trimester” can bring, it’s essential that women receive physical, mental, and emotional support during this monumental transition. Postpartum care is a necessary extension of prenatal care, serving to support women’s bodily and mental health needs and grow their confidence through recovery.

In the U.S., one in every six dollars of employer spend on inpatient healthcare goes toward maternity services, and a single pregnancy episode (prenatal care, childbirth, and postpartum care) in the employer-sponsored insurance population costs on average about $25k per pregnancy, underscoring the importance of comprehensive postpartum care. Supporting birthing parents before, during, and after delivery improves maternal health and wellbeing and drives stronger outcomes like lower costs and reduced complications. And focusing on foundational, long-term health enables a more supported workforce.

Postpartum specialty support

In those first few months postpartum, women may experience both physical and mental health challenges. Physical recovery is compromised by complications such as infection, hypertension, or challenges with healing and breastfeeding, while about one in five experience a mental health disorder like postpartum depression or anxiety.

A trusted community is critical for empowering mothers with both clinical support and postpartum education.

Progyny anchors care in continuity and trust with a dedicated nurse Progyny Care Advocate (PCA), who has experience in labor and delivery and postpartum, for each member. The relationship provides personalized, one-on-one, ongoing monthly support for members through fertility, pregnancy, postpartum, and beyond, guiding navigation and education about treatment, providers, and benefits. Members don’t have to retell their story—their PCA knows it, knows them, bringing both comfort and empowerment.

OBs and midwives

Members have options for OBs and midwives, which they select based on pregnancy risks, personal preference, hospital affiliation, or other factors. Postpartum, these providers monitor for preeclampsia and other health risks, as well as provide emotional support and information about contraception. Most importantly, these long-term providers listen, take concerns seriously, and explain things in a clear way to facilitate educated decision-making, ensuring mom and baby are healthy and getting the clinical support they need.

Doulas

Doulas provide additional support to postpartum moms, offering non-clinical guidance through regular check-ins via telehealth or in-person care. They offer newborn or maternal education, benefits and system navigation, and next steps on the care journey including postpartum visits. Doula care is associated with decreased rates of preterm births, C-sections, and postpartum depression. In fact, outcomes improvement has been so significant, a major insurance company just added a nationwide doula benefit, with plans to make access widespread for all its employer-sponsored plans in 2027.

Lactation consultants

Lactation consultants (IBCLCs) are also vital members of the postpartum care team, supporting and educating mothers on what I often see to be an emotionally charged journey. From initial instruction on latch, pumping, or supply issues, to returning to work and introducing formula or solid foods, these feeding experts are trained to collaborate with team members and support what is best for each mother. IBCLCs support breastfeeding goals, and new parents are relieved to discover that they also support reality. Whether it’s exclusive breastfeeding, combination feeding, or formula, the priority is ensuring parents are informed and feel confident in their decision-making.

Mental health matters

With the postpartum period’s major hormonal, emotional, and social shifts, mental health support from the care village is just as important as the physical recovery. In the U.S., approximately 85% of those affected by maternal depression during the postpartum period don’t get treated. This huge gap underscores why screening—and integrated care pathways that proactively connect members to support—is critical to improving outcomes.

Instead of treating mental health like something that “goes wrong,” Progyny believes in routine screenings built into the program structure. By removing the stigma, we don’t force anyone to raise her hand or remain in the untreated majority. One of our members was recently struggling, and a PCA assessment right away identified postpartum depression. Thankfully, because of this proactive screening and warm transfer to the appropriate care, she got the help she needed quickly. We can influence outcomes by addressing challenges before they escalate. By ensuring members feel cared for and supported clinically, mentally, and emotionally, a positive postpartum experience and stronger foundation for long-term family health becomes possible.

The team approach

While each care team member addresses a different aspect of postpartum health and recovery, the collaborative, cohesive nature of the village helps moms feel thoroughly cared for. Each specialty is connected and communicating, while listening to the patient at the center. The goal is for mother and baby to be healthy, and for members to be empowered to advocate for their evolving needs in the months after birth.

The entire postpartum experience is smoother when the birthing parent’s physical, mental, and emotional needs are integrated in the greater context of health and well-being. Progyny’s approach aligns not only pre-conception, prenatal, postpartum, and menopause care, it takes into context each member’s unique experience in the broader healthcare benefits ecosystem. In a crowded landscape of disparate care services and apps, we remain committed to supporting members through evidence-based, compassionate care—and helping members, providers, and employers navigate the incredibly meaningful time following the baby’s arrival.

For more information, view our webinar on postpartum care.

The post Postpartum Care: Supporting Health, Empowering Families, and Embracing the Value of Doulas appeared first on Progyny.

Here’s how to schedule a visit with a menopause provider using your Progyny member portal or app.

1. Set up your Progyny account.

You’ll use your Progyny member portal or app to:

• Schedule and manage provider visits
• Send questions to your provider
• Message your Progyny Care Advocate for coaching and support

2. Schedule your menopause provider visit.

We’ve partnered with leading menopause providers to support you. You may use a local provider or a telehealth provider.

How to schedule with a local provider

• Sign into your Progyny member portal or app.
• Select Find a local provider.
• Use the provider search tool to find in-network providers near you.

How to schedule a telehealth visit

• Sign into your Progyny member portal or app.
• Select Book a telehealth visit.
• Choose your preferred provider. You’ll be taken to the menopause provider’s scheduling system.
• After scheduling, you’ll be asked to set up an account with the provider. Use this to log into your telehealth visit.

If you have any questions, call your Progyny Care Advocate at 888-597-5065. We’re here Monday–Friday, 9 am–9 pm EST (6 am–6 pm PST). You can also send a secure message through your Progyny member portal or app.

The post How to schedule your menopause provider visit appeared first on Progyny.

Pregnancy brings many changes to your body and your daily life. Talking openly with your healthcare provider can help you understand what’s happening and what to expect next.

There are many questions that come up during pregnancy. The good news is that you don’t need to have all the answers already. In addition to your provider, you have your Progyny Care Advocate to guide you, answer questions, and support you through each step.

Preparing for appointments 

Appointments can feel short, and it’s easy to forget questions in the moment. Preparing ahead of time can help you get the most out of each visit.

You may find it helpful to: 

• Write down questions or concerns. 

• Bring a support person if that feels right for you. 

• Track symptoms, mood changes, or physical discomfort. 

• Take notes during the visit and/or ask for written follow-up. 

There’s no wrong way to prepare. What matters is that your questions get answered. 

Asking questions at appointments 

Questions will come up throughout your pregnancy, and that’s expected. Asking questions helps you understand what’s normal, when to reach out, and how to care for yourself between visits. 

You may find it helpful to ask questions like:

About symptoms and safety 

• What symptoms are normal? Which ones should I call you about?

• Are there warning signs I should watch for between visits?

• What symptoms need urgent care?

About tests and appointments

• What tests or screenings are coming up, and what do they check for?

• What will happen at my next appointment?

• Can you explain this result in simple terms?

About daily life

• Is it safe for me to work, exercise, travel, or have sex right now?

• Are my medications, vitamins, or supplements safe to keep taking? 

• Are there activities I should avoid?

About support and communication

• What’s the best way to contact the care team between visits?

• Who should I call if I have concerns after hours?

There are no “silly” questions. Asking them can help you feel more confident and supported throughout your pregnancy. 

Advocating for yourself 

You know your body best. If something doesn’t feel right, it’s important to say so. You can ask for clearer explanations, more time to decide, or information in plain, easy-to-understand language. 

Advocating for yourself does not mean you’re being difficult. Your provider should listen to your concerns and work with you as a partner. 

Communicating between appointments 

Questions don’t always wait for your next visit. Many practices offer phone lines or patient portals for concerns between appointments.

Ask your provider about: 

• How to reach the care team

• When to call right away

• What symptoms need urgent care

Knowing how and when to reach out can help you feel supported throughout your pregnancy. For urgent questions or symptoms, such as bleeding or severe pain, call your care team. Call 911 if it’s an emergency. 

Building a partnership in care 

Pregnancy care works best when you and your provider work together. Open communication helps you make informed decisions and feel confident in your care.

Trust your instincts. Ask questions. Take notes. You deserve clear information, respect, and support at every stage of your pregnancy.

Progyny is here for you, too. Please contact your Progyny Care Advocate for support.

Disclaimer: The information provided by Progyny is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for medical guidance.

The post Talking to your healthcare provider about your pregnancy  appeared first on Progyny.

You may think about your menstrual cycle at least once a month, or maybe much more if you’re hoping to become pregnant. But how well do you know what’s really happening in your body? If it’s a little unclear, you’re not alone.

Let’s break down what happens during your cycle and how it relates to pregnancy. If you’re considering fertility treatment, this may also help you understand treatment steps and medicine used.

Your menstrual cycle

We have menstrual cycles to release an egg and prepare the body for pregnancy.

There are 4 phases of the menstrual cycle. We’ll start with a quick overview, then look at each phase in more detail.

1. Menstrual phase (period): you shed the lining of your uterus (endometrium).
2. Follicular phase: your body gets ready for ovulation.
3. Ovulation phase: an egg is released, about halfway through your cycle.
4. Luteal phase: the uterus prepares for a possible embryo to implant, or the arrival of your next period.

*The number of days in each phase may vary from person to person and even month to month.

1. Menstrual phase

Your cycle begins with the first full day of your period. The bleeding is your body shedding the lining of the uterus (endometrium). Most people bleed for 3 to 7 days.

Hormones in action:

• Progesterone and estrogen drop, causing your period to start

2. Follicular phase

In the follicular phase, your body releases follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) which causes the ovary to grow follicles. A follicle is a small fluid-filled sac in the ovary that may release and nourish an egg. Only one follicle will be “chosen” to mature.

The growing follicle produces estrogen, which causes the endometrium to thicken. This will make a cozy home for a possible embryo.

Hormones in action:

• FSH rises, causing a follicle to develop
• Estrogen rises, causing the endometrium to thicken

3. Ovulation

When the follicle gets big enough and your body has been exposed to estrogen long enough, there’s a surge of luteinizing hormone (LH). This surge causes ovulation, the release of a mature egg. The egg travels into one of the fallopian tubes.

If an egg meets sperm in the fallopian tube, you may become pregnant. We’ll talk about that timing more in a moment.

Hormones in action:

• LH surges (a sudden rise), causing ovulation

4. Luteal phase

After ovulation, the now-empty follicle (the sac that released the egg) still has an important role. It becomes a temporary structure called a corpus luteum, which is why we call this the luteal phase. The corpus luteum produces the hormone progesterone. Progesterone’s job is to prepare the uterine lining for a possible embryo.

If you become pregnant, your body produces the hormone that’s detected in pregnancy tests: human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). hCG helps keep the uterine lining thick.

If there is not a pregnancy, progesterone will drop at the end of the cycle. This brings on your period and the cycle begins again.

Hormones in action:

• Progesterone rises, preparing the uterine lining
  • If pregnant: hCG rises, keeping the uterine lining thick
  • If not pregnant: progesterone drops, starting the cycle again

When should I have sex to get pregnant?

As you know, pregnancy happens when sperm meets the egg. The egg is released at ovulation, around day 14 for most people.

But sperm can live in your body for up to 5 days. So the window to have intercourse begins 5 days before ovulation. Plus, the egg lives for about 1 day, so you have roughly a 6-day window. To learn more about signs of ovulation and how to time intercourse, be sure to read When should I have sex to get pregnant?

Your Progyny Care Advocate is also here to talk through family planning and provide education on topics like this.

Disclaimer: The information provided by Progyny is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for medical guidance.

The post Menstrual cycle: how your body prepares for pregnancy appeared first on Progyny.

You may be considering a doula for your pregnancy, birth, or recovery but aren’t so sure what they do. There are many myths and misconceptions about them out there, too. First, let’s talk about what a doula can do for you.  

What is a doula?  

A doula is a trained professional who provides non-medical support to you and your family before, during, and after birth. Research has shown the impact doulas have had:  

• Lowered the odds of C-sections by 52.9%   

• Cut the risk of postpartum depression and anxiety by 57.5%  

• Reduced the likelihood of using pain medication during labor by 10% 

Doulas are not medical staff, such as OB/GYNs, midwives, and nurses. However, they have a strong understanding of the birthing process and work with your care team to provide holistic support. They can help by:  

• Getting you comfortable during pregnancy, labor, and birth 

• Making a birth wish list with you, no matter how you’re planning to deliver  

• Advocating for you during labor and delivery  

• Teaching safe infant feeding and sleep practices  

• Being there for you, as you transition to being there for your baby 

Top 6 doula myths   

There are quite a few myths about doulas. It’s time to clear up some of the most common ones:  

1. “Doulas are only for home births.”  

Doulas can support you wherever you choose to give birth — at home, in a hospital, or at a birth center. They can support parents during c-sections, epidurals, non-medicated births, pain medicines, inductions, and more.   

2. “Aren’t doulas just for hippies and tree huggers?”  

Doulas are for everyone, regardless of lifestyle or background. While they became popular in the 1970s, doulas have evolved into modern partners in the birthing journey.  

3. “They’re only for rich people.”  

Doula fees vary based on location, experience, and services they provide. On average, a birth doula costs between $500 and $2,500. Postpartum doulas may charge around $25 to $75 per hour.  

Some insurance plans and Medicaid programs now cover doula services. Community-based programs and non-profits may also offer low- or no-cost support. Some employers may provide reimbursement, so check with your HR team too.  

4. “I’ve heard that doulas don’t get along with medical staff.”  

Certified doulas are trained to collaborate with healthcare providers. Many hospitals and healthcare systems are working to bring doulas into their labor and delivery service. That’s because doulas:   

• Provide emotional and physical support to patients during labor.  

• Reduce stress on the medical team, freeing them to focus on clinical tasks.  

• Improve patient-staff communication.  

5. “My partner thinks a doula will replace them.”  

A doula doesn’t replace your partner. Instead, they help your partner feel more confident and involved by offering guidance on how to support you. It’s a team effort!    

6. “I have a nurse midwife. I don’t need a doula.”   

Nurse midwives and doulas both support people during pregnancy and birth, but their roles are pretty different. 

A nurse midwife is a licensed medical provider with advanced training in midwifery. They manage the clinical side of pregnancy and birth. This includes monitoring your health, performing exams, and delivering your baby. 

A doula doesn’t provide medical care or make clinical decisions. They are trained to give you emotional, physical, and informational support — such as helping you understand your options and advocate for your preferences.  

How Progyny can help  

Adding a doula to your birth plan can improve your pregnancy, birth, and postpartum experience. Please contact your Progyny Care Advocate for support and more information.  

Disclaimer: The information provided by Progyny is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for medical guidance.  

The post Doula 101 appeared first on Progyny.

Sleep often changes during pregnancy. Early on, you may feel exhausted. Later, you may feel uncomfortable, restless, or wide awake in the middle of the night. These shifts are common, and happen for many reasons:

• Progesterone, a hormone that supports pregnancy, can make you sleepy during the day. It can also lead to more nighttime wakeups and vivid dreams.

• Your growing uterus shifts your center of gravity. This can strain your back and hips, especially later in pregnancy.

• Physical changes, such as heartburn, shortness of breath, leg cramps, or more frequent trips to the bathroom can interrupt rest, too.

• During the second half of pregnancy, your baby may decide that 2 a.m. is the perfect time for some exercise!

While disrupted sleep is common, there are ways you can safely improve your comfort. 

Choosing a safe sleep position 

In the first trimester, you can sleep in any position that feels comfortable. The uterus is still small and protected within the pelvis. 

After about 20 weeks, it is safest to sleep on your side. Lying flat on your back can press on the inferior vena cava. This is the large vein that carries blood from your lower body back to your heart. Pressure on this vein may reduce blood flow to the uterus and placenta.

While both sides are safe to sleep on, some healthcare providers suggest the left side because of how major blood vessels are positioned.

The most important thing is to avoid spending the whole night sleeping flat on your back in the second half of pregnancy. If you do wake up on your back, roll onto your side and settle back in.

Making side sleeping more comfortable

Pillows are your friends! They can reduce strain and help you rest well. Here’s how it’s done: 

• Placing a pillow between your knees can keep your hips aligned.

• Using a small pillow under your abdomen may reduce pulling.

• Putting a pillow behind your back can help prevent rolling.

• Supporting your upper arm may ease shoulder tension.

• Adding a full-length pregnancy pillow can help provide more support.

If you have back or pelvic pain, keeping your spine in a neutral position can help. Gentle stretching before bed may reduce muscle tightness. If pain becomes persistent or severe, talk to your provider about available options, such as physical therapy or acupuncture. 

Managing common sleep disruptions

Heartburn is common, especially in the second and third trimesters. That’s because pregnancy hormones relax the muscle between your stomach and esophagus, the tube that carries food. The growing uterus also increases pressure on your stomach. Together, these changes can cause reflux. You can try:

• Avoiding large meals within 2 to 3 hours of bedtime 

• Limiting foods that you know will trigger discomfort 

These can help, but if heartburn doesn’t improve, talk with your provider about medicine for heartburn in pregnancy. 

Leg cramps and restless legs syndrome can also interrupt sleep. The top symptom of restless legs syndrome is an urgent need to move your legs, usually in the evening when you’re lying down on sitting. If this affects your rest, talk with your provider about managing this condition.

You or your partner may also notice more snoring, caused by fluid shifts and weight changes that narrow your airway. In some cases, pregnancy increases the risk of obstructive sleep apnea, a condition in which breathing pauses during sleep. Let your provider know if you have loud snoring, gasping at night, morning headaches, or significant daytime sleepiness. Treatment can support both your and your baby’s health.

Can sleep aids help? 

While some sleep aids are safe, always check with your provider before taking sleep medications, melatonin, or herbal supplements. Your care team can help you understand what is safe for you.

In the meantime, you can try to help your body wind down by:

• Keeping to a consistent bedtime and wake time  

• Making your bedroom cool, dark, and quiet 

• Limiting your screen time before bed 

• Practicing light stretching, deep breathing, or guided relaxation 

When to reach out 

Interrupted sleep is common during pregnancy, but you still deserve support if the symptoms are overwhelming. Reach out to your provider if you have severe insomnia, ongoing heartburn, signs of sleep apnea, or mood changes that affect your rest.

Progyny is here for you, too. Please contact your Progyny Care Advocate for support.

Disclaimer: The information provided by Progyny is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for medical guidance.

The post Sleep comfort and safety during pregnancy appeared first on Progyny.

Planning for parental leave can feel overwhelming. But with a clear approach, you can prepare your work, so you feel confident stepping away.

A good coverage plan helps you focus on your growing family and helps your team keep things running while you’re out. Coverage planning is simple to understand, but it does take intentional steps.

Start with a timeline

Begin planning about 3 to 4 months before your leave date. Try to have a draft of your coverage plan about 4 weeks before your leave begins. Starting early gives you time to think through your work and talk with your manager and teammates.

Understand your work responsibilities

Make a clear list of the work you do. This list is the foundation for planning coverage and transition.

Think about:

• Routine tasks you handle each week

• Meetings you attend or lead

• Projects with upcoming deadlines

• Tools, systems, and files others may need

• People you work with most often

This step doesn’t have to be perfect — it’s understanding what your daily and weekly work looks like, so you and your manager can get a clear picture of what needs to be covered.

Talk with your manager first

Before sharing your plan with others, schedule a conversation with your manager. In this meeting, you might:

• Share your expected leave dates

• Discuss priorities and what can wait

• Confirm what parts of your work need coverage and who may take them on

• Talk about how you’ll communicate before and during leave

Involve your colleagues next

Once your manager agrees on the general direction of your plan, you can bring coworkers into the conversation. This step is about collaboration — not just delegating tasks.

When you talk with your team or coworkers, you might:

• Explain how you and your manager agreed to approach coverage

• Share parts of your work that could be picked up

• Ask for input on what would help them feel confident in covering

• Review what meetings they may need to attend in your place

Document how things work

When others step into your work temporarily, good notes make a big difference. If the work needs instructions, consider including:

• Details of each task

• Locations of key documents

• Contacts for specific questions

• Tips for common situations or problems

Even a few clear sentences per task can make your plan easier for your coworkers to follow.

Plan for your return

Good parental leave planning also includes thinking about your return to work. You don’t need all the answers now, but talking about a few ideas can help you transition smoothly.

You might discuss with your manager:

• A check-in meeting before and/or after you return

• If a gradual or flexible schedule is possible

• A few early priorities once you’re back

Final thoughts

Your parental leave plan is a helpful tool for you to sort out who will do what, and how. Planning together with your manager and coworkers can help everyone feel supported, prepared, and connected. With a bit of intentional preparation, you can focus on your growing family while your work stays on track.

You’ve got this! 

Progyny is here for you. Please contact your Progyny Care Advocate for support.  

Disclaimer: The information provided by Progyny is for educational purposes only and is not legal advice. Always consult a qualified attorney for legal guidance. 

The post How to create your parental leave plan appeared first on Progyny.

Here’s how to schedule a telehealth visit with a menopause provider using your Progyny member portal or app.

1. Set up your Progyny account.

You’ll use your Progyny member portal or app to:

• Schedule and manage telehealth visits
• Send questions to your provider
• Request refills
• Message your Progyny Care Advocate

2. Schedule your menopause visit.

We’ve partnered with leading menopause providers to support you with convenient telehealth visits.

How to schedule your telehealth visit

• Sign into your Progyny member portal or app.
• Select Book a telehealth visit.
• You’ll be taken to the menopause provider’s scheduling system.
• After scheduling, you’ll be asked to set up an account with the provider. Use this to log into your telehealth visit.

If you have any questions, call your Progyny Care Advocate at 888- 597-5065. We’re here Monday–Friday, 9 am–9 pm EST (6 am–6 pm PST). You can also send a secure message through your Progyny member portal or app.

The post How to schedule a menopause telehealth visit appeared first on Progyny.

Noticing spotting during pregnancy can feel scary. While it isn’t always a cause for concern, it’s important to understand what spotting can mean and when to reach out for care. 

What is it? 

Spotting during pregnancy refers to a small amount of vaginal bleeding. This is often just a few drops of blood and may be seen when wiping or using the bathroom. It can happen at any point during pregnancy but is most common in the first 12 weeks. 

Spotting is different from heavier bleeding. Bleeding typically involves a steady flow of blood that fills a panty liner or requires a sanitary pad. Bleeding later in pregnancy (during the second or third trimester) may signal a more serious issue and should always be discussed with a healthcare provider. 

If you have any bleeding or spotting at any time during pregnancy and are unsure what it means, contact your provider for guidance. 

What causes it? 

Spotting can happen for many reasons, depending on the stage of pregnancy. Common causes include: 

• Implantation bleeding, when a fertilized egg attaches to the uterus early in pregnancy 

• Increased blood flow to the cervix, which can make it more sensitive, causing spotting and sometimes bleeding after intercourse 

• Infection of the cervix or vagina, such as yeast infections, bacterial vaginosis, or sexually transmitted infections 

• Ectopic pregnancy, when a pregnancy implants outside the uterus (most often in a fallopian tube) 

• Early pregnancy loss (miscarriage), most commonly in the first 13 weeks 

• Labor, preterm labor, or rupture of membranes (breaking your water) 

• Placental conditions, such as placenta previa, placenta accreta, or placental abruption 

Rh-negative blood type 
If you are Rh-D negative and experience spotting or bleeding at any stage of pregnancy, ask your provider whether you need a Rho(D) immune globulin injection (RhoGAM). This medicine helps prevent Rh incompatibility, which can lead to complications in current or future pregnancies if left untreated. 

What about discharge during pregnancy? 

Vaginal discharge is common during pregnancy and often increases as hormone levels change. In most cases, this is a normal part of how your body helps protect your pregnancy. 

What’s typical 

Typical pregnancy discharge is usually: 

• Clear, white, or pale yellow 

• Thin or slippery 

• Odorless 

• Not itchy, burning, or irritating 

You may notice more discharge than usual, and that’s expected. 

When discharge may be a concern 

Contact your healthcare provider if discharge is: 

• Green, dark yellow, or another unusual color 

• Thick and clumpy (like cottage cheese) 

• Foul-smelling 

• Accompanied by itching, burning, or irritation 

These symptoms can be signs of infections that are common and can be safely treated during pregnancy. 

Pink discharge or spotting 

Discharge that looks pink or lightly tinged with blood can sometimes be typical, including: 

• Early in pregnancy 

• After sex or a pelvic exam 

• Late in pregnancy (37 weeks or later), when passing the mucus plug 

Bleeding that becomes heavier or looks like a period is not typical during pregnancy and should be evaluated right away. 

What can you do about it? 

The timing of spotting or discharge, along with details like the color, amount, and consistency, can help your provider determine what’s going on and what care you may need. 

If you are concerned and unsure what to do, reach out to your care team for guidance. For heavy bleeding or severe pain, seek immediate care. 

Progyny is here for you, too. Please contact your Progyny Care Advocate for support. 

Disclaimer: The information provided by Progyny is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for medical guidance. 

The post Spotting and discharge during pregnancy appeared first on Progyny.

NEW YORK, March 11, 2026  — Progyny, Inc. (Nasdaq: PGNY), a global leader in women’s health and family building solutions, announced today that Chief Medical Officer Janet Choi, MD, will present new fertility research during the first annual Health and Human Services (HHS) National Conference on Women’s Health,  March 11-13, 2026, in Washington, DC. The event will bring together leaders across the industry to explore breakthroughs in research, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of health conditions that affect women across the lifespan.

Progyny’s participation in the conference represents the company’s role in contributing to and helping shape the national conversation on advancing women’s health. As a recognized leader in fertility, family building, and women’s health benefits, Progyny has spent the past decade partnering with employers, health plans, and clinical leaders to elevate the standard of care, improve outcomes for women and families, and advance innovation. The company has one of the largest data sets on fertility in the U.S., providing a unique ability to gather insights that can improve health outcomes.

The fertility research being presented, co-authored by Alan Copperman, MD, Managing Director and CEO of RMA of New York, assessed how integrated education and clinician-guided decision-making influence treatment selection, timing, clinical outcomes, and cost of care. Key findings include:

• Early cycle awareness can support informed decision-making: Nearly half of women who received early cycle-aware education did not  pursue fertility treatment.

• Personalized fertility care can help patients reach pregnancy more efficiently, limiting the emotional and physical toll: In this member population – where benefit design did not mandate step-protocol requirements – time to achieve a successful pregnancy in days was up to 42% shorter.
• Age remains an important factor in fertility treatment success: In this analysis, only approximately 8% of IUI (intrauterine insemination) cycles were successful among patients over age 35, reinforcing the importance of timely evaluation and individualized care planning.
• Individualized treatment decisions may help optimize birth outcomes and cost: Treatment pathways should consider the risk of multiples which can increase the likelihood of neonatal intensive care needs and associated costs.

“Fertility care is highly personal and time-sensitive, and treatment decisions should reflect each patient’s clinical circumstances. These findings underscore the value of personalized, clinician-guided care in helping patients make informed decisions about their family building journey,” said Janet Choi, MD, Chief Medical Officer, Progyny. “The selection of Progyny’s fertility research for presentation at this national forum highlights the relevance of evaluating how fertility care pathways affect patient experience and outcomes.”

To learn more about Progyny’s fertility research, please visit:  progyny.com/superior-outcomes.

About Progyny 

Progyny (Nasdaq: PGNY) is a global leader in women’s health and family building solutions, trusted by the nation’s leading employers, health plans and benefit purchasers. We envision a world where everyone can realize their dreams of family and ideal health. Our outcomes prove that comprehensive, inclusive, and intentionally designed solutions simultaneously benefit employers, patients, and physicians. 

Our benefits solution empowers patients with concierge support, coaching, education, and digital tools; provides access to a premier network of fertility and women’s health specialists who use the latest science and technologies; drives optimal clinical outcomes; and reduces healthcare costs. 

Headquartered in New York City, Progyny has been recognized for its leadership and growth as a TIME100 Most Influential Company, CNBC Disruptor 50, Modern Healthcare’s Best Places to Work in Healthcare, Forbes’ Best Employers, Financial Times Fastest Growing Companies, Inc. 5000, Inc. Power Partners, and Crain’s Fast 50 for NYC. For more information, visit www.progyny.com. 

For Further Information, Please Contact: 

Media: 
Alexis Ford 
media@progyny.com 

Investors: 
James Hart 
investors@progyny.com 

The post Progyny to Participate in Inaugural HHS Women’s Health Conference appeared first on Progyny.

Endometriosis is one of the most common and most misunderstood conditions affecting people with a uterus. Despite impacting millions, it often goes undiagnosed for years, leaving many to navigate chronic pain, confusing symptoms, or fertility challenges without clear answers. In today’s episode, we’re going to walk you through what endometriosis is, why it’s so difficult to identify, and the different ways it can influence reproductive health.

Hosts:
Dr. Janet Choi, Chief Medical Officer, Progyny
Lissa Kline, LCSW, SVP, Experience

This show does not constitute medical advice.

Progyny Resources:

• Progyny: What is endometriosis?
• WHO: Endometriosis
• PubMed: Global, regional, and national burdens of endometriosis from 1990 to 2021: a trend analysis

The DocTalk series, where we discuss current events on the full spectrum of women’s health and family building and what they might mean for you. From news, research studies, pop culture, and everything in-between, we’re going to break it all down and sift through the noise with the help of our expert Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Janet Choi and host, Lissa Kline, LCSW.

The post What to know about endometriosis appeared first on Progyny.

When you’re expecting, there are many decisions to make. One important choice is to select a pediatrician. This medical doctor will guide your child’s healthcare from infancy through adolescence. 

A pediatrician specializes in the health and well-being of infants, children, and adolescents. They play a key role in preventing, detecting, and managing physical, behavioral, and developmental concerns. Pediatricians also support families with guidance on growth, nutrition, safety, and immunizations. 

Pediatricians vs. family practice doctors 

Both groups can provide primary care for children. The difference is in their training and focus. 

Board-certified pediatricians complete three years of residency training focused exclusively on children’s health. They then pass a certification exam covering care from birth through young adulthood. 

Board-certified family medicine doctors also complete three years of residency training, but their education spans care for people of all ages — from newborns to older adults. They pass a certification exam that covers care for every age. 

If you are deciding between the two, think about whether you prefer a doctor who focuses only on children or one who cares for multiple members of your family. 

During the first year of life, babies typically have at least 7 well-child visits. From ages 1 to 3, they are seen several more times for routine checkups, followed by annual visits throughout childhood and adolescence. Having a doctor you trust is especially important during these frequent early appointments. 

How to choose a pediatrician 

Pediatric practices are designed specifically for children and their families. From office environments to clinical expertise, their focus is on supporting healthy growth and development. 

It’s natural to want to find the right fit for your child. Here are some tips to help guide your decision. 

Ask people you trust 

Start with recommendations from friends, family, or coworkers whose opinions you value. If you’re pregnant, your OB/GYN or midwife may also share recommendations based on their experience and local knowledge. 

Review practice information 

Look at pediatricians’ websites or health system profiles to gather basic details, such as: 

• Medical background and training 

• Years in practice 

• Office hours and location 

• Languages spoken 

• Hospital affiliations 

• Accepted insurance plans 

This information can help you narrow your options. 

Schedule a meet-and-greet  

Many pediatricians offer virtual or in-person introductory visits. Consider meeting with 2 or 3 doctors to compare your options. 

You may want to ask about: 

• Office accessibility and parking 

• After-hours and urgent care coverage 

• Other doctors in the practice 

• Communication style and responsiveness 

• Approach to topics important to your family 

• Experience with any specific health needs your child may have 

Pay attention to how the doctor answers your questions. Do you feel heard? Are your concerns taken seriously? 

Choosing a pediatrician is a personal decision. The right choice for your family is the doctor who makes you feel informed, respected, and confident in your child’s care. 

Need some help? Progyny is here for you. Please contact your Progyny Care Advocate for support.  

Disclaimer: The information provided by Progyny is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for medical guidance. 

The post What to consider when choosing a pediatrician appeared first on Progyny.

Family building benefits have become table stakes. But for mid-sized employers, they’re also becoming a major source of complexity and risk, as benefit leaders are being asked to deliver enterprise-level benefits without enterprise-level resources.

If this isn’t difficult enough, today’s employee base is more informed and opinionated than ever about their health and wellness needs. I’ve spoken to candidates and former colleagues, for example, who won’t even consider joining an organization that does not adequately support family building.

Meeting the needs of employees while ensuring benefit programs do not break the bank has led many organizations to add a patchwork of point solutions, each of which comes with their own set of promises. Unfortunately, these additions also create unintended complexity, like:

• Operational strain, as HR teams juggle multiple vendors and solutions;
• Limited visibility into what’s actually driving healthcare spend;
• Inconsistent employee experiences, forcing individuals to navigate complicated, high‑stakes decisions on their own.

And when the data from various solutions doesn’t talk to one another, it becomes just about impossible to:

• Evaluate quality;
• Identify opportunities for early intervention;
• Predict and manage future costs.

Fragmentation doesn’t only create administrative burden for under‑sized HR teams; it also increases financial risk, limits cost predictability, and leaves employees searching for the right level of care during some of the most emotional and complicated moments in their lives—when clarity and support matter most.

Most mid-sized employers with whom I speak recognize these issues, but unraveling the status quo and finding something better is not necessarily simple. This is where an integrated approach makes a meaningful difference. By bringing women’s health, family building, and high‑risk maternity together, Progyny can help mid-sized employers reduce complexity and program spend while delivering a more seamless experience for employees.

Want a deeper look?

Dive deeper here and download The case for an integrated model explainer for a clear breakdown of today’s challenges and a framework for simplifying family building and women’s health benefits.

The post The growing complexity of women’s health and family building benefits for mid-sized employers appeared first on Progyny.

Here’s how to schedule a virtual visit with a menopause provider using your Progyny member portal or app.

1. Set up your Progyny account.

You’ll use your Progyny member portal or app to:

• Schedule and manage virtual visits
• Send questions to your provider
• Request refills
• Message your Progyny Care Advocate

2. Schedule your virtual menopause visit.

We’ve partnered with leading menopause providers to support you with convenient virtual visits.

How to schedule your virtual visit

• Sign into your Progyny member portal or app.
• Select Book or modify an appointment.
• You’ll be taken to the menopause provider’s scheduling system.
• After scheduling, you’ll be asked to set up an account with the provider. Use this to log into your virtual visit.

If you have any questions, call your Progyny Care Advocate at 888- 597-5065. We’re here Monday–Friday, 9 am–9 pm EST (6 am–6 pm PST). You can also send a secure message through your Progyny member portal or app.

The post How to schedule your virtual menopause visit appeared first on Progyny.

The third trimester begins at 28 weeks. This is the final stage of pregnancy, and your baby will grow quickly in the weeks ahead! 

As your due date gets closer, you may feel excited, nervous, overwhelmed, or very tired. Many people experience several emotions at once. 

What to expect physically 

During the third trimester, your baby gains weight rapidly, often about half a pound per week. As your baby grows, your body works harder to support that growth. You may notice: 

• Increased fatigue 

• Back, hip, or pelvic pain 

• Heartburn or indigestion 

• Swelling in your feet and ankles 

• Shortness of breath 

• Trouble sleeping 

Some health conditions are more likely during this stage. One is preeclampsia, a condition that causes high blood pressure during pregnancy and can affect your organs. It can develop quickly, so contact your healthcare provider right away if you experience: 

• A severe or ongoing headache 

• Vision changes, such as blurriness, seeing spots, or seeing flashes of light 

• Chest pain 

• Trouble breathing 

• Pain in the upper right side of your abdomen 

• A sudden feeling that something isn’t right 

You may also begin to feel Braxton Hicks contractions, sometimes called practice contractions. These are usually mild and irregular. If contractions become regular, more intense, or painful, it could be a sign of labor. Call your provider if you notice: 

• Regular or painful contractions 

• Vaginal bleeding 

• Fluid leaking from your vagina 

Monitoring your baby’s movements 

Your baby’s movements may feel stronger and more noticeable during the third trimester. As your baby grows and space becomes tighter, the type or intensity of movement may change, but you should still feel regular movement each day. 

If you notice that your baby is moving less than usual, contact your provider. Trust your instincts. If something feels different, it is always okay to check in. 

What to expect emotionally 

It’s normal to feel anxious about labor, caring for a newborn, or how your family may change. Prenatal screenings can also cause stress. These tests check for gestational diabetes, anemia, high blood pressure, and Group B strep (a common type of bacteria some people carry). 

Mood changes are common. However, if you feel persistently sad, anxious, hopeless, or overwhelmed, talk with your provider. 

About 1 in 5 people experience depression or anxiety during pregnancy or after birth. Support and treatment are available. Reaching out is an important step for you and your baby. 

Prenatal care 

Prenatal care visits typically happen every 3 to 4 weeks, and then every 1 to 2 weeks during the last month. During these visits, you can expect: 

• Blood pressure checks to screen for high blood pressure disorders, including preeclampsia 

• Testing for gestational diabetes and anemia 

• A Tdap vaccine around 28 weeks to help your body make antibodies that protect your newborn from pertussis and tetanus 

• Rhogam around 28 weeks if you are Rh-negative 

• Group B strep testing at 35 to 36 weeks to determine if antibiotics are needed during labor 

• Checking if the baby’s head is down for a vaginal delivery, which can help guide planning for birth  

Preparing for labor 

As your due date approaches, your provider will review the signs of labor and when to call or go to the hospital. You may also discuss your birth preferences and what to expect during delivery. 

In the final weeks, you may notice more pelvic pressure, more frequent contractions, or changes in vaginal discharge. These can be signs that your body is preparing for labor. 

Keep attending your prenatal appointments and ask questions about anything that feels unclear or concerning. Your care team will guide you as your baby’s arrival gets closer. 

Progyny is here for you. Please contact your Progyny Care Advocate for support. 

Disclaimer: The information provided by Progyny is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for medical guidance. 

The post What to expect during the third trimester appeared first on Progyny.

As your due date approaches, you may wonder how you will know when labor begins. While labor looks different for everyone, there are common signs that your body is preparing for delivery. 

If you’re ever unsure that you are in labor, call your healthcare provider. They can help you decide what to do next. 

Signs of early labor 

Contractions 

Contractions are one of the most common signs of labor. In early labor, they may feel like mild cramping, tightening in your abdomen, or lower back discomfort. They are often irregular at first. 

As labor progresses, contractions become: 

• Regular 

• Stronger 

• Longer 

• Closer together 

Many providers suggest coming to the hospital when contractions are about five minutes apart, last one minute each, and continue for at least one hour. This is sometimes called the “5-1-1 rule.” Your provider may give you different instructions based on your pregnancy. 

True labor contractions are different from Braxton Hicks contractions, which can happen for weeks before labor. Braxton Hicks contractions are usually irregular and may improve with rest, hydration, or a change in position. True labor contractions become stronger over time and do not go away. 

Pelvic pressure 

A sensation of heaviness or pressure in the pelvis is a common early labor sign. As the baby’s head descends into the pelvis, many people will feel increased pelvic pressure that becomes more intense with contractions. 

Your water breaks 

Your baby is surrounded by amniotic fluid inside a thin protective sac called the amniotic sac. When the sac breaks, fluid is released through the vagina. This may feel like a sudden gush or a steady trickle. 

If your water breaks: 

• Contact your healthcare provider right away. 

• Note the color of the fluid. Clear or pale fluid is typical. Green or brown fluid should be reported immediately. 

• Let your provider know if you develop a fever or notice a strong odor. 

Your provider will tell you whether or not to come in for evaluation. 

Bloody show 

Bloody show is a small amount of pink, brown, or blood-tinged mucus. It can happen as the cervix softens and begins to open. You may also notice the release of the mucus plug. 

Light spotting near the end of pregnancy can be normal. Heavy bleeding similar to a menstrual period is not normal. Call your provider right away or seek emergency medical care if this happens. 

When to seek medical care 

Call your provider if you think you are in labor. They may ask about your contraction pattern, whether your water has broken, and any bleeding or other symptoms. Based on what you describe, they will tell you whether to stay home or come in. 

Seek immediate medical care if you experience: 

• Heavy vaginal bleeding 

• Severe abdominal pain 

• Severe headache 

• Vision changes 

• Sudden swelling of your face or hands 

• Upper abdominal pain 

• Shortness of breath 

• Decreased baby movement 

• Contractions before 37 weeks of pregnancy 

These symptoms may be signs of preterm labor or preeclampsia, a serious pregnancy condition involving high blood pressure. 

A final note 

Labor does not always follow a predictable pattern. Some people have several signs, and others notice only a few. 

If you’re unsure, it is always okay to call your provider. They would rather hear from you and help you decide what to do than have you stay home feeling uncertain. 

Progyny is here for you. If you have any questions, please contact your Progyny Care Advocate for support. 

Disclaimer: The information provided by Progyny is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for medical guidance. 

The post Understanding the most common signs of labor appeared first on Progyny.

You may have heard more people talking about GLP-1 medicines lately. Here’s what they are and what to know.

What is a GLP-1?

Glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) is a hormone your body naturally makes to help lower blood sugar. GLP-1 medicines mimic this hormone and have been used to help lower blood sugar in people with diabetes. Some have been approved to treat obesity as well.

Below is a list of commonly prescribed GLP-1s and their FDA-approved uses:

*Tirzepatide acts on more than one hormone receptor, including the GLP-1 hormone.

When GLP-1s may be considered

GLP-1s were originally developed to help treat type 2 diabetes. Some are also approved to treat obesity in people who meet certain medical criteria:

• Obesity (having a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher)
  OR
• Overweight (having a BMI of 27 or higher) with a weight-related health issue such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, or type 2 diabetes

Research has found some GLP-1s may help reduce the risk of:

• Heart attack, stroke, and death in adults with type 2 diabetes and heart disease
• Chronic kidney disease

In addition, some GLP-1s have been approved to treat moderate to severe sleep apnea in adults with obesity.

How do GLP-1s work?

GLP-1s help manage blood sugar in a few ways. For example, they:

• Help the body make more insulin in response to high blood sugar. (Insulin is a hormone that lowers blood sugar.)
• Help the body regulate how much sugar is made and released.
• Slow digestion, which steadies the amount of sugar released from food into the body after eating.

GLP-1s also work on parts of the brain that process hunger and how full you feel. As a result, GLP-1s have been shown to lower hunger, appetite, and food intake.

What results can I expect?

While GLP-1s can help, they are meant to be used with a healthy eating plan and regular exercise. Together, you and your healthcare provider will determine a treatment plan that works best for you.

Studies show that many people taking a GLP-1 lose about 10% to 15% of their body weight over several months. (For a 200-pound person, that means losing about 20 to 30 pounds.) Some people may lose up to 20%, but results vary based on a number of factors.

GLP-1s are not a magic bullet for weight loss and blood sugar management, and some people may regain weight after they stop taking GLP-1s. Building healthy habits around eating, physical activity, and stress management can help keep your progress going.

Nutrition

Because GLP-1s can change appetite and eating patterns, working with a registered dietitian or healthcare provider can help ensure you are getting enough nutrients, maintaining stable energy levels, and building habits that support long-term health.

These habits become especially important when the medicine is paused, tapered, or stopped, since hunger cues and appetite may change.

How long do people take GLP-1s?

People use GLP-1s for different lengths of time.

• Some people with type 2 diabetes may use them long-term to help manage blood sugar.
• For others, the length of treatment can depend on factors like how well the medicine works, side effects, cost, and personal health goals.

The dose may need to be adjusted during treatment, and some may pause or slowly taper off the medicine at different points. Your healthcare provider will guide you through any dose changes or help you taper off the medicine.

Side effects and considerations

Some of the commonly reported side effects of GLP-1s may include:

• Nausea
• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Stomach pain

If symptoms are severe or don’t go away, talk to your healthcare provider.

GLP-1 medications may not be right for everyone. As with any medicine, GLP-1s come with potential risks. A healthcare provider can help assess whether these medicines are right for you based on your health history, current conditions, and overall treatment goals.

It is important to note: GLP-1s are not recommended during pregnancy. If you’re planning to conceive, discuss timing with your healthcare provider.

GLP-1s and insurance coverage

Coverage for GLP-1s varies widely across health plans. These medicines can be expensive (sometimes over $1,000 a month). Often, they’re only covered if they are prescribed for an FDA-approved use, such as type 2 diabetes or obesity that meets certain criteria.

To understand what your plan includes, you can:

• Review your insurance formulary (the list of covered medicines)
• Call your health plan to ask about coverage requirements, prior authorizations, or eligibility criteria

Be sure to ask your healthcare provider and pharmacist any questions you have. Your Progyny Care Advocate is also available to help you prepare for conversations with your healthcare team.

Disclaimer: The information provided by Progyny is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for medical guidance.

The post GLP-1s: What they are and how they work appeared first on Progyny.

This guide explains IUI vs IVF, how each treatment works, and which fertility treatment may be right for you.

What is Intrauterine Insemination (IUI)

Intrauterine insemination, sometimes called artificial insemination, bypasses the natural path of the sperm to the egg and places prewashed sperm directly into the uterus, where they have a better chance of meeting the egg.

What is Invitro Fertilization (IVF)

In-vitro fertilization (IVF) goes multiple steps further than IUI. Rather than getting the sperm in place and hoping for natural fertilization and conception, IVF intentionally fertilizes eggs to create embryos in the lab. Once the eggs are fertilized, we sync the timing of the embryo transfer with nature’s conception rhythm and transfer fertilized eggs into the uterus.

This procedure is more involved than IUI. While IVF is typically considered “the last step” on the fertility treatment journey, that’s not the case for everyone. Some infertility diagnoses require going straight to IVF rather than wasting time and money on IUI or other treatment options.

4 Differences Between IUI and IVF

Here are five main differences between IUI and IVF.

1. IUI is less invasive

There is no doubt that IUI is less invasive than IVF. As a result, there are fewer appointments required overall. Depending on the reasons you’re pursuing IUI, you may or may not choose to use oral fertility medications. If you do, the oral medicines you take are less intense than injectable fertility medications, which have more notable side effects.

With IVF, on the other hand, injectable medications mean the release of  more eggs. We monitor you closely to watch for the eggs’ maturation, and have you return for us to retrieve the eggs. Once your embryos are successfully conceived in the lab, you return for their transfer – after which you wait for two weeks before coming in for your pregnancy test.

2. Fertility Medications Used

Oral fertility medications. Oral medications (typically Clomid) are specifically prescribed to help women get pregnant at home or via IUI. They are designed to release no more than two eggs per cycle to increase the chances of conception while reducing the number of multiples conceived. In some cases, a woman may release three eggs, but more than that is rare if you are working with an experienced fertility specialist who cares about your wellbeing and the wellbeing of your yet-to-be-conceived babies.

Injectable fertility medications. When you pursue IVF, the goal is to retrieve more eggs at one time to optimize the number of healthy embryos fertilized in the lab. This requires stronger fertility medications, gonadotropins, administered via injection. This process of stimulating between 10 and 20 eggs and may have more intense side effects.

3. The cost of IUI and IVF in Kansas City

There is a notable difference in costs between IUI and IVF.

• The average cost of a single cycle of IUI in the U.S. is anywhere from $400 to $4000. Costs depend on the treatment needed and medication costs.
• The average cost of a single IVF cycle is about $15,000 with additional costs for genetic testing or advanced lab services.

RRC can help you understand insurance coverage, financing options and treatment options.

4. The reasons for the treatment

You must choose a fertility specialist you can trust and who has your best interest, not profits, at heart. This is the best way to ensure you’re getting the personalized fertility support you need.

Common Reasons to Choose IUI:

• Couples under 35 with unexplained infertility
• Mild male factor infertility
• Healthy women seeking to get pregnant using a sperm donor

Common Reasons to Choose IVF:

• Low ovarian reserve
• Women over 40
• Blocked fallopian tubes
• Severe endometriosis
• Severe male infertility factor
• Individuals or couples opting to use donor eggs or donor embryos

Again, your fertility specialist will go over your specific infertility factors and create a fertility treatment plan that is the most timely and affordable way to meet your family-building goals.

Are you interested in learning more about whether IUI or IVF makes the most sense for you? Schedule a consultation with the Reproductive Resource Center.

The post What is the Difference Between IUI and IVF? appeared first on Reproductive Resource Center Kansas City IVF.

The U.S. maternal mortality rate has doubled over the past two decades and the United States continues to have the highest rate of maternal deaths among high-income countries. For Black women, the disparities are even more alarming. The “Why” behind this goes deeper than mortality headlines.

In this episode of DocTalk, Dr. Bilikis Oladimeji, SVP of Clinical Programs and Physician-Informaticist, joins us to examine the systems shaping maternal outcomes before, during, and after pregnancy.

Guest:
Dr. Bilikis Oladimeji, SVP Clinical Programs, Progyny

Hosts:
Dr. Janet Choi, Chief Medical Officer, Progyny
Lissa Kline, LCSW, SVP, Provider and Member Services, Progyny

This show does not constitute medical advice.

The DocTalk series, where we discuss current events on the full spectrum of women’s health and family building and what they might mean for you. From news, research studies, pop culture, and everything in-between, we’re going to break it all down and sift through the noise with the help of our expert Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Janet Choi and host, Lissa Kline, LCSW.

The post Understanding the U.S. Maternal Health Crisis appeared first on Progyny.

It can be tricky to know which health screenings you’re due for and how often to have them. Fortunately, there’s an easy way to stay on track.

Have a yearly in-person exam with your primary care provider. During that visit, your provider will give you personalized recommendations and answer any questions you have.

To help guide that conversation, here are screening recommendations for people with average risk during the perimenopause and menopause years. Depending on your personal and family medical history, or if you’re pregnant, your recommendations may be different.

If this feels like a lot, don’t worry — your provider will walk you through it!

Exams and screenings at-a-glance

Wrapping up

We know this is a lot of information, but it’s great you’re focused on prevention.

Reach out to your Progyny Care Advocate if you’d like help understanding anything. We can answer questions and help you prepare a list of questions for your primary care provider.

Disclaimer: The information provided by Progyny is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for medical guidance.

References: These screening guidelines are from the US Preventive Service Taskforce (USPSTF), an independent group of medical experts that provide evidence-based recommendations, and the American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists (ACOG), which provides guidelines for women’s health.

The post What health screenings do I need in my 40s and beyond? appeared first on Progyny.

Your first consultation with a fertility specialist is a big step in your fertility journey. You’ll share your family-building goals, medical history, and may even begin testing or planning for what may come next.

Thinking about this appointment and wondering what lies ahead may bring up a range of emotions. But you’ve got this. Learning what to expect and taking a few steps to prepare will help you feel more confident and get the most out of your visit.

In addition to the general guidance we’ll share here, it’s a great idea to call your clinic and ask if they have other specific actions you can take to get ready. Some clinics may request that you submit your medical history, consent forms, and insurance information ahead of time.

You’ll share your goals and medical history.

This consultation is a chance for your doctor to get to know you: your goals, medical history, and any questions and concerns you have.

Prepare your questions and be ready to take notes.

It’s a great idea to prepare a list of questions ahead of time. It’s OK to have your list out during your visit and go through your questions together.

You may wish to ask in detail about:

• The plan for diagnostic testing
• Comparing different treatment options
• Possible timelines and success rates for people like you
• Genetic testing considerations
• Lifestyle suggestions for nutrition, activity, and more
• Other services and support offered at the clinic
• Who to contact (regarding medication, health questions, next steps)
• Scheduling or logistics questions

Many people find their doctor shares a lot of information during the first visit. It often helps to bring a notebook and take notes. If you can, ask a partner or friend to come along and take notes while you listen and ask questions.

You can also ask for written instructions from your care team.

Know what may happen during your appointment.

Call ahead of time to ask your team what to expect. Based on your clinic and your own situation, your first visit may look different from a friend’s or what you’ve read online.

In addition to reviewing your medical history, your first visit may include:

• Physical check-up (blood pressure, height, weight)
• Vaginal ultrasound (you may need to partially undress)
• Blood tests (or this may be done later)
• Semen analysis (or this may be done later)
• Filling out forms and paperwork

Practice self-care and take care of you.

For some people, the upcoming visit and fertility journey becomes such a big focus that they forget to prioritize their own well-being. You deserve to care for yourself. It can feel good to build in time each day to relax and do something you enjoy. Consider using a journal, joining a support group, or confiding with a friend about what you’re going through. See our tips for self-care and emotional coping.

Your Progyny Care Advocate is also at your side. Reach out for help getting ready for your visit, personalized resources, and a listening ear when you need it.

Disclaimer: The information provided by Progyny is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for medical guidance.

The post Getting ready for your first consultation with a fertility specialist appeared first on Progyny.

Your first visit with a virtual menopause provider will take about 20 to 30 minutes. These tips will help you prepare and make the most of your appointment. Feel free to print this out or simply use it as a guide to get ready on your own.

Be ready to talk about your symptoms.

Your menopause visit is a safe space. You can feel comfortable talking about anything.

To get ready, prepare notes about your symptoms — and try not to minimize how you’re feeling or assume it’s just part of getting older. Many treatments are available to help you feel better, and this visit allows you to start exploring your options.

Make a list of your medicines.

Write down everything you take, how much (the dose), and how often. Be sure to include:

• Prescription medicine
• Over-the-counter medicine
• Vitamins, herbs, supplements

Gather your medical history.

You’ll be asked about your lifestyle and personal medical history, including physical and mental health. Your provider will want to know about your family history as well. Do you have a family history of weak bones, heart disease, or cancer?

Also gather your recent test results, including:

• Screenings you’ve had (which may include a mammogram, cervical cancer screening, colorectal cancer screening, or bone density scan)
• Lab work or other tests

Write down your questions.

It can be easy to forget what you wanted to ask about, so it’s a great idea to write down your questions.

If you have follow-up questions after your visit, give your Progyny Care Advocate a call. We’re here for you!

Disclaimer: The information provided by Progyny is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for medical guidance.

The post Getting ready for your first menopause visit appeared first on Progyny.

Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1s) are a type of medicine first developed to help people with type 2 diabetes manage their blood sugar, although they have become well-known for helping people lose weight.

Recently, there have been reports of pregnancies among people who lost weight while taking these medicines, even when pregnancy wasn’t expected. (You might have heard this called “Ozempic babies” in the news.) These stories have raised questions, but research in this area is still developing.

Let’s walk through how weight may affect fertility, what’s known about GLP-1s, and some important considerations if you’re taking GLP-1s or discussing them with your healthcare provider.

How is weight linked to fertility?

Weight can affect reproductive health in several ways.

• Having a higher body weight (a BMI of 30 or above) has been linked with changes in hormones, irregular periods, and lower egg quality.
• Low body weight can influence fertility by affecting ovulation.

Extra weight can also raise the risk of certain health conditions, like type 2 diabetes and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Both of these conditions have been shown to affect the ability to get pregnant.

During pregnancy, being overweight can also raise the risk of pregnancy complications, problems with delivery, and pregnancy loss.

In people producing sperm, some studies suggest that higher BMI or diabetes may lower sperm count and movement, which can affect the ability to fertilize an egg.

GLP-1s and fertility: what does the research say?

It’s important to point out that GLP-1s are not approved for fertility treatment.

There has been research suggesting GLP-1s may support fertility by helping address factors that affect reproductive health. These may include:

• Help with weight management
• Help manage blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes

Some doctors are also using GLP-1s off-label to help manage symptoms of PCOS. There is growing interest in whether GLP-1s may play a role in ovulation, but more research is needed.

It’s good to know that some data has shown that GLP-1s can affect how birth control pills work. This research is still developing. If you take birth control pills and have questions, your doctor can help you review the information and choose what’s right for you.

Caution: do not take when pregnant

More research on the safety of GLP-1s during pregnancy is needed, but at this time GLP-1s are not recommended during pregnancy.

Talk with your healthcare team about your pregnancy goals. Your doctor may suggest that it’s helpful to delay pregnancy while you try to lose weight and achieve the health benefits of weight loss. You may do this using a healthy eating plan, physical activity, and possibly GLP-1s.

It’s often recommended to stop GLP-1s in the months before pregnancy, but your doctor will tell you what’s recommended for you. If you become pregnant while taking GLP-1s, your doctor will likely stop the medicine and you can talk about steps you can take to have your healthiest pregnancy.

Will I gain the weight back?

Some people may regain weight after they stop taking GLP-1s. Having healthy habits in place can help during the transition off medicine.

Next steps

GLP-1 medications may not be right for everyone. As with any medicine, GLP-1s come with potential risks. A healthcare provider can help assess whether these medicines are right for you based on your health history, current conditions, and overall treatment goals.

Talk with your doctor to understand what’s best for your health and fertility goals. Your Progyny Care Advocate is also available to provide resources and guidance tailored to your needs.

Disclaimer: The information provided by Progyny is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for medical guidance.

The post Can GLP-1s help fertility? appeared first on Progyny.

For most of us, the beginning of a new year is a time of both reflection and renewal. It’s a moment to take stock — as individuals, companies, and industries — of how far we’ve come, what we’ve learned and achieved, and to set new intentions for the year ahead.

In that spirit, I’d like to start this year with a call to action for all of us across the fertility and family-building ecosystem: to do better for those affected by infertility who want nothing more than the chance to build a healthy family.

Doing better means optimizing and personalizing the care journey for every individual and every family. Infertility is not a single pathway or a uniform experience. Each journey carries its own emotional, physical, and financial weight — and the care we deliver should reflect that reality. To truly personalize care, every clinical decision must be grounded in evidence, supported by data, and informed by outcomes we can trust.

But like all resolutions, following through requires more than good intentions. It requires rigorous data collection, transparent reporting, and shared benchmarks. It requires consistent clinical standards — and industry-wide accountability to those standards.

Last year, we published our annual, third-party-validated fertility outcomes report, continuing a decade-long commitment to openly sharing how our solutions perform for our members and employers. Once again, the data showed that Progyny significantly exceeds national benchmarks across key clinical measures of fertility success. But beyond the results themselves, there was a deeper message — one that feels especially salient as we consider where our industry needs to go next:

Because every outcome matters, how we measure and report those outcomes matters just as much.

For the 1 in 6 individuals affected by infertility, the path to parenthood can be emotionally draining, physically demanding, and financially burdensome. That journey requires an extraordinary level of trust — trust from members that their benefits partner is committed to the highest standards of care and outcomes, and trust from employers that their investment is delivering meaningful, cost-effective impact for their workforce.

Earning that trust depends on rigor and transparency. Yet today, standards for collecting and reporting IVF outcomes still vary widely. Some solutions rely on self-reported or selectively sampled data. Others use timelines or denominators that diverge from those established by CDC and SART, making apples-to-apples comparisons difficult and obscuring what results truly mean at scale.

Some variation in standards is expected in a field that has evolved as rapidly as fertility benefits in recent years. Nevertheless, we can — and must — do better.

If, as an industry, we truly want to personalize fertility care for all, we need shared expectations for outcomes reporting grounded in common standards:

• Count every member to eliminate selection bias. Outcomes reporting should be comprehensive and standardized — not based on self-reported samples. At Progyny, clinics are required to report outcomes for every treatment resulting in a pregnancy attempt. This approach enables complete, network-wide reporting across all members and clinics, representing more than 19,000 IVF transfers.
• Align with CDC and SART timelines. Outcomes can only be compared effectively when they follow consistent timelines for benchmarking. Progyny follows the standard 12-month reporting window used by both CDC and SART — a reasonable standard the industry should embrace.
• Be transparent about scale. When it comes to evaluating outcomes, scale matters. With any key metric, a 50% success rate for 19,000 IVF transfers is orders of magnitude more meaningful than a 50% success rate for 300 IVF transfers. Employers and members should be able to easily interpret and compare results in the context of scale and impact.
  

These standards are far from abstract; they directly affect people’s lives. When Progyny reports 41% fewer retrievals per live birth than the national average (as we reported in 2025), that means significantly less physical burden and emotional strain for members and families — and significantly lower costs for employers across their employee population.

At Progyny, our commitment to clinical excellence and transparency extends across the entire family-building and women’s health journey — from preconception through postpartum, return-to-work, parenting, midlife, and menopause. Personalization, accountability, and outcomes-driven care are not slogans; they are the foundation of how we design benefits, manage our network, and support our members. As a physician and clinical leader, I believe the trust of patients can never be assumed — it is earned through consistency, openness, and demonstrated results over time. Proud as I am of the progress we at Progyny have made to-date, I enter the new year with my Progyny colleagues both humbled and inspired to do better still — because individuals and families deserve nothing less.

The post Raising the bar for transparency and personalization in fertility care appeared first on Progyny.

Learn more about the Progyny experience at each conference, through captivating speaking sessions, interactive booths, and exclusive receptions for Benefit leaders and consultants.  

Our speaking session, “From Episodic to Enduring: Reinventing Women’s Health with AI and Empathy”, will feature insightful discussions with influential benefits leaders from Northside Hospital and CHG Healthcare.    

New York 

• Mark your calendar for our session at 9:50 AM on Tuesday, March 17. 

• Booth # coming soon! 

• Happy Hour RSVP coming soon! 

San Diego 

• Don’t miss our session at 9:50 AM on Thursday, April 16.  

• Book # coming soon! 

• Happy Hour RSVP coming soon! 

Interested in attending Conference Board with a complimentary pass from Progyny? Fill out the form below: 

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If you’re going through egg retrieval, you may be wondering, “How many eggs will they be able to retrieve… and how many do I need for a successful pregnancy?”

The best thing you can do is have an open discussion with your fertility specialist about your personal situation and what factors play a role in your own unique case. With reproductive medicine, there are simply no magic numbers or guarantees.

Understanding attrition in IVF

Because eggs and embryos go through several stages in IVF, it’s expected that the number at the end will be lower than it was at the start. This is called attrition. You can think of this as a funnel, in which the number of eggs and embryos go down at different points.

1. After retrieval, about 80% of the eggs are mature enough to fertilize.
2. Out of the mature eggs, about 70% successfully fertilize to create embryos.
3. Out of the embryos, about 50% or fewer become blastocysts. A blastocyst is an advanced embryo stage of 100 to 300 cells that forms 5 to 7 days after fertilization, with a good chance of implanting into the uterus. Often, pre-implantation genetic testing (PGT-A) is done to assess the health of the embryo at this stage.
4. Out of the blastocysts, PGT-A testing will identify that some embryos have missing or extra chromosomes, which may affect implantation. As we get older, the chances that embryos will successfully implant go down.

For example, a 2023 study in Human Reproduction found the following rates of embryos with the expected number of chromosomes (called “euploid” embryos):

Attrition example

To help imagine these attrition numbers, suppose 10 eggs were retrieved for a 40-year-old.

In some cases, having more eggs may help increase the chances of pregnancy, but it’s only part of the overall picture. Also keep in mind, not all patients can (or should) have “maximal” ovarian stimulation that aims to result in many eggs, due to health conditions such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

Can I estimate my chances of success?

Your doctor may use your age and results from ovarian reserve testing to predict your chances of a live birth. (Ovarian reserve is the quality and quantity of a person’s eggs, and it’s the main indicator of how many eggs will be retrieved.)

Be sure to have a discussion with your doctor about your personal situation to understand what is optimal for you and what can be done to maximize your likelihood of success.

Here’s what you can do

It’s natural to feel a lot of different emotions and stress when you’re considering or going through egg retrieval. You care deeply about the outcome, and it may seem like aspects of the process are out of your control. That can be really hard.

Please know that personalized support and guidance are available. With that, here’s what you can do right now.

1. Ask your doctor anything. You can feel comfortable bringing up any questions or concerns that are on your mind. Together, you and your care team have the best, most complete information about you.
2. Reach out to your Progyny Care Advocate. We’re here to provide support, suggest personalized resources, and lend an experienced listening ear.
3. Prioritize self-care. Cope with stress in healthy ways that feel right to you, whether it’s reading a good book, talking with a friend, doing deep breathing, or journaling. Carve out time and be good to yourself, just as you would treat a friend.

Disclaimer: The information provided by Progyny is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for medical guidance.

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If you’re considering or scheduled for an egg retrieval, it’s helpful to know what recovery may look like. We’ll go over what to expect and provide tips to support you, both physically and emotionally.

How will I feel?

Everyone experiences recovery differently. Many people start to feel more like themselves within a few days to a week, while others may have mild symptoms that last a little longer.

You may have:

• Bloating, cramping, or belly discomfort. The ovarian stimulation medications may cause your ovaries to swell, leading to bloating and tenderness. After the egg retrieval, hormone changes may also cause fluid to build up in your belly, leading to “water weight” and bloating which can last for a few days.
• Slight nausea or dizziness. Nausea or dizziness may be caused by anesthesia or enlarged ovaries. These symptoms typically improve within a day of the procedure.
• Constipation. Constipation is a common symptom due to anesthesia, higher progesterone levels after the egg retrieval, or changes to eating, drinking, and movement. After the procedure, you should be able to pee normally, however.
• PMS-like symptoms. Hormonal changes during stimulation and recovery may cause mood swings, fatigue, or other symptoms that your period typically causes for you.
• Light bleeding or spotting. Light bleeding or spotting can happen after the procedure and may last for about 5 days.

Many people get their period about 5 to 12 days after the procedure, if they’re not having a fresh embryo transfer. But that timing can vary. Your period may be heavier or cause more cramping than usual. This may be related to a thickened uterine lining after ovarian stimulation, which is shed in the first period after the procedure.

Get ready ahead of time

Taking a few steps ahead of time will help make your recovery a little smoother.

1. Line up support. Clinics often ask that someone drives you home after the procedure since you’ll be receiving anesthesia. And having someone to help during the first day or two can make recovery easier.
2. Plan time off work. Your clinic may recommend that you take off work the day of your procedure. An additional day may be helpful, depending on how you’re feeling.
3. Prepare items for recovery. Your healthcare team may share recommendations based on your specific plan, but having a few items ready ahead of time can make recovery more comfortable:
   • Pain reliever such as acetaminophen (Tylenol®) — ask your team what they recommend
   • Heating pad for discomfort
   • Electrolyte drinks
   • Stool softeners, if recommended by your team
   • Loose, comfortable clothes
   • Sanitary pads
4. Plan something to look forward to. You may want to plan a special treat to look forward to after your procedure (a movie night, a book you’ve been meaning to read, a special meal or dessert — whatever brings comfort for you).

At-home recovery tips

These are general tips to help with recovery. Be sure to follow the specific instructions your clinic provided you.

Eating and drinking

While there aren’t restrictions for what you can eat or drink after an egg retrieval, you might find these approaches helpful as you recover:

• Have light, balanced meals to help ease bloating.
• Get plenty of fiber (fruits, vegetables, and whole grains) to support digestion and help with constipation.
• Hydrate with electrolytes to help fluid balance. After egg retrieval, hormone changes cause fluid to leak from the blood vessels into the belly. Electrolytes help bring this fluid back into the blood vessels, helping with bloating. In fact, your doctor may ask you to avoid plain water for the first day or two. Electrolyte drinks and broths are good options.

Movement and daily activities

Getting up and walking is good for your recovery. You may feel a bit unsteady after the anesthesia on the first day, and having someone nearby for support can be helpful. Plan to skip heavy exercise for about a week.

Your healthcare team will provide guidance on other aspects of your recovery, as well. For example, it’s often recommended to shower instead of taking baths after the procedure, since soaking may raise the risk of infection. Your healthcare team may also mention pelvic rest during recovery, which often includes avoiding things like sex or tampons.

Finally, allow yourself plenty of rest. Rely on your support person and listen to your body.

Signs to look out for

Your healthcare team will let you know when to call if you see any signs of a possible problem.

For example, call if you have signs of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, a rare complication where the ovaries swell in response to excess hormones from stimulation:

• Sudden abdominal swelling
• Rapid weight gain
• Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
• Peeing less than usual
• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath

Also call if you have:

• Heavy bleeding
• Severe pain
• Fever over 101°F (follow the instructions your clinic gave you)

Finally, it’s always OK to call if anything just feels “off.”

Emotional self-care

You may feel a mix of emotions after your egg retrieval. Whatever you feel is valid, and remember that you are not alone.

Practice self-care that feels right for you during this time. Some ideas include:

• Deep breathing
• Journaling
• Taking short walks
• Listening to music

How much you share with others is always up to you. You may find it helps to reach out to someone you trust, whether that’s a partner, family member, or friend. Another option is to seek support from others who have been through a similar journey through organizations such as RESOLVE.

Your Progyny Care Advocate is always here for you as well. Reach out for help getting ready for your procedure, if you have questions as you recover, or if you could use a listening ear.

Disclaimer: The information provided by Progyny is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for medical guidance.

The post Support your recovery after egg retrieval appeared first on Progyny.

If you’re pregnant or trying to conceive, it’s essential to follow a healthy eating plan rich in nutrients. During pregnancy, you have higher nutrient needs for your developing baby, the development of your placenta, and your own health.

While a balanced eating plan provides many of the vitamins and minerals you need, a prenatal vitamin is important to ensure you get enough. For example, you need more folic acid during preconception and pregnancy to help prevent serious birth defects, yet it’s hard to get the recommended amount from food alone.

There are a lot of options available, so let’s talk about choosing the prenatal vitamin that’s right for you

Talk with your doctor

Your healthcare provider may have recommendations for you based on your personal health situation, so be sure to ask about any specific needs you may have.

There may also be brands that your doctor recommends. A trusted brand is important because the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) doesn’t regulate supplements in the same way they regulate medicine.

What should my prenatal vitamin contain?

Here is a high-level overview of the nutrients you need during preconception and pregnancy.

*Standard recommendation during pregnancy, through food and supplements. Your needs may be different, so please check with your doctor.

If your prenatal vitamin does not have the recommended amount of a specific nutrient (such as folic acid), it is NOT recommended to double the dose. This can lead to having too much of other nutrients that can be dangerous in high doses (such as vitamin A).

Nutrient deep dive

Select each nutrient to learn more.

Tips for creating a daily habit

Taking your prenatal vitamin consistently is key. To help make it a daily habit:

• Keep your vitamin where you’ll see it (for example, on your nightstand, near your skincare products, or by your morning tea).
• Set a reminder on your phone or check it off your daily calendar.

If your prenatal vitamin causes side effects, you may be able to make adjustments. For example, if your vitamin causes constipation, be sure to get plenty of fiber, water, and physical activity. Your doctor may recommend a stool softener or a prenatal vitamin without iron to reduce constipation. If those changes don’t help, try another type of prenatal vitamin.

Your doctor and pharmacist can work with you to help you find a solution.

The takeaway

Prenatal vitamins are a supplement to a healthy, balanced eating plan. There isn’t one “best” vitamin out there, just what’s right for you. Talk with your doctor about your nutritional needs, select a trusted brand that works with your digestion, and build a habit you can stick with over time.

You can always reach out to your Progyny Care Advocate for guidance and support.

Disclaimer: The information provided by Progyny is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for medical guidance.

The post What should I look for in a prenatal vitamin? appeared first on Progyny.

Childbirth has been a joyful event for generations. A range of celebratory activities from cultural and religious traditions to baby showers have long supported maternal and child wellbeing. Babies often evoke deep and overwhelming emotions that surprise parents and observers alike.

At Progyny, we built our foundation on helping women and families achieve their dreams of having children through our industry-leading fertility offering. But while society has long romanticized mothers’ swelled bellies and swaddled newborns, the joy is sometimes truncated by the sad reality of poor maternal health outcomes.

Looking at the reality   

As a woman, doctor, and informaticist, I have a strong passion for women’s health, and maternal health is an area I have explored widely since medical school. This interest was fueled by the unfortunate reality that most maternal deaths and complications are preventable. Globally, maternal mortality is “unacceptably high” with 92% of maternal deaths occurring in low- and lower-middle-income countries.

Growing up in Nigeria, I witnessed many cases of maternal deaths, near misses, and complications firsthand. It was surprising to learn after moving here over a decade ago that the U.S. lags many of its counterparts in maternal health outcomes. For example, U.S. Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) is double that of most OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development) countries. It’s critical that we increase awareness of the data and the reality of the situation so that we can then identify solutions for change.

A need for change

At the start of 2026, we were hit with the heart-wrenching news about Dr. Janell Green Smith, CNM, a Black midwife and maternal health expert in South Carolina, who died from childbirth complications, one of the outcomes she had dedicated her career to preventing. Her heartbreaking story is all too common. Reports have shown approximately 22 maternal deaths for every 100,000 live births in the U.S., with the most recent data for Pregnancy-Related Mortality Rate by race-ethnicity showing vast disparities, including 45.0 for non-Hispanic Black women.

Earlier this year I published an article that traces my origins in Nigeria through building a family, detailing stats on maternal mortality and morbidity and disparities. I’ve learned one thing for sure: we must do better! The research and becoming a mother myself have unearthed nuances of systemic successes and failures that I apply every day to do my part in elevating the standard of care, improving experiences, and shifting maternal health metrics in the right direction.

A hard look at morbidity 

Maternal mortality is a pressing issue, but morbidity has significant health consequences. For every pregnancy-related death, there are about 70 cases of severe maternal morbidity. Complex contributing factors, often interconnected, can be delineated as systemic (physician/midwife ratio, reimbursement, maternity deserts, hospital incentives, policies and procedures, bias and discrimination, and SDOH, to name a few), and individual health factors, e.g., poor health prior to conception including chronic diseases like obesity, hypertension, and diabetes, and advancing maternal age. These health factors contribute to common pregnancy-related complications including gestational diabetes, preeclampsia/eclampsia, sepsis, hemorrhage, and preterm birth. Further, cardiovascular disease and mental health diseases are some of the most common pregnancy complications. With a need to improve care of both moms and babies, a stronger preventive and postpartum focus will ensure better outcomes.

Cost considerations for employers

Poor maternal health remains stuck in a vicious cycle with high costs. Care access challenges are prevalent amid high medical expenses and poor outcomes. Even as many U.S. employers provide medical coverage and leave benefits, care continues to lag with costs soaring. For U.S. births, it’s estimated that total maternal morbidity costs were $32.3 billion from conception through the child’s fifth birthday. And while Medicaid on the average finances 41% of U.S. births, the remaining costs fall on patients, charitable organizations, and – primarily – private health insurers, through which employers bear the brunt. A recent survey projects a 9.1% increase in healthcare expenses for 2026, with some employers facing double-digit hikes. Maternity and neonatal costs are the second highest cost driver for employers. Still, the outcomes show insufficient support for mothers.

Advancing and supplementing medical care options

The key to both improving maternal health outcomes and lowering spend is enabling early, connected care through innovative solutions across fertility, maternity, and postpartum with clinical and non-clinical support. Alignment among care providers supports health goals, chronic disease management, care navigation, education, social needs, and continuous provision of evidence-based care. Consistent, integrated care must span from pre-conception through postpartum so providers can proactively identify and manage risks, track results, and optimize health outcomes.

With training and work in health informatics, I also recognize the power of data and technology-enabled innovation to reshape the women’s health journey. Despite promises, disparate one-click health apps or solutions can’t successfully support end-to-end medical needs; they create more fragmentation in care. To improve outcomes, we must harness value at the intersection of research, health, and technology, solving issues relating to data fragmentation, education, and communication via durable, comprehensive solutions that make a lasting impact.

Intentional change for a more joyful future 

Growing families require the collective effort of healthcare providers, policymakers, and employers to close gaps in maternal health globally. Advocacy, technology, and action for health and equity have evidence for impact. Maternal health must be grounded in trusted, expert guidance, personalized for each patient’s needs throughout their entire journey. Through delivery of compassionate, comprehensive, connected care, let’s intentionally restore joy in childbirth experiences.

The post Advancing maternal health: turning awareness into action appeared first on Progyny.

JM Family Enterprises partnered with Progyny to eliminate outdated fertility benefit limits and create a more supported, financially sustainable path to care. By offering a cycle‑based model with nationwide access and dedicated navigation, associates can pursue treatment without the fear of running out of coverage. The organization has expanded this commitment through inclusive women’s health support, including midlife and menopause care that helps associates feel their best. Together, these programs strengthen well-being while enabling smarter, more efficient healthcare spending.

“Progyny had a model that we liked: a national network with access to care for the majority of our associates nationwide [and] care advocates [supporting] the entire journey.”

The post How JM Family Enterprises connect associates to transformative fertility & midlife care appeared first on Progyny.

In the past, many benefits strategies were built primarily for access and retention. Planning for 2027 will require a sharper focus on performance. 

From access to accountability  

Women’s health is multifaceted, spanning reproductive years, family building, maternity, menopause, chronic conditions, and preventive care. Too often, employers address this complexity by layering solutions, which expands access without improving coordination, outcomes, or cost control.

This results in a fragmented ecosystem that increases administrative burden, obscures ROI, and allows risk to accumulate quietly rather than appear as an immediate crisis. 

For 2027, the question is no longer: “What do we offer?” It is: “What does this deliver (clinically, operationally, and financially)?” 

Why performance must be measurable to be defensible

In a budget-constrained environment, benefits decisions must be able to withstand review from finance leaders, consultants, and executive teams. Programs that rely only on engagement metrics or self-reported satisfaction are difficult to justify.

Strong women’s health strategies leave visible signals:

• Clear attribution of cost containment and avoided high-cost claims

• Measurable improvements in clinical outcomes and risk mitigation

• Simplified operational processes

• Accountable and transparent reporting that supports forecasting and long-term planning

These signals distinguish programs that actively manage cost and risk.

Where cost containment and high member value meet

The greatest opportunities for value in women’s health are in areas that influence the severity, duration, and downstream cost of care. Fertility, maternity, and menopause consistently represent outsized financial exposure when left unmanaged or fragmented across vendors.

Solutions that deliver high quality, equitable care across life stages while coordinating navigation, clinical oversight, and reporting are better positioned to reduce quiet inefficiencies that compound over time.

A framework for asking better questions in 2027 planning

To help employers and consultants navigate this shift, Progyny has developed a strategic planning guide that outlines 10 essential questions to ask during benefits planning sessions, along with guidance on what strong answers should include. 

Rather than focusing on features or access alone, the framework is designed to help organizations evaluate: 

• Where the largest cost and risk drivers truly sit 

• How outcomes and ROI are measured and attributed 

• Whether vendor sprawl is diluting performance 

• How care is delivered, coordinated, and supported at scale 

• What signals indicate readiness for sustainable cost control 

This guide supports disciplined, defensible decision-making and will help organizations pressure-test whether their current strategy is built for the realities of 2027.

The strongest benefits strategies are not defined by the number of programs offered. They are defined by how clearly performance, outcomes, and financial impact can be measured, managed, and sustained over time.

As employers prepare for 2027, asking better questions is the first step toward building a women’s health strategy that delivers both measurable ROI and meaningful employee impact. 

Sign up to get the guide

Download Progyny’s guide, Strategic questions for 2027 benefits planning: Driving value amid rising healthcare costs, and use it to support your next planning conversation.

The post What questions should employers ask when planning women’s health benefits for 2027? appeared first on Progyny.

Black History Month is a time to recognize the achievements of Black communities and reflect on areas where disparities still exist. Health and wellness, particularly in fertility, pregnancy, and maternal care, are areas where outcomes and experiences can differ across populations. 

Research shows that gaps in access, diagnosis, and treatment for Black patients persist today and can influence care experiences and outcomes. Understanding these differences helps members make informed choices and prepare for conversations with their care team. 

Access, representation, and outcomes 

In fertility and reproductive health, clear communication and careful follow-up are important for safe, effective care. Research has shown that many Black patients experience delays in diagnosis, differences in treatment, and higher rates of pregnancy-related complications. 

Earlier studies suggested that having a doctor of the same race might improve certain outcomes. More recent research, including a 2024 review, found that these results were largely explained by medical and clinical factors — not by the doctor’s race alone. This means that outcomes depend more on how symptoms are checked, how treatment is explained, and how follow-up care is managed. 

Black doctors remain underrepresented in obstetrics, reproductive medicine, and related specialties. While representation alone does not change outcomes, many patients feel more comfortable and supported with providers who communicate clearly and understand how bias can affect care. Tools that help you find providers with experience in culturally responsive care can support informed choices during fertility treatment, pregnancy, and postpartum care. 

Navigating care and treatment decisions 

Bias, both implicit and structural, can affect how symptoms are interpreted and how treatment decisions are made. This is particularly relevant in fertility and pregnancy care, where treatment plans often evolve over time. 

Understanding your diagnosis, preparing questions, and knowing what to expect from appointments can help support clear communication and ensure your care team has the information they need to provide appropriate treatment. 

Practicing comprehensive health 

Overall health supports every step of your fertility and maternal care journey. Physical activity, nutrition, sleep, and stress management can influence hormone balance, energy, and emotional well-being—all of which may affect fertility, pregnancy, and recovery. 

Focusing on consistent habits over time can help you feel more prepared for appointments, treatment cycles, and the changes your body experiences. For example: 

• Nutrition: Balanced meals can support reproductive health and energy during treatment. 

• Movement: Regular activity can improve circulation, mood, and overall stamina. 

• Sleep: Rest is linked to hormone regulation and emotional resilience. 

• Stress management: Mindfulness, therapy, or support groups can help you cope with uncertainty and decision-making. 

Paying attention to these factors doesn’t replace medical care, but it can complement your treatments and help you stay well physically and emotionally throughout your care journey. 

Resources for reproductive and overall health 

Nutrition and exercise 

• Nutrition, exercise, self-care: when does it matter for your fertility 

• Black women’s health imperative 

• How to improve your sperm health 

Pregnancy and fertility  

• Top 10 tips for a healthy pregnancy 

• Eggs over easy film: advocacy and change for fertility in the Black community   

• Infertility in the black community: understanding your health conditions and finding the right doctor  

• Fertility 101: stress and fertility 

• 3 ways to support your fertility wellness 

• Understanding uterine fibroids and polyps 

Relationships and emotional wellbeing  

• Top tips for finding a therapist 

• Caring for your relationships and yourself during fertility treatment 

• Supporting your partner during a fertility journey 

These resources are designed to help you stay informed and supported as you manage both the physical and emotional aspects of your care. Using them alongside guidance from your medical team can help you feel more prepared, confident, and balanced throughout your journey. 

Additional resources 

Support needs vary. Some people prefer peer groups, counseling, or educational organizations, while others use self-guided resources. The following organizations provide information and support on family building, maternal health, and mental health: 

• Every Mother Counts  

• The Broken Brown Egg  

• National Alliance on Mental Illness: Identity & Cultural Dimensions 

This information is intended to help you understand how care experiences can vary in fertility and maternal health. Decisions about treatment should always be guided by your medical history, clinical guidance, and personal preferences. 

Progyny is here for you, too. Please contact your Progyny Care Advocate for support. 

Disclaimer: The information provided by Progyny is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for medical guidance.   

The post Fertility and maternal health in the Black community appeared first on Progyny.

Years into a difficult fertility journey, James and Krista found hope. Thanks to their Progyny coverage put in place by their health plan with IBEW Local No. 176, and compassionate excellence by their provider at Fertility Centers of Illinois, they found success. Hear how human-led care, personalized to each member, leads to better outcomes and life-changing results.

“I will not stop singing the praises for Progyny as long as I live. That is the reason we were able to have our little one.”

The post How Progyny, IBEW Local No. 176, and Fertility Centers of Illinois helped James and Krista build their family appeared first on Progyny.

What does it really mean to own your fertility? In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Jaime Knopman from CCRM Fertility of New York and author of Own Your Fertility, for a candid conversation about egg freezing, fertility preservation, and grief. Dr. Knopman shares what inspired her to write the book, who it’s for, and why fertility preservation can be one of the first acts of agency in reproductive health. We unpack common misconceptions about egg freezing.

The conversation also turns to a topic often left unspoken: fertility-related grief. Dr. Knopman reflects on how grief shows up when timelines shift and how patients can hold both hope and loss at the same time. This episode is for anyone navigating fertility decisions, questioning timing, or seeking clarity and compassion along the journey. Own Your Fertility is now available on Amazon!

Guest:
Dr. Jaime Knopman, Board-Certified Reproductive Endocrinologist and Director of Fertility Preservation for CCRM Fertility of New York

Hosts:
Dr. Janet Choi, Chief Medical Officer, Progyny
Lissa Kline, LCSW, SVP, Provider and Member Services, Progyny

This show does not constitute medical advice.

The DocTalk series, where we discuss current events on the full spectrum of women’s health and family building and what they might mean for you. From news, research studies, pop culture, and everything in-between, we’re going to break it all down and sift through the noise with the help of our expert Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Janet Choi and host, Lissa Kline, LCSW.

The post Own your fertility: All the facts and feelings with Dr. Knopman appeared first on Progyny.

The differentiator that matters most is outcomes. And outcomes require a partner that can deliver proven, repeatable clinical results at scale.  

Why independent, verified outcomes matter  

Engagement rates or survey results do offer directional insight, but they’re not true outcomes metrics. Benefits and finance leaders need verifiable proof that a program leads to healthier pregnancies, fewer complications, and reduced high-cost claims. 

Progyny is the only solution to independently validate outcomes for its entire Book of Business and all members, without common reporting outcomes such as sample bias, self-reported data, and projections. Milliman’s 2025 report found Progyny outpacing national benchmarks on every key marker of fertility success:  

• 12% higher pregnancy rate per IVF transfer 

• 21% lower miscarriage rate 

• 23% higher live birth rate among embryo transfers 

• 41% fewer retrievals per live birth 

• 22% higher single embryo transfer (SET) rate 

• 61% lower IVF multiples rate 

These outcomes directly influence the cost curve and give consultants and employers transparent results they can apply to budget planning. Higher success rates, fewer multiples, and a shorter time to pregnancy reduce the medical severity and total cost per birth at a time when maternity costs are surging and plan expenses are projected to rise 6–9% in 2026. 

Outcomes over add-ons  

A significant portion of the women’s health market is made up of point solutions, functioning as add-ons, increasing administrative complexity without meaningfully reducing the number or severity of high-risk episodes. 

Progyny takes the opposite approach. Its model is the only one to manage cost for the entire benefit, with an outcomes-driven benefit design, managed network of top providers, integrated Rx, specialized utilization management (UM), and clinically integrated member support, ensuring that clinical outcomes are what drive value. 

How Progyny’s model manages the total cost of care 

Progyny’s benefit is engineered to function as a cost trend lever, not an incremental benefit. Several components work together to reduce spend across the fertility-to-maternity continuum: 

1. Outcomes-built benefit design reduces treatment intensity and medication costs 

Smart Cycle bundling includes all necessary services and testing for a treatment episode, eliminating the incentive to cut corners or repeat ineffective care. Better outcomes mean: 

• Fewer treatment cycles 

• Fewer medications 

• Lower utilization and reduced waste 

• Earlier healthy pregnancies 

2. Direct contracting, a tightly managed provider network, and UM control pricing and quality 

Progyny maintains the industry’s largest actively managed women’s health network — over 1,100 providers at over 650 locations — with NCQA-accredited credentialing, best-practice standards, and contractual outcome reporting that lowers unit prices and aligns with performance. 

Additionally, Progyny’s UM approach enables adherence to clinical best practice which drives optimal outcomes and cost savings. 

3. Progyny Rx reduces medication waste and lowers unit cost 

Progyny applies unique waste‑management protocols that save employers an incremental 10% by dispensing medications based on real‑time dosing needs rather than bulk prescriptions. This ensures members receive only what’s necessary while minimizing excess medication and reducing overall spend. 

4. Connected Progyny Care Advocate (PCA) coaching mitigates risk early and reduces downstream medical spend 

Dedicated PCAs who are licensed nurses, clinical social workers and other experts with clinical and/or occupational experience and proactively support members, facilitating seamless coordination with in-network providers while delivering concierge-level support and reducing avoidable complications that drive the highest-cost claims. 

5. A single accountable partner improves visibility and vendor efficiency 

Progyny consolidates multiple women’s health needs — from preconception through postpartum and menopause — into one integrated, outcomes-centered model. This strengthens reporting, simplifies administration, and ensures cost control across the entire journey. 

Progyny’s model results in consistent, repeatable outcomes, not variation that inflates cost and complexity. Simplification without compromise is possible when a single accountable partner is responsible for outcomes, cost management, and member experience.  

Progyny isn’t an add-on; it’s an outcomes engine that helps employers control spend where it matters most.  

The post How fertility outcomes reduce high-cost maternity claims —and help employers bend the 2026 trend appeared first on Progyny.

What does it really mean to own your fertility? In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Jaime Knopman from CCRM Fertility of New York and author of Own Your Fertility, for a candid conversation about egg freezing, fertility preservation, and grief. Dr. Knopman shares what inspired her to write the book, who it’s for, and why fertility preservation can be one of the first acts of agency in reproductive health. We unpack common misconceptions about egg freezing.

The conversation also turns to a topic often left unspoken: fertility-related grief. Dr. Knopman reflects on how grief shows up when timelines shift and how patients can hold both hope and loss at the same time. This episode is for anyone navigating fertility decisions, questioning timing, or seeking clarity and compassion along the journey. Own Your Fertility is now available on Amazon!

Guest:
Dr. Jaime Knopman, Board-Certified Reproductive Endocrinologist and Director of Fertility Preservation for CCRM Fertility of New York

Hosts:
Dr. Janet Choi, Chief Medical Officer, Progyny
Lissa Kline, LCSW, SVP, Provider and Member Services, Progyny

This show does not constitute medical advice.

The DocTalk series, where we discuss current events on the full spectrum of women’s health and family building and what they might mean for you. From news, research studies, pop culture, and everything in-between, we’re going to break it all down and sift through the noise with the help of our expert Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Janet Choi and host, Lissa Kline, LCSW.

The post Own your fertility, from egg freezing through grief appeared first on Progyny.

Choosing a gestational surrogate is a deeply personal decision. You’re building a relationship with someone who will play a meaningful role in your family-building journey, and it’s natural to have questions about both the process and what that relationship may look like.

The questions below can help you understand whether your goals, values, and expectations sync with the surrogate. If you’re working with an agency, they may have a list of go-to questions to use.

Get to know the individual 

• What are your interests and hobbies? How do you like to spend your time? 

• How would you describe your personality? What values are most important to you? 

• What motivated you to become a surrogate? What are you most excited about, and are there any concerns you have about the process? 

• Do your family and friends support your decision to become a surrogate? 

Learn about their experience and medical history 

• Have you been a gestational surrogate before? If so, what was that experience like? 

• If you’ve had previous pregnancies, how were they medically and emotionally? How were the deliveries? 

• Are you willing and able to travel for surrogacy-related appointments or procedures, if needed? 

• If an embryo transfer is unsuccessful, would you be open to additional transfer attempts? 

• How many embryos are you comfortable transferring at one time, if allowed by the clinic? 

• What are your thoughts on selective reduction or pregnancy termination if medical complications arise? 

• Are you currently working with a surrogacy agency, legal counsel, or fertility clinic? 

Talk about expectations for the relationship 

• What kind of relationship are you hoping to have with me/us before, during, and after the surrogacy journey? 

• How would you like your family to be involved, if at all? What type of involvement do you want from me/us? 

• If you have children, how do you plan to talk with them about surrogacy? 

• What would you like me/us to share with our child about you as they grow up? 

• What expectations do you have of me/us throughout the process? 

• What would you like to know about me/us as we get to know one another? 

A final note 

Open, honest conversations early on can help build trust, clarify expectations, and create a more supportive experience for everyone involved. There’s no single “right” way to approach surrogacy — what matters most is finding a match that feels comfortable, respectful, and aligned for both you and your surrogate. 

If you have questions, Progyny is here for you. Please contact your Progyny Care Advocate for support. 

The post What to consider when choosing a gestational surrogate appeared first on Progyny.

In vitro fertilization (IVF) often involves a step called frozen embryo transfer (FET). With this, a frozen embryo is thawed and transferred to the uterus of the person carrying the pregnancy.

Let’s talk about what a frozen embryo transfer involves. This can help you prepare for a more in-depth conversation with your healthcare team and Progyny Care Advocate.

Getting ready for a frozen embryo transfer

There are a few ways to prepare your uterus for a frozen embryo transfer. Most of these approaches will involve blood tests and ultrasounds to monitor your hormones and uterine lining.

Your doctor will choose the approach that is best for you, based on your individual medical history and fertility goals.

Natural cycle

In a natural cycle, your own menstrual cycle is used to prepare the endometrium. (The endometrium is the lining of the uterus, which thickens during your cycle to prepare for implantation.)

No hormonal medicines are necessary, and the embryo transfer is timed to coincide with your natural ovulation. In a modified natural cycle, medicine is used to trigger ovulation.

Programmed cycle

In a programmed cycle, medicine (birth control or GnRH agonists) is sometimes given to suppress your own menstrual cycle so you don’t ovulate. In addition, estrogen and progesterone are used on a schedule to prepare the endometrium, and the embryo transfer is done at a precise time.

The transfer procedure

The embryo transfer is an outpatient procedure that doesn’t require anesthesia. Let’s talk about what to expect.

• Embryo thaw: On the day of the transfer, the frozen embryo is thawed under controlled conditions. The process is carefully monitored to protect the embryo.
• Getting ready: You may be asked to make sure your bladder is comfortably full. This helps create a straighter passageway into the uterus, and helps your doctor better see the uterus with an ultrasound while performing the transfer. You’ll lie on an exam table, similar to a Pap smear. A speculum is placed in the vagina.
• Embryo placement: The thawed embryo is placed in a thin, flexible tube by the embryologist. Your doctor will place the tube in the vagina, through the cervix, and into the uterus. Using an ultrasound for guidance, the embryo is then injected in the right location, about one centimeter from the top of the uterus. You can watch this happen on the ultrasound screen!
• What it feels like: Embryo transfers are generally not painful, although you may feel discomfort from the speculum. For some, though, it can be uncomfortable. Your doctor may prescribe medicine to help you relax, or rarely, anesthesia may be used.
• Recovery period: After the embryo transfer, you can empty your bladder and go home. You may have light spotting or cramping, although many people don’t feel anything. Read more about supporting your recovery after embryo transfer.
• Waiting for results: It’s recommended to do a pregnancy test with bloodwork 8 to 10 days after the embryo transfer. Your doctor will let you know the right timing for you.

Taking care of yourself before your transfer

The days and weeks leading up to your embryo transfer are an important time to focus on your health and well-being. Here are some evidence-based tips.

Healthy eating and nutrition

• Eat a variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats.
• Avoid alcohol, recreational substances, vaping, and smoking. These can negatively affect fertility and pregnancy outcomes.
• Limit caffeine intake to less than 200 mg per day (about one 12-ounce cup of coffee).
• Take a daily prenatal vitamin that includes folic acid (at least 400 mcg) to support early fetal development.

Physical activity

• In most cases, you can continue your usual work and physical activities before a frozen embryo transfer unless your doctor gives specific instructions.

Stress and emotions

There’s no question: this can be a stressful period. Carve out time for stress management strategies, such as:

• Relaxation techniques (deep breathing, meditation, yoga)
• Light physical activity like walking
• Seeking support from friends, family, a counselor, or your Progyny Care Advocate
• Joining a fertility support group or using mental health resources offered by your clinic

We’re here for you

Your Progyny Care Advocate is here to support your fertility journey. Reach out with any questions you have.

Disclaimer: The information provided by Progyny is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for medical guidance.

The post Frozen embryo transfer: what to expect appeared first on Progyny.

Choosing a gestational surrogate is a deeply personal decision. You’re building a relationship with someone who will play a meaningful role in your family-building journey, and it’s natural to have questions about both the process and what that relationship may look like.

The questions below can help you understand whether your goals, values, and expectations sync with the surrogate. If you’re working with an agency, they may have a list of go-to questions to use.

Get to know the individual 

• What are your interests and hobbies? How do you like to spend your time? 

• How would you describe your personality? What values are most important to you? 

• What motivated you to become a surrogate? What are you most excited about, and are there any concerns you have about the process? 

• Do your family and friends support your decision to become a surrogate? 

Learn about their experience and medical history 

• Have you been a gestational surrogate before? If so, what was that experience like? 

• If you’ve had previous pregnancies, how were they medically and emotionally? How were the deliveries? 

• Are you willing and able to travel for surrogacy-related appointments or procedures, if needed? 

• If an embryo transfer is unsuccessful, would you be open to additional transfer attempts? 

• How many embryos are you comfortable transferring at one time, if allowed by the clinic? 

• What are your thoughts on selective reduction or pregnancy termination if medical complications arise? 

• Are you currently working with a surrogacy agency, legal counsel, or fertility clinic? 

Talk about expectations for the relationship 

• What kind of relationship are you hoping to have with me/us before, during, and after the surrogacy journey? 

• How would you like your family to be involved, if at all? What type of involvement do you want from me/us? 

• If you have children, how do you plan to talk with them about surrogacy? 

• What would you like me/us to share with our child about you as they grow up? 

• What expectations do you have of me/us throughout the process? 

• What would you like to know about me/us as we get to know one another? 

A final note 

Open, honest conversations early on can help build trust, clarify expectations, and create a more supportive experience for everyone involved. There’s no single “right” way to approach surrogacy — what matters most is finding a match that feels comfortable, respectful, and aligned for both you and your surrogate. 

If you have questions, Progyny is here for you. Please contact your Progyny Care Advocate for support. 

The post What to consider when choosing a gestational surrogate appeared first on Progyny.

Surrogacy is one way to grow your family. You may consider surrogacy if you have experienced infertility, have a medical reason you cannot carry a pregnancy, are part of the LGBTQ+ community, or you are planning to have a child as a single parent.  

What is surrogacy? 

Surrogacy is a process where another person, called the gestational carrier, carries a pregnancy for you. The child is usually not genetically related to the carrier. 

You will undergo in vitro fertilization (IVF) to create embryos using your own egg and sperm, or with the help of donor egg, donor sperm, or both. A fertility specialist will then transfer the embryo to the gestational carrier, who will carry the pregnancy. 

What are the costs? 

Surrogacy involves several fees. These may include: 

• Agency services, matching, and screening 

• Psychological evaluations 

• Legal services 

• Medical costs for you and the carrier, including IVF 

• Compensation for the gestational carrier 

• Insurance or surrogacy support services 

The average total cost of surrogacy in the United States is $100,000 to $150,000. It’s important to note that costs vary widely based on individual circumstances, location, and the specific services needed. 

Who is involved? 

Surrogacy includes a team of people who support different parts of the process. 

• Intended parent(s): You will parent and raise the child. You may be genetically related to the embryo. 
• Egg or sperm donor: You may use donor egg, donor sperm, or both. Donors can be known or anonymous. 
• Reproductive endocrinologist: This fertility specialist creates the embryos and performs the embryo transfer. 
• Attorneys: Each party has legal representation. Attorneys write the surrogacy contract and may manage escrow funds. 
• Surrogacy agency: An agency may support most of the process, including matching, screening, legal referrals, and emotional support. 
• Social workers or psychologists: They complete evaluations for the gestational carrier and the intended parent(s) and may offer ongoing support. 
• Gestational carrier: After screening and signing a contract, the gestational carrier receives a frozen embryo transfer. If pregnant, they receive routine prenatal care and stay in contact based on the agreement. 

Surrogacy includes many steps and decisions, and having the right support can help you navigate the process with confidence. 

If you have questions, Progyny is here for you. Please contact your PCA for support. 

Next article > Understanding the surrogacy process 

The post Surrogacy 101 appeared first on Progyny.

Join us to learn about: 

• Types of care available during pregnancy & postpartum 

• How various specialists can support your journey 

• Tips for physical recovery and emotional well-being 

• How to build your personalized care village 

Whether you’re navigating your own journey or looking to understand how you can support your loved ones, this webinar is an opportunity to gain knowledge and feel supported. If you know someone who may find this webinar helpful, please share it. Progyny webinars are free and open to everyone.

Wednesday, February 4 at 3:00 pm ET 

Can’t make it? Register for the webinar to receive the recording after the event. If you have any questions, please email education@progyny.com.   

The post Your Pregnancy and Postpartum Care Village appeared first on Progyny.

Tips for Choosing a Sperm Donor

While the process is streamlined, selecting the right donor involves a bit more than just browsing profiles. Here’s what you need to know:

Using a Known Donor

If you’re considering a family member or someone you know as a donor, there are special steps to follow:

• Consult a Legal Expert: Work with a lawyer specializing in Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) to ensure all paperwork is in order and your rights are protected.
• Sperm Health Testing: Don’t assume a known donor’s sperm is healthy. A semen analysis is affordable and essential to rule out male infertility issues.
• Screen for Infectious Diseases: Even with a known donor, follow FDA guidelines for infectious disease screening, including a six-month quarantine and retesting before insemination (IUI) or IVF.

Choosing a Donor from a Sperm Bank

When selecting a donor from a sperm bank, you benefit from rigorous screening and medical vetting:

• Medical and Psychological Screening: Sperm banks ensure donors have a healthy personal and family history, are psychologically sound, and are free of infectious diseases.
• Focus on What Matters: Don’t get overwhelmed by donor biographies. While certain traits may be inherited, there are no guarantees. Consider your own family’s characteristics and focus on what’s most important to you.
• Physical Attribute Matching: Many parents look for donors with similar physical traits. Photo-matching services can help you find donors whose phenotypes closely resemble your family.
• Genetic Matching Services: Sperm banks can use genetic information to match donors and recipients, providing options that align with your family’s genetic profile.

Why Choose RRC in Kansas City?

At RRC, we offer personalized support for individuals and couples pursuing IUI or IVF. Our team guides you through the donor selection process, ensuring you understand every step and make informed choices for your family-building goals. We’re here to help! Schedule a consultation with our Kansas City fertility experts to get started.

The post How to Choose a Sperm Donor: Expert Advice from RRC appeared first on Reproductive Resource Center Kansas City IVF.

Progyny’s inclusive fertility benefit supports all paths to parenthood. If you need assistance becoming pregnant with a donor egg, donor sperm, or a surrogate, you have options.

Let’s walk through those at a high level. Then, you can speak with your reproductive endocrinologist and Progyny Care Advocate to learn more about the fertility journey that may be right for you.

Using donor eggs or sperm to have a biological child

If you’re hoping to have a biological child as a single person or same-sex couple, assisted reproductive technology can help you.

In vitro fertilization (IVF)

With IVF, sperm fertilizes an egg to create an embryo in a lab. Then, an embryo is transferred to the uterus of the person carrying the pregnancy.

An embryo may be created by combining:

• Sperm with a donor egg, or
• An egg with donor sperm

If you are using your own eggs, the embryo may be transferred with fresh IVF, the process of transferring the embryo to your uterus 3 to 5 days after retrieving the eggs.

Another option for all people is frozen embryo transfer. With this, the embryos are frozen and preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) can assess the genetic health of the embryos to select the best embryo for transfer. PGT leads to better chances of a successful pregnancy.

Using a surrogate to carry the pregnancy

The embryo can be transferred to a surrogate (gestational carrier) if you will not be carrying the pregnancy.

Your Progyny Care Advocate can provide you with surrogacy information on what to expect, average costs, state specific laws, donor services, and legal services.

Reciprocal IVF (co-maternity IVF)

Reciprocal IVF is a way for both partners to participate in the family building process. One uses their eggs, and the other carries the pregnancy.

• Eggs are retrieved from one partner and fertilized with donor sperm.
• After the embryos develop, they are frozen and tested.
• A high-quality embryo is selected and transferred into the other partner.

Intrauterine insemination (IUI)

With IUI, sperm is placed directly in the uterus using a thin tube. IUI is timed with your menstrual cycle, at the time when the ovary releases an egg. Sometimes, medicine is used to help the body produce eggs.

Preserving your fertility

Egg, sperm, and embryo freezing can be used for anyone who wants to preserve their fertility, including before gender-affirming treatment.

With frozen eggs, sperm, or embryos you can pursue the fertility treatment plan that’s right for you in the future — including IVF, IUI, and/or surrogacy.

Adopting a child

Your Progyny Care Advocate can provide personalized support throughout the adoption process. These adoption specialists and licensed social workers can give expert guidance, including:

• Details on the process and average cost of adoption.
• Explanation of various processes and pathways.
• Resources to find legal advice for state-specific laws that impact your options.
• Specific counseling for LGBTQ+ individuals and couples.

Thinking it through

Your reproductive endocrinologist is there to walk you through all of this in detail. You can ask anything that’s on your mind. Your Progyny Care Advocate is also here to talk about your options and help you get ready for your visits with your healthcare team.

Disclaimer: The information provided by Progyny is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for medical guidance.

The post LGBTQ+ family building options appeared first on Progyny.

The two-week wait (TWW) between an embryo transfer and a pregnancy test can feel like an emotional roller coaster. For many couples, it’s one of the most stressful parts of the fertility journey—full of hope, worry, and the kind of overthinking that feels impossible to shut off. While you can’t control the outcome, you can help make this stretch a little gentler for your partner.

1. Communicate gently and consistently

Check in with your partner but keep it low-pressure. Some days they may want to talk everything out; other days they may just want quiet company. Follow their cues and focus on listening rather than trying to fix their feelings.

2. Help slow the symptom-spotting spiral

The TWW can turn anyone into an internet detective. Instead of brushing off their worries, acknowledge how normal it is to analyze every twinge. You can then gently redirect with something grounding like a short walk, a rerun of their favorite show, or a mini distraction you both enjoy.

3. Create a calmer day-to-day rhythm

Taking a few things off their plate, such as meals, chores, and logistics, can reduce the mental load. Lean into simple comforts like warm drinks, early nights in, or anything that helps the week feel softer and less overwhelming.

4. Guard their emotional space

If you can, buffer them from stressful situations or conversations, especially ones that might hit harder right now (like surprise pregnancy announcements or nosy questions). Protecting their energy during this period can go a long way.

5. Add small moments of care

Thoughtful gestures matter more than ever during the TWW. A kind note, a favorite snack, a low-key plan for the evening are the little things that remind your partner they’re not in this alone.

6. Support your own emotional wellbeing, too

You’re part of this wait as well. Keeping yourself grounded helps you show up in the steady way your partner needs. Try reaching out to a friend, taking breaks for things that refill your energy, or setting realistic expectations for your week so you’re not stretched too thin.

The TWW can feel long and uncertain but showing up as a team makes a real difference. With gentle communication, small acts of care, and a shared sense of “we’ve got this,” you can help your partner feel safer and more supported.

Progyny is here to help. Please contact your Progyny Care Advocate for support.

The post How to support your partner during the two-week wait appeared first on Progyny.

Progyny’s inclusive fertility benefit supports all paths to parenthood. If you need assistance becoming pregnant with a donor egg, donor sperm, or a surrogate, you have options.

Let’s walk through those at a high level. Then, you can speak with your reproductive endocrinologist and Progyny Care Advocate to learn more about the fertility journey that may be right for you.

Using donor eggs or sperm to have a biological child

If you’re hoping to have a biological child as a single person or same-sex couple, assisted reproductive technology can help you.

In vitro fertilization (IVF)

With IVF, sperm fertilizes an egg to create an embryo in a lab. Then, an embryo is transferred to the uterus of the person carrying the pregnancy.

An embryo may be created by combining:

• Sperm with a donor egg, or
• An egg with donor sperm

If you are using your own eggs, the embryo may be transferred with fresh IVF, the process of transferring the embryo to your uterus 3 to 5 days after retrieving the eggs.

Another option for all people is frozen embryo transfer. With this, the embryos are frozen and preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) can assess the genetic health of the embryos to select the best embryo for transfer. PGT leads to better chances of a successful pregnancy.

Using a surrogate to carry the pregnancy

The embryo can be transferred to a surrogate (gestational carrier) if you will not be carrying the pregnancy.

Your Progyny Care Advocate can provide you with surrogacy information on what to expect, average costs, state specific laws, donor services, and legal services.

Reciprocal IVF (co-maternity IVF)

Reciprocal IVF is a way for both partners to participate in the family building process. One uses their eggs, and the other carries the pregnancy.

• Eggs are retrieved from one partner and fertilized with donor sperm.
• After the embryos develop, they are frozen and tested.
• A high-quality embryo is selected and transferred into the other partner.

Intrauterine insemination (IUI)

With IUI, sperm is placed directly in the uterus using a thin tube. IUI is timed with your menstrual cycle, at the time when the ovary releases an egg. Sometimes, medicine is used to help the body produce eggs.

Preserving your fertility

Egg, sperm, and embryo freezing can be used for anyone who wants to preserve their fertility, including before gender-affirming treatment.

With frozen eggs, sperm, or embryos you can pursue the fertility treatment plan that’s right for you in the future — including IVF, IUI, and/or surrogacy.

Adopting a child

Your Progyny Care Advocate can provide personalized support throughout the adoption process. These adoption specialists and licensed social workers can give expert guidance, including:

• Details on the process and average cost of adoption.
• Explanation of various processes and pathways.
• Resources to find legal advice for state-specific laws that impact your options.
• Specific counseling for LGBTQ+ individuals and couples.

Thinking it through

Your reproductive endocrinologist is there to walk you through all of this in detail. You can ask anything that’s on your mind. Your Progyny Care Advocate is also here to talk about your options and help you get ready for your visits with your healthcare team.

Disclaimer: The information provided by Progyny is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for medical guidance.

The post LGBTQ+ Family Building Options appeared first on Progyny.

Since 1978, in vitro fertilization has helped bring more than 10 million babies into the world. IVF is a medical process that helps people build their family when getting pregnant is challenging. It uses medicine to help the ovaries grow more eggs, remove the eggs, combine them with sperm in a lab, and place an embryo into the uterus. 

For many people, IVF offers a strong chance of having a baby. You can talk with an obstetrician-gynecologist or a reproductive endocrinologist (fertility doctor) to learn more about your options. 

During your first visit 

Checking your egg supply 

Your doctor will do a blood test to look at hormone levels that give insight into how your ovaries are working and how many eggs are remaining. An ultrasound may also be done to count the number of follicles (the fluid-filled sacs that hold eggs). These tests help your doctor plan your treatment. 

Checking sperm 

If you are using sperm from a male partner, a semen analysis checks the count, shape, and movement. This helps determine the likelihood that the sperm can fertilize the eggs. 

IVF treatment steps 

1. Growing multiple eggs (ovarian stimulation) 

You’ll take daily hormone shots, usually in your thigh or stomach, to help your ovaries grow several eggs at once. You’ll also have blood tests and ultrasounds over 9 to 12 days to monitor your response. 

About halfway through, you may start another medicine to prevent early ovulation. Around day 10, you’ll get a “trigger shot” to help the eggs fully mature. 

2. Removing the eggs (egg retrieval) 

About 36 hours after the trigger shot, you’ll have your egg retrieval. Your doctor uses a thin needle guided by ultrasound to remove the eggs while you’re asleep or very relaxed. 

This is a short outpatient procedure, and most people go home the same day. Some soreness afterward is common. 

3. Fertilizing the eggs 

In the lab, the eggs are combined with sperm to create embryos, which begin to grow over the next few days. 

4. Transferring the embryo 

You and your doctor decide whether to: 

• Do a fresh transfer, where the embryo is placed in the uterus a few days after retrieval, or 

• Do a frozen transfer, where the embryo is frozen and used later. 

Some embryos are tested before transfer to look for genetic conditions. 

5. Waiting and testing for pregnancy 

After the transfer, you’ll wait about two weeks before taking a pregnancy test. If you’re pregnant, your fertility doctor will continue to monitor you until it’s time to transition to your obstetrician-gynecologist. 

Typical IVF timeline 

Please note that this is a typical timeline. Your timeline may be different and that’s OK.  

If you have questions, Progyny is here for you. Please contact your Progyny Care Advocate for support.  

Disclaimer: The information provided by Progyny is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for medical guidance. 

The post What is in vitro fertilization (IVF)?  appeared first on Progyny.

Preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) is used during in vitro fertilization (IVF) to learn more about an embryo before transfer. The testing looks at different genetic information depending on your needs.

• PGT-A checks the number of chromosomes in each embryo.

• PGT-M looks for a known single-gene condition.

• PGT-SR looks for changes in chromosome structure.

Your doctor may recommend one or more tests based on your family history, genetic screening results, or past experiences. 

What is PGT-A? 

Preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy (PGT-A) looks at an embryo’s chromosomes. Most people have 23 pairs of chromosomes, including the sex chromosomes (XX, XY). An embryo with missing or extra chromosomes may have a lower chance of developing into a healthy pregnancy. 

Why use PGT-A?

• Helps identify embryos with a normal number of chromosomes 

• Supports single embryo transfer and reduces the chance of twins or triplets 

What is PGT-M? 

Preimplantation genetic testing for monogenic conditions (PGT-M) looks for a known single-gene condition. Each test is customized based on your specific gene change. A genetics lab studies a small cell sample from each embryo to learn whether the embryo is affected, a carrier, or unaffected.

Why use PGT-M?

Your care team may recommend PGT-M if: 

• You have a single-gene condition that can be passed directly to a child.
  This includes conditions where one gene change is enough to cause the condition (autosomal dominant) or conditions passed on the X chromosome (X-linked). 

• You and your partner each carry one copy of the same gene change. 
  When both copies are passed on, the child may have the condition (autosomal recessive). 

How does PGT-M work? 

Testing begins before IVF starts. 

• You, and the sperm source, provide a DNA sample through blood or cheek swab. 

• Sometimes samples from affected family members are needed. 

• The genetics lab uses these samples to create a custom test. This step, called probe creation, usually takes six to ten weeks. 

Once probe creation is complete, you move forward with IVF. 

What is PGT-SR? 

Preimplantation genetic testing for structural rearrangements (PGT-SR) looks for changes in chromosome structure, such as translocations or inversions. 

Key points 

• These changes can be inherited or happen on their own. 

• Most people with a balanced rearrangement are healthy and may not know they carry it. 

• Carriers of balanced rearrangements have a higher chance of embryos with missing or extra genetic material. 

• Balanced rearrangements are chromosome changes in which genetic material is rearranged but not missing or extra, meaning the carrier is typically healthy. 

• Embryos with unbalanced rearrangements usually do not result in a live birth. This is because embryos with unbalanced rearrangements have missing or extra pieces of DNA. 

• About 5% of recurrent miscarriages are linked to structural rearrangements. 

If your history suggests this may be a factor, your doctor may order a blood test called a chromosome analysis (karyotype). Based on those results, PGT-SR may be recommended.

How does PGT work during IVF? 

1. You complete your IVF cycle. When embryos reach the blastocyst stage (day 5 to 7), the embryologist removes a few cells from the outer layer of each embryo. These cells would form the placenta.
2. The biopsy sample goes to a partner genetics lab for testing. The embryos stay frozen in the lab during this process.
3. The lab studies the DNA to:
   • Check chromosome number (PGT-A). 
   • Identify embryos not affected by the specific gene condition (PGT-M).
   • Screen for a structural rearrangement (PGT-SR).

Because PGT-M looks at a single gene and PGT-A looks at chromosome number, both tests are often used together. Your doctor and embryologist review your results along with embryo quality before choosing an embryo for transfer. 

What happens next? 

If you have embryos available for transfer, you start a frozen embryo transfer (FET) cycle. 

• The embryologist selects the embryo based on PGT-A results and, if relevant, PGT-M or PGT-SR findings, plus embryo quality.

• Any remaining embryos stay frozen for future use or may be donated or discarded based on your consent. 

• About two weeks after the transfer, you take a pregnancy test to learn whether the embryo implanted.

If you have questions, Progyny is here for you. Please contact your Progyny Care Advocate for support.  

Disclaimer: The information provided by Progyny is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for medical guidance. 

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After egg retrieval, the eggs are fertilized in a lab to create embryos. These embryos may be frozen or transferred soon after. You may take medicine before and after the procedure to prepare for a transfer. Here’s what you can expect. 

For a medicated frozen embryo transfer 

Medicines before transfer 

1. Medicine to prevent premature ovulation 

Your doctor may prescribe birth control pills and a medicine called leuprolide (Lupron). These help prevent early ovulation by blocking the hormone surge that triggers it. Leuprolide is usually started 10 to 15 days before starting other medicines for the transfer. Your doctor may stop it when you start taking other medicines for the transfer or they may lower the dose 

2. Medicine to prepare your uterine lining 

After about 1 to 2 weeks of taking medicine to control ovulation, and once you get your period, you may begin taking estradiol. This can be a pill, patch, or injection, such as estradiol tablets, also known as Estrace. Estradiol helps thicken the uterine lining so it can support an embryo. Estradiol also prevents your body from growing a follicle (small, fluid-filled sac in the ovary) and ovulating.  

Medicines during and after transfer 

1. Medicine to support implantation 

When your uterine lining is thick enough, usually around 1 to 2 weeks after starting estradiol in a medicated transfer cycle, you will begin progesterone. Progesterone can be given as a vaginal suppository, intramuscular injection, or both. Examples include progesterone in oil, Endometrin, Crinone, and Prometrium. 

The transfer usually happens three to six days later. If you become pregnant after the transfer, you may continue progesterone for eight to twelve weeks of pregnancy. Your doctor will guide the plan based on your history. 

Most doctors will have you continue the estradiol medicines while you are on progesterone. Some people are also prescribed a short course of a steroid medicine like methylprednisolone (Medrol) or prednisone to support implantation.  

Some clinics also prescribe an antibiotic to lower the risk of infection after transfer, such as doxycycline or clindamycin. 

For a fresh embryo transfer 

1. Medicine to prepare the uterine lining 

You may take synthetic estrogen, such as estradiol tablets or patches like Estrace, Minivelle, or Dotti, as a pill or patch. Estrogen helps thicken the uterine lining for transfer. Your doctor will monitor the lining during your cycle. The goal thickness is usually about 7 to 13 millimeters. 

Not everyone doing a fresh transfer needs added estrogen. Your doctor will determine if more support is needed after retrieval. 

2. Medicine to support implantation 

You will begin progesterone one to two days after the egg retrieval. Progesterone can be a vaginal suppository or an intramuscular injection. It helps the uterine lining shift from growing to compacting, which creates a supportive environment for implantation. 

If you become pregnant, you may continue progesterone until 8 to 12 weeks of pregnancy, based on your history and your doctor’s plan. 

Some clinics also prescribe an antibiotic to lower the risk of infection after transfer, such as doxycycline or clindamycin. 

If you have questions, Progyny is here for you. Please contact your Progyny Care Advocate for support.  

Disclaimer: The information provided by Progyny is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for medical guidance. 

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It can be so difficult to go through in vitro fertilization (IVF) and find that your embryo didn’t implant successfully. This happens to many people, and you are not going through this alone.

As you process the outcome of your cycle, it’s often helpful to seek comfort and understanding from others who’ve been through this experience. You always have support from your healthcare team and your Progyny Care Advocate as you think about what may be next for you.

Here are a few options you may wish to think about. It’s important to remember that there is no single timeline or pathway here — only what feels right for you. It’s OK to take the time you need.

Diagnostic testing

Diagnostic testing may help you and your healthcare team understand possible reasons the embryo didn’t implant.

Sometimes tests that were done before treatment may be repeated, or you may try new ones. Be sure to speak with your doctor about what they recommend for you. It’s always OK to ask any questions you have.

Tests may include:

• Hysterosalpingogram (HSG): An x-ray that uses contrast dye to see blockages in the fallopian tubes and look for signs of uterine fibroids, polyps, scar tissue, or other problems in the uterus
• Sonohysterogram (SIS): A transvaginal ultrasound that is done while your uterus is filled with saline solution, to better see the inside of the uterus
• Hysteroscopy: A visual exam of the inside of the uterus using a camera attached to a small, lighted tube that is inserted through the vagina and cervix into the uterus
• Other tests: Based on your personal situation and health history, your team may recommend other tests for you

Preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy (PGT-A)

It’s common for embryos created in an IVF cycle to have an unexpected number of chromosomes (called aneuploidy). Transferring an embryo with aneuploidy may result in a failure to implant, miscarriage, or a baby born with a medical problem.

With PGT-A, genetic testing is done on the embryo before embryo transfer. This helps the team select an embryo with a higher chance of successful implantation and a higher chance of a healthy baby.

PGT-A may be helpful if you choose another IVF cycle or have remaining embryos that have not undergone PGT-A.

Lean on your support system

Everyone’s journey is different, and people need different amounts of time and support to think through what’s next for them.

Find support on a personal level

Sharing your story and hearing from other people who’ve been through fertility treatment can be validating and bring a sense of connection. Ask your fertility clinic if they recommend any support groups, or search for organizations that offer in-person or online support.

Be sure to have discussions with your partner if you have one, both about how you’re feeling and what feels right moving forward. These topics can be difficult, so it’s good to know that a professional therapist can help you share feelings and make decisions together. Here’s help finding a therapist.

Turn to your fertility team for guidance

When you’re ready, you (and your partner) can discuss possible next steps with your healthcare team. Your Progyny Care Advocate is here to help you prepare for these conversations.

Gather as much information as you need and be open about your hopes, questions, and concerns. You may wish to talk about:

• How many IVF cycles you wish to try
• Other options that may be available (such as adjusting your medicine plan, or using donor eggs, embryos, or surrogacy)
• Other paths to parenthood

Prioritize your own well-being

Throughout it all, be good to yourself. Think about what you would say or do for a close friend going through a similar experience and give yourself the same grace. Set aside time each day to:

• Use a relaxation technique like meditation or deep breathing
• Get moving with light physical activity that you enjoy
• Do a hobby that brings you comfort and takes your mind off things

Your Progyny Care Advocate is always here for support, resources, and guidance — or just a listening ear.

Disclaimer: The information provided by Progyny is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for medical guidance.

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During a typical menstrual cycle, your ovaries release hormones — primarily estrogen and progesterone — that cause the endometrium (uterine lining) to thicken in preparation for pregnancy. If pregnancy does not occur, hormone levels fall and the endometrium sheds during your period. 

With endometriosis, tissue similar to the endometrium grows outside the uterus. These tissues are mostly found in the pelvis, including on the ovaries, fallopian tubes, outer surface of the uterus, ligaments that support the uterus, bladder, bowel, and the lining of the pelvic cavity.  

Healthcare providers may refer to these areas as lesions, implants, or nodules. When similar tissue grows within the muscular wall of the uterus, it is called adenomyosis. These growths are almost always benign, meaning they are not cancer. 

Like the uterine lining, endometriosis tissue responds to monthly hormone changes. It can thicken and break down, but unlike menstrual blood, the resulting bleeding has no way to leave the body. This can trigger inflammation, pain, and scar tissue, which may affect nearby organs and fertility over time. 

Symptoms you may notice 

Symptoms of endometriosis can range from mild to severe, and some people have no symptoms at all. Pain is the most common symptom and may occur at any time. 

You may experience: 

• Pain during periods, including severe cramping 

• Pain during or after sex 

• Chronic pelvic or lower back pain 

• Abdominal or intestinal pain 

• Digestive symptoms, especially during periods, such as bloating, constipation, diarrhea, or nausea 

• Heavy menstrual periods 

• Spotting or bleeding between periods 

• Fatigue 

• Brain fog 

• Urinary symptoms 

• Difficulty getting pregnant 

Where endometriosis can be found 

Endometriosis most often affects pelvic organs, including: 

• Ovaries 

• Fallopian tubes 

• Outer surface of the uterus 

• Ligaments that support the uterus 

• Bladder 

• Bowel and intestines 

In some cases, endometriosis may also be found outside the pelvis. 

Why endometriosis can be painful 

Just as the uterine lining sheds and bleeds each month during your period, endometriosis tissue can also bleed. Because this blood cannot exit the body, it can cause swelling and inflammation. 

Over time, repeated inflammation may lead to ovarian cysts (endometriomas), adhesions, and scar tissue. Scar tissue can change pelvic anatomy, restrict organ movement, and block fallopian tubes, contributing to ongoing pain and fertility challenges. 

Diagnoses 

Endometriosis affects about 10% of people with uteruses worldwide who are of reproductive age. If someone in your family has it, you’re 7 to 10 times more likely to develop it yourself. 

Your healthcare provider may use a combination of pelvic exams and imaging tests, such as ultrasound or MRI. 

Currently, laparoscopy is the only way to definitively confirm endometriosis and determine its severity. Laparoscopy is a minimally invasive surgical procedure that allows a surgeon to look inside the pelvis and identify endometriosis tissue, which is often confirmed with a biopsy. 

Stages 

Endometriosis is sometimes grouped into stages based on what a surgeon sees during a minimally invasive procedure. These stages describe the location and extent of endometriosis tissue, not how severe symptoms feel. People with a low stage can have significant pain, while others with a high stage may have few symptoms. Because of this, staging is only one piece of information and does not determine treatment or fertility outcomes on its own. 

Treatment options 

Endometriosis can be managed medically, surgically, or with a combination of approaches. Treatment depends on your symptoms, goals, and whether you are trying to conceive. 

Common treatment options include: 

• Pain relief medications, such as ibuprofen or naproxen, for mild symptoms 

• Hormonal birth control, which can suppress ovulation and slow the growth of endometriosis tissue 

• Gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists, which reduce estrogen production and temporarily stop endometriosis growth 

• Laparoscopic surgery to remove or reduce endometriosis lesions and cysts 

How it affects fertility 

Many people with endometriosis are still able to conceive, especially those with mild to moderate disease. Fertility challenges are more common with more severe endometriosis, though the exact reasons are not fully understood. 

Endometriosis may affect fertility by: 

• Causing scar tissue that interferes with egg pickup or transport through the fallopian tubes 

• Triggering inflammation that may affect egg quality or embryo implantation 

• Leading to ovarian cysts that can impact ovarian reserve 

Some treatments used to manage endometriosis symptoms, such as hormonal therapies, also prevent pregnancy while you are using them. 

Successful pregnancy is possible 

Although endometriosis can complicate becoming pregnant, many people with endometriosis go on to have successful pregnancies. If you have been diagnosed with endometriosis and want to build your family, a reproductive endocrinologist can help you understand your options and create a plan that supports your goals. 

Progyny is here for you, too. Please contact your Progyny Care Advocate for support.  

Disclaimer: The information provided by Progyny is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for medical guidance. 

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You’ve likely heard the saying that when you’re pregnant, you’re “eating for two.” That sounds like you should double your portions to eat for two adults — not so! A growing baby does not need many calories. Instead, think of it as eating “twice as healthy.”

In fact, during the 1st trimester you usually don’t need any additional calories unless recommended by your doctor.

In your 2nd and 3rd trimesters, you usually only need an additional 250 to 450 calories a day to support a growing baby, depending on your pregnancy weight goal.

In addition to getting enough calories, it’s important to follow a healthy eating plan rich in nutrients. Let’s take a look at what that means.

Protein, fat, and carbohydrates

All foods are made up of some combination of protein, fat, and carbohydrates. Choosing the right balance and types of these foods will help you have a healthy pregnancy.

These guidelines can help you make great choices.

Protein

Choose lean proteins like:	Limit high-fat proteins like:
Fish Skinless chicken and turkey Lean cuts of pork, beef, and lamb Low-fat or fat-free cheese Seafood Plant-based protein (like tofu, tempeh, seitan)	Fatty cuts of meat Sausage Hot dogs Bacon

Fat

Choose heart healthy, plant-based fat from:	Limit saturated fat, found in:	Avoid trans-fat, found in:
Avocado Nuts and nut butters Seeds Olives Vegetable oils	Meat (beef, lamb, pork, chicken and turkey with skin) Full-fat dairy (butter, whole milk, whole yogurt) Coconut and palm oils	Fried foods Hard margarines and shortening Many baked goods and shelf-stable snacks

Carbohydrates

Choose high-fiber carbohydrates like:	Limit processed, low-fiber carbohydrates like:
Vegetables Fruit Whole grains Whole wheat pasta, tortillas, and breads Brown rice Oatmeal Beans Legumes Quinoa Sweet potatoes Winter squash	Sugary cereals Fruit juice or other sweetened beverages Desserts and sweets White breads and pasta White rice Pastries

Try the balanced plate method

The balanced plate method is a simple eating approach to help you — and your baby — get enough protein, nutrition-rich fruits and vegetables, and fiber-packed grains for energy.

The best part? It’s easy to follow and will help you make small changes that you can keep up over time. Here’s how it works:

1. Start with a 9-inch plate (a salad or lunch plate, not a dinner plate)
2. Divide it into 4 sections, with:
   • ½ plate for fruits and vegetables
   • ¼ plate protein
   • ¼ plate carbohydrates
3. Add a serving of calcium-rich, low-fat or fat-free dairy or dairy alternative on the side

Pro-tip: Place the vegetables on your plate first, followed by fruit, then protein, and grains last. This will reduce the chance of putting too many grains on your plate and crowding out the other nutrient-dense foods.

If you have diabetes or gestational diabetes, talk with your doctor about the right eating plan for you

You can do this

These strategies can help you meet your nutrition and healthy weight gain goals during pregnancy.

• Choose minimally-processed foods when you can.
• Avoid skipping meals or going too long without eating.
• Skip sugary drinks, juices, and smoothies.
• Limit fried foods, sweets, and desserts.
• Include protein, healthy fats, and fiber at each meal and snack. They’re packed with nutrition and will help you feel full longer.
• Be physically active — at least 30 minutes each day!

Be sure to tell your partner, family, or friends about your nutrition goals so they can support you and you can make healthy changes together.

Talk with your doctor about your weight gain and nutrition goals and reach out to your Progyny Care Advocate for guidance any time. We’re here for you!

Disclaimer: The information provided by Progyny is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for medical guidance.

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Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a common hormonal condition that affects about 10% of people with ovaries during their reproductive years.

PCOS can make ovulation and menstrual periods irregular, which may impact your ability to get pregnant. It also affects your hormone and insulin levels. While PCOS has no cure, it can be managed with lifestyle changes and medication — making periods more regular and improving fertility.

Top symptoms of PCOS 

• Irregular periods or no periods

• Excess hair growth, especially on the face 

• Acne or oily skin 

• Weight gain, often around the waist 

• Hair thinning or hair loss 

• Darkened patches of skin or skin tags 

• Difficulty getting pregnant 

What your doctor may look for 

Your doctor may use a combination of your medical history, physical exam, blood work, and imaging to understand what’s going on. They may look for: 

• Multiple ovarian cysts or polycystic ovaries 

• Irregular or absent periods 

• Elevated androgens, which are hormones typically higher in men 

• High insulin levels or insulin resistance 

• Signs of heart or blood vessel issues 

Ways to manage PCOS 

A reproductive endocrinologist (REI) or obstetrician-gynecologist (OB-GYN) can help you manage symptoms. Treatment often focuses on improving hormone balance, insulin levels, and overall health. 

• Choose more whole foods, and limit sugar, sodium, and trans fats 

• Stay active to support a healthy weight 

• Use birth control pills to regulate hormones 

• Use metformin to improve insulin sensitivity 

• Treat acne with prescribed skin medications 

• Reduce excess hair growth with medication for hirsutism 

Fertility treatment options 

If you are trying to get pregnant, a gynecologist or REI may recommend certain medications or fertility treatments to support ovulation and improve your chances of conceiving. 

Common medications used to induce ovulation include: 

• Oral medications, such as letrozole or clomiphene (Clomid), help stimulate the ovaries to release an egg. 

• Injectable medications, such as human chorionic gonadotropin or similar injectable hormones, trigger ovulation or support the ovulation process.

Fertility treatments 

• Timed intercourse: your care team tracks ovulation with ultrasounds and blood work and guides you on the best timing for intercourse. 

• Intrauterine insemination: sperm is placed directly into your uterus with a thin catheter during ovulation. 

• Ovulation induction: hormonal medication is given to stimulate the ovaries to ovulate, improving your chance of getting pregnant. 

• In vitro fertilization: your ovaries are stimulated with medication, your eggs are retrieved and fertilized in a lab, and an embryo is transferred into your uterus.

Pregnancy is possible 

PCOS is a leading cause of infertility, but many people with PCOS do get pregnant. If you are thinking about building your family, talk with your OB-GYN or an REI to explore your options and create a plan that works for you. 

If you have questions, Progyny is here for you. Please contact your Progyny Care Advocate for support.  

Disclaimer: The information provided by Progyny is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for medical guidance. 

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This time can be filled with hope and uncertainty, and it’s normal if your emotions feel intense or unpredictable. Your routines may look different too, and you may need extra support. Here are some practical ways to prepare and manage the wait.  

Before the wait 

Let your loved ones know what you need. You might ask for more space, fewer check-ins, or a pause on questions until you feel ready to share. Clear communication helps people show up in a way that feels good to you. This can happen before or during the two weeks. 

During the wait 

• Take charge of your schedule. Make flexible plans you can cancel if you’re not up for them, or keep your calendar open. It’s OK to miss events or adjust commitments so you can focus on yourself. 

• Stay tuned in to your needs. Your emotions may shift day to day. Some days you may want quiet and rest; other days you may want company. Listen to your body and mind and follow what feels best. 

• Limit internet searches. Searching for answers online can quickly become stressful, especially when information is conflicting. If you have concerns or a specific question, reach out to your physician. 

• Remember: symptoms don’t predict results. You may notice changes — or nothing at all. These experiences aren’t reliable indicators of pregnancy. 

• Commit to self-care. Choose physician-approved ways to manage stress or anxiety and let yourself enjoy them. Even small moments of care can make a difference. 

• Honor whatever feelings come up. This process is largely out of your control. Any emotion you have — worry, frustration, hope, or anything in between — is valid. You are not to blame for how things go. 

• Avoid planning too far ahead. It’s natural to think about next steps, but looking too far into the future can add stress. Try to stay grounded in what you need today. 

Adjusting your usual routines 

It’s normal if your daily habits look different during this time. Your doctor may recommend modifying certain activities. Here are a few ways to adapt your routine while staying connected and cared for. 

Socializing with friends 

Spending time with friends who don’t understand your experience — or who are pregnant or parenting — can feel draining right now. What you can try instead: 

• Make plans with people who understand your situation or bring you comfort. 

• Look for a support group in your area or online. 

• Consider talking with a therapist who has experience supporting people on a fertility journey. 

Exercise 

Your physician may ask you to reduce or modify your exercise routine. What you can try instead: 

• Light movement is often allowed, like a walk or a gentle bike ride. 

• Yoga can be supportive — just let the instructor know you need modifications. 

• Focus on self-care activities like meditation or acupuncture, which may help reduce stress. 

Sex 

Your physician may ask you to avoid sexual activity during and right after your treatment cycle. What you can try instead: 

• Plan a date night at home or go out for a movie or show. 

• Try activities you can do together, like cooking or a DIY project, to build closeness in a different way. 

Result day 

Plan your day in a way that feels comforting and supportive to you.  

Progyny is here for you. If you have any questions, please contact your Progyny Care Advocate for support. 

Disclaimer: The information provided by Progyny is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for medical guidance. 

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Carbohydrate (carb) counting is a tool to help you reach your blood sugar goals. It’s a way to measure how many grams of carbohydrates are in your food and drink, so you can understand how different foods change your blood sugar.

Why count carbs?

Your blood sugar changes the most after eating meals high in carbohydrates. Each food has a different amount of carbs. How much you eat (portion size) will also lower or raise the number of carbs in that meal.

Eating different amounts of carbs at each meal can lead to wide swings in blood sugar. That can be frustrating. It can also make it hard to know which foods cause higher readings and which ones help keep you on target.

Your goal: eat the same amount of carbohydrates at each meal. This helps keep your blood sugar steady and lets you see how your blood sugar responds to different foods.

Along with carb counting, you can use your blood sugar readings to adjust the amount of carbs you eat. Using these two skills together is a great way to meet your blood sugar goals. Your diabetes educator or doctor will be able to walk you through it.

How many carbs should I eat?

The Association of Diabetes Care and Education Specialists recommends most people with gestational diabetes aim for the following amounts of carbohydrates at their meals and snacks.

These are general recommendations, so ask your doctor or diabetes educator how many carbs you should aim for.

Not all foods have carbohydrates. Healthy eating for gestational diabetes can give you a refresher on which foods do and don’t have carbs.

How to count carbs

Nutrition labels are a great tool for counting carbs. But there’s a catch: the serving size might not be the same as your portion size (what you actually ate). You’ll need to do a little math.

Let’s practice together using this nutrition label:

Step 1: Confirm the serving size.

A serving of this food is 1 cup.

Step 2: Find the total carbs in 1 serving.

The total carbs for 1 serving is 34 grams. This means that 1 cup of this food has 34 grams of carbs.

Step 3: Calculate carbs for your portion size.

This is where the math comes in. The total carbs depend on your portion size, or how much you actually ate. Here are 3 examples:

Other tools for counting carbs

Not all foods come with food labels. What should you do when you eat something without a label?

You can do a quick search on your phone for carb counts in common foods or restaurants. Other common resources include:

• Carb counting apps or digital food logs
• Food databases, like the USDA Food composition database
• Books with carbohydrate counts
• Nutrition information in recipes

You might be happy to learn that there are shortcuts to finding carb amounts for some foods. Here’s a quick carb guide for common foods.

Practice, practice, practice!

Carb counting will become easier and more natural for you over time. As you continue to make these changes, you should see results with your blood sugar readings.

As a next step, practice calculating the amount of carbs in the last meal. For help building a carb counting habit, tell your loved ones about your plans. They can support you.

Always feel free to reach out to your healthcare team with any questions. Your Progyny Care Advocate is also here for you.

Disclaimer: The information provided by Progyny is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for medical guidance.

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If you were diagnosed with gestational diabetes, your healthcare provider likely told you to follow a healthy eating plan. But what does healthy eating look like, and why is it important?

Healthy eating will:

• Help keep your blood sugar in your target range
• Help you reach your pregnancy weight goals
• Ensure you and the baby are getting enough nutrition for growth and development

Eating a wide variety of foods during pregnancy (rich in fruits and vegetables, protein, healthy fats, whole grains and fiber) helps make sure you’re getting the nutrition you and your baby need.

It’s also important to avoid skipping meals or going too long without eating—you and your baby need regular, balanced nutrition.

Healthy eating is your greatest tool

Healthy eating is your most powerful tool for managing gestational diabetes. This is because the largest changes in blood sugar happen after you eat. When you eat foods that have carbohydrates (carbs), your body breaks them down into glucose (a type of sugar). This causes blood sugar to rise.

A small rise in blood sugar after a meal is normal and expected. However, when your blood sugar is above your target range (it goes too high) too often, it puts both you and baby at risk for complications.

Making small changes to eating habits can go a long way in preventing spikes in blood sugar after meals.

What foods will raise my blood sugar?

Foods can be divided into two categories:

1. Those that will raise blood sugar
2. Those that won’t raise blood sugar

Food that will raise blood sugar

Foods that will raise blood sugar are foods with carbohydrates, like:

• Fruit and fruit juices
• Starches (breads, pastries, rice, pasta, noodles, cereal, grains, crackers, chips)
• Starchy vegetables (potatoes, corn, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, beans, legumes, lentils, tofu)
• Milk and milk substitutes
• Sweets, desserts, and sweetened beverages

Food that won’t raise blood sugar

Foods that won’t raise blood sugar are foods without carbohydrates, like:

• Protein
• Fat
• Non-starchy vegetables (cucumber, lettuce, tomatoes, bell peppers, mushrooms, carrots, onions)

Carbs are still part of a healthy eating plan

Even though carbs raise blood sugar, it’s important to include them as part of balanced, healthy meals. They provide important energy, vitamins, minerals, and fiber that your growing baby needs. Avoiding or limiting carbohydrates during pregnancy can lead to low blood sugar and possible nutrient deficiencies.

With carbs, choose healthy, high-fiber options. Here are some good options:

Choose high-fiber carbohydrates like:	Limit processed, low-fiber carbohydrates like:
Vegetables Fruit Whole grains Whole wheat pasta, tortillas, and breads Brown rice Oatmeal Beans Legumes Quinoa Sweet potatoes Winter squash	Sugary cereals Fruit juice or other sweetened beverages Desserts and sweets White breads and pasta White rice Pastries

What about protein and fat?

All foods are made up of some combination of protein, fat, and carbohydrates. Although protein and fat don’t raise blood sugar, some protein and fat foods can still have carbohydrates. Think breaded chicken covered in a sweet sauce, or a sweetened nut butter spread like Nutella® — both are protein or fat foods with added sugar.

When it comes to protein and fat, these guidelines can help you make great choices:

Protein

Choose lean proteins like:	Limit high-fat proteins like:
Fish Skinless chicken and turkey Lean cuts of pork, beef, and lamb Low-fat or fat-free cheese Seafood Plant-based protein (like tofu, tempeh, seitan)	Fatty cuts of meat Sausage Hot dogs Bacon

Fat

Choose heart healthy, plant-based fat from:	Limit saturated fat, found in:	Avoid trans-fat, found in:
Avocado Nuts and nut butters Seeds Olives Vegetable oils	Meat (beef, lamb, pork, chicken and turkey with skin) Full-fat dairy (butter, whole milk, whole yogurt) Coconut and palm oils	Fried foods Hard margarines and shortening Many baked goods and shelf-stable snacks

Pro-tip: Including foods high in protein, healthy fats, and fiber at each meal and snack offers 3 great benefits: it provides nutrition for you and your baby, helps you feel full longer, and helps prevent blood sugar spikes.

The balanced plate method for healthy eating

Choosing the right amount of carbohydrates in your meals and snacks (not too much and not too little) will help your blood sugar stay in your target range.

The balanced plate method is a great way to focus on small, simple changes for healthy eating. It will help you get enough protein and vegetables (full of nutrition for a growing baby). It also makes sure there aren’t too many carbohydrates on your plate that can cause large spikes in blood sugar after your meals.

Here’s how it works:

1. Start with a 9-inch plate (a salad or lunch plate, not a dinner plate)
2. Divide it into 4 sections, with:
   • ½ plate for non-starchy vegetables
   • ¼ plate protein
   • ¼ plate carbohydrates
3. Add water or a zero-calorie drink

Pro-tip: Place the vegetables on your plate first, followed by protein, and then carbohydrates last. This way, you won’t add too many carbs to your plate.

Extra pro-tip: Eat in that same order: vegetables, protein, and then carbohydrates. Eating high fiber and protein foods before carbohydrate foods can lead to lower blood sugars after a meal or snack, and will help fill you up.

Other methods for balancing carbs

You and your healthcare team may discuss other tools to help you balance your carbs. Be sure to talk with your team, and refer to these resources to learn more:

• [Monitoring your blood sugar] before and after meals can help you see how different foods affect you
• [Carb counting] and reading food labels can give you a precise way to measure how many carbs you eat

Your team is here to help you

Small changes will be a big help in managing your blood sugar and having a healthy pregnancy — and you don’t need to do this alone!

Your doctor will monitor your blood sugar throughout your pregnancy. Bring your blood sugar and food logs to your medical visits so you and your doctor and/or diabetes educator can track the trends and patterns you’re seeing.

You can also reach out to your Progyny Care Advocate with questions. We’re here for you.

Disclaimer: The information provided by Progyny is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for medical guidance.

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Food safety is extra important when you’re pregnant. Both you and your baby have a higher risk of becoming very sick from bacteria and other microorganisms.

One of the most serious types of food poisoning is from a bacteria called listeria. It’s found in some animal products (cows, poultry) and the soil and water (so it may be in unwashed fruits and vegetables). Listeria can even grow in refrigerated environments.

Symptoms of listeria poisoning can start the same day you eat contaminated food. But it can also happen up to 10 weeks later. This is because listeria can spread from the intestines to other parts of the body.

Your baby can be infected even if you don’t feel sick. And it can cause serious problems including:

• Pregnancy loss
• Premature delivery
• Life-threatening infections in newborns

Fortunately, knowing which foods to avoid can keep you and your baby safe.

Unpasteurized = unsafe during pregnancy

Many foods and liquids go through pasteurization, a heating process that kills harmful organisms and helps keep you safe.

Foods and drinks that are unpasteurized can have large amounts of microorganisms and should be avoided. This includes:

• Raw milk
• Unpasteurized juices

In addition, deli meats and certain cheeses are a higher risk for having listeria. Follow these steps:

• Avoid cheese made from raw milk
• Avoid soft cheeses (like queso blanco, queso fresco, cotija, feta, brie)
• Cook deli meat and hot dogs to 165°F to kill listeria

What can I eat?

Use this guide to find out which foods are good choices during pregnancy, and which should be avoided.

Drinks

Good (low risk)	Avoid (high risk)
Pasteurized milk Pasteurized juices	Unpasteurized (raw) milk Unpasteurized juice

Cheese

Good (low risk)	Avoid (high risk)
Processed cheese Cream cheese Mozzarella	Unpasteurized (raw milk) cheese Soft cheese (both pasteurized and unpasteurized) Brie Cotija Queso fresco Queso blanco Feta and blue cheese Camembert

Meat, deli, and eggs

Good (low risk)	Avoid (high risk)
Cooked hot dogs Deli meat (warmed to 165°F) Properly cooked meat, poultry, fish and seafood Canned seafood and fish	Pâtés, meat spreads, smoked fish Uncooked hot dogs and deli meat (cold cuts) Undercooked or raw meat, fish, or seafood Raw sushi Ceviche Tartare Raw eggs and foods that contain raw eggs Cookie dough Certain salad dressings Certain desserts Deli foods (like chicken or seafood salad)

Fruit and vegetables

Good (low risk)	Avoid (high risk)
Washed vegetables	Raw sprouts Unwashed vegetables

There’s a lot you can do to protect yourself and your baby. To keep learning, visit:

4 steps for food safety during pregnancy

Mercury and substances to avoid during pregnancy

Your healthcare team and Progyny Care Advocate are also here to talk through any questions you have about food safety.

Disclaimer: The information provided by Progyny is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for medical guidance.

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When you’re pregnant, you want to do everything you can to keep your growing baby safe. There’s a lot of advice about what to avoid eating, drinking, or putting in your body, and it can get confusing.

Let’s walk through which substances to limit or avoid for a healthy pregnancy.

Mercury in seafood

Some fish and seafood are high in mercury, a type of metal that can cross the placenta when you’re pregnant. This means when you eat food high in mercury, mercury will end up in your baby’s body.

High amounts of mercury are dangerous for your growing baby. It can harm their developing brain, nervous system, and may lead to birth defects.

Use this guide to find out which types of seafood are good choices during pregnancy, and which should be avoided.

Good (low in mercury)	Avoid (high in mercury)
Anchovies Atlantic mackerel Black sea bass Catfish Cod Crawfish Flounder Lobster Oyster (cooked) Mackerel Perch Salmon Shrimp Tilapia Trout Tuna	Big eye tuna King mackerel Marlin Orange roughy Shark Swordfish Tilefish White albacore tuna: limit to 6 ounces a week

Before having locally caught fish or seafood, check the local fish advisories. Levels of mercury (and other metals and toxins) are affected by seasons and local events. These advisories will let you know if local catches are safe to eat.

For more information, the Food and Drug Administration offers a detailed guide about eating fish during pregnancy.

Vitamins and supplements

It’s recommended that you take prenatal vitamins during pregnancy.

However, some other vitamins and supplements (like megavitamins and herbal supplements) may:

• Be harmful to the baby
• Cause side effects
• Make your blood sugar go up or down
• Prevent other medicines from working

Be sure to tell your healthcare provider about everything you take, including vitamins, supplements, and over-the-counter medicines. Your provider will make sure it’s safe for you and your baby.

Caffeine

Having up to 200 mg of caffeine a day is considered safe when you’re pregnant. High amounts of caffeine could increase the risk of pregnancy loss or preterm birth. To be safe, aim for less than 200 mg a day. This is about the amount in 12 ounces (1.5 cups) of coffee, depending on the strength.

But talk to your doctor about what they recommend for you. For some people (including if you have diabetes or gestational diabetes), it may be best to avoid it. This is because caffeine may make your blood sugar rise or drop.

Sodium

Too much sodium (salt) can cause high blood pressure for some people — and that’s a risk during pregnancy. Limiting your sodium intake can help reduce your chances of high blood pressure.

Doctors recommend having no more than 2,300 mg of sodium a day. Major sources of sodium include packaged and prepared foods like:

• Sandwiches
• Pizza
• Canned soups
• Frozen dinners
• Chips and crackers
• Condiments and sauces

Alcohol, smoking, and recreational drugs

There is no safe amount of alcohol, tobacco, or recreational drugs during pregnancy.

These substances can cause:

• Growth and developmental problems for your baby
• Miscarriage
• Stillbirth
• Premature delivery
• Blood sugar changes for you

For help stopping any of these, it’s absolutely OK to speak with your healthcare team. They can help you quit and will be happy to help. It’s the best thing you can do for your little one.

We know there are a lot of do’s and don’ts when you’re pregnant. To learn more about food safety, check out:

• Can I eat that? Foods to avoid during pregnancy
• 4 steps for food safety during pregnancy

You can talk to your Progyny Care Advocate any time you need a little extra help sorting through it all.

Disclaimer: The information provided by Progyny is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for medical guidance.

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During pregnancy, you and your baby are at higher risk for foodborne illness (food poisoning). Your immune system might have a harder time fighting infections caused by bacteria and other microorganisms. And your baby can be infected even if you don’t feel sick.

Let’s go over tips to help you stay safe.

1. Keep it clean

Handwashing is the simplest and most effective way to avoid spreading germs and getting sick. You know the drill…

• Use warm, soapy water and lather for at least 20 seconds
• Scrub under your nails and between your fingers
• Rinse your hands well and dry with a clean towel

Wash your hands…

• Before eating or preparing food
• After handling raw meat, fish, seafood, poultry and eggs
• After using the bathroom, changing a diaper, or touching dirty surfaces or pets
• After coughing, sneezing, or touching your face
• After being around a sick person

Also keep kitchen surfaces clean. Use hot, soapy water or disinfectant to clean counters, cutting boards, knives, and other utensils.

2. Avoid cross-contamination

Cross-contamination is when bacteria, viruses, dirt, or other microorganisms move from one food or surface to another.

It’s a big concern with raw meat, fish, seafood, poultry, and eggs. These raw foods can have bacteria.

These tips help avoid cross-contamination for raw meat, fish, seafood, poultry, and eggs:

• Wash your hands before and after handling raw foods.
• Don’t use the same cutting board for raw and cooked foods.
• If a plate or utensil touches raw food, do not re-use it for cooked food.
• Don’t let the juice from raw foods or their packages drip on other surfaces.
• Use hot, soapy water or disinfectant to clean surfaces touched by raw food.
• Wash the meat thermometer with hot, soapy water after every temperature check.

3. Beware the danger zone

Did you know there is a temperature range where bacteria in food can thrive and grow quickly?

That danger zone is between 40 and140°F. (Keep in mind that room temperature is 68 to 72°F.) When food is left out too long, bacteria grow quickly. They can double in just 20 minutes. Ick!

Follow these guidelines for serving food safely:

• Cold food: Keep at 40°F or below
• Hot food: Keep at 140°F or above
• Frozen food: Keep at 0°F

What to do with leftovers:

• Throw away food that has been out of the fridge for over 2 hours. · Hot day? Throw away food after 1 hour if it’s 90°F or hotter outside.
• Help cool food quickly in the fridge by dividing it into small containers or cut up large items (like roasts).
• It’s OK to put hot food directly in the fridge.
• Most leftovers can be stored in the fridge for 3 to 4 days.
• Most frozen foods can be stored for 3 to 4 months.

4. Remember, it’s the inside that counts

Cook all leftovers and raw meat, fish, seafood, poultry, and eggs to a safe minimum internal temperature.

Use a food or meat thermometer to be sure you’ve reached these temperatures:

What foods should I avoid?

In addition to food safety, it’s important to know which foods are more likely to carry harmful bacteria. Check out:

• Can I eat that? Foods to avoid during pregnancy
• Mercury and substances to avoid during pregnancy

If you have any questions about a healthy pregnancy lifestyle, reach out to your Progyny Care Advocate any time. We’re here for you!

Disclaimer: The information provided by Progyny is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for medical guidance.

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Connecticut Children’s partnered with Progyny to strengthen its approach to fertility and family building benefits. Since launching the program, employees have gained broader access, more consistent support, and a benefit design that better meets the diverse needs of their workforce.

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An egg bank is a specialized facility where human eggs are frozen and stored for future use. People who need donor eggs can purchase frozen eggs to create embryos using in vitro fertilization (IVF).   

Donor eggs: an overview 

Eggs are donated by healthy, fertile donors who have been carefully screened following FDA and state regulations. Eggs from older people have a lower chance of successful pregnancy, so most egg donors are in their 20’s. 

Eggs are preserved using a rapid freezing technique and stored in cryogenic tanks filled with liquid nitrogen at -196°C. This ultra-cold environment keeps the eggs viable until they’re ready to be used.  

When eggs are needed for fertility treatments, they are carefully thawed and fertilized with sperm. The resulting embryos are transferred to the uterus of the person carrying the pregnancy — either the intended parent or a gestational carrier. 

Who uses egg banks? 

• People with infertility: People with low ovarian reserve or poor egg quality can use donor eggs to become pregnant. 

• People with age-related concerns: Egg health goes down with age, so using eggs from younger donors can increase the chance of success.   

• LGBTQ+ individuals and single parents by choice: Donor eggs allow LGBTQ+ people and couples, as well as single intended parents by choice, to pursue biological parenthood. 

How do egg banks work? 

Intended parents start their journey by selecting a donor from the egg bank’s database. You can review detailed donor profiles, which typically include: 

• Medical history 

• Genetic screening results 

• Physical characteristics 

• Educational background 

• Personal interests 

Intended parents may also be advised to go through medical evaluation and psychological counseling to explore emotional, ethical, and relationship considerations. Your fertility specialist can guide you through your decision. 

Steps for using a donor egg in IVF:  

1. The frozen eggs are carefully thawed, using special techniques to preserve their viability.  

2. The eggs are fertilized with sperm from the intended parent or a sperm donor.  

3. The resulting embryos are observed for several days to be sure they’re developing properly.  

4. The best quality embryo is transferred to the uterus of the person carrying the pregnancy, or frozen for future use. Freezing embryos allows for preimplantation genetic testing (PGT), if desired.  

Your fertility clinic will coordinate with your chosen egg bank for counseling, logistics, medical procedures, and monitoring. 

Benefits of using frozen donor eggs 

Frozen eggs have several benefits:  

• Frozen eggs can be used right away, while fresh eggs require the donor to match their cycle and egg retrieval with the recipient’s treatment cycle.   

• Access to a broad and diverse pool of donors. 

• Freezing allows time to test the eggs, improving safety and success rates.  

• Frozen eggs can be shipped, so intended parents are not limited by availability where they live. 

Legal and ethical considerations 

Legal contracts are used to protect the rights and responsibilities of everyone involved in egg donation: the donor, intended parents, and the resulting child.  

Legal contracts ensure that:  

• Donors give up all parental rights 

• Donors grant the intended parent(s) full legal custody of the donated eggs and any resulting embryos and children 

They also outline the terms of donation, such as donor compensation, details and timing of medical procedures, and confidentiality. 

Ethical considerations   

In the past, many donations have been anonymous, but open donations in which donors and recipients can choose to share information are increasingly common. This allows for transparency and sharing genetic knowledge. 

It’s important to consider whether donor-conceived children will be able to access information about their genetics. Think about how it might affect the child’s sense of identity, emotions, and relationships with both their biological and social parents.  

Counseling can help you think through these questions. 

Getting started with an egg bank  

Egg banks offer a meaningful path to parenthood. Ask your fertility clinic and egg bank any questions you have.  

Your Progyny Care Advocate can also provide support by helping you: 

• Find a fertility specialist 

• Connect with counseling and support resources 

• Navigate the process with confidence 

Disclaimer: The information provided by Progyny is for educational purposes only and is not medical or legal advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for medical guidance and a lawyer for legal guidance.   

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Structural problems in the uterus and fallopian tubes are one possible cause of infertility. You may have tests to look for these problems as part of a routine fertility evaluation. Or testing may be done if your doctor suspects you have an issue. 

Diagnostic testing may be done to look for: 

• Blocked fallopian tubes, which make it impossible for sperm to reach an egg for fertilization. A blockage can also prevent eggs from moving from the ovary to the uterus. (If a fertilized egg can’t travel to the uterus, it can lead to a life-threatening condition called an ectopic pregnancy.) Fallopian tubes may be blocked from pelvic inflammatory disease, scar tissue, endometriosis, or fibroids. 

• Problems with the uterus, which can prevent an embryo from implanting in the endometrium (lining of the uterus). Uterine problems may include fibroids, polyps, scar tissue, and problems that can happen when the uterus is developing (the most common being a problem called uterine septum). 

There are a few tests your doctor may recommend, each with benefits and drawbacks. Be sure to discuss your options together and ask any questions you have. 

Saline infusion sonohysterogram (SIS) 

A saline infusion sonohysterogram (SIS) is a transvaginal ultrasound that is done while your uterus is filled with saline solution, to better see the inside of the uterus.  

• What it detects: Issues in the uterus and endometrium, such as endometrial polyps, fibroids, or uterine scars. 

• How it works: Saline solution is passed through the cervix to fill the uterus while a transvaginal ultrasound is done. This shows a more detailed picture of the uterus and endometrium than an ultrasound without saline. 

• Benefits: A quick procedure (less than 10 minutes) that provides important information about issues that could prevent an embryo from implanting in the uterus. 

• Drawbacks: Does not provide any information about the fallopian tubes. 

Hysterosalpingogram (HSG) 

A hysterosalpingogram is an x-ray that uses contrast dye to look at the fallopian tubes and uterus. 

• What it detects: Blockages in the fallopian tubes and some problems in the uterus, such as uterine fibroids, polyps, scar tissue, uterine septum, or other problems. 

• How it works: Contrast dye is carefully pumped into your uterus to fill the uterus. An x-ray will take pictures of the dye flowing through the uterus. If there is no fallopian tube blockage, the dye can pass through the fallopian tubes and into your body (where it’s safely absorbed). If the dye cannot pass, there is a blockage.  

• Benefits: Provides information about the fallopian tubes, including where a blockage is located in the fallopian tubes, as well as some information about the uterus. 

• Drawbacks: Involves a low dose of radiation, can be uncomfortable, and does not provide as much information about the uterus as an SIS. 

Sonohysterosalpingogram (sono-HSG) 

A sono-HSG is a newer method that does not use an x-ray. It provides information about the fallopian tubes and the uterus using saline solution and a transvaginal ultrasound.  

• What it detects: Blockages in the fallopian tubes (including an issue called hydrosalpinx, where fluid builds up and blocks the fallopian tube) and problems in the uterus, such as uterine fibroids, polyps, scar tissue, uterine septum, or other problems. 

• How it works: Saline solution, along with air, is passed through the cervix to fill the uterus. A transvaginal ultrasound will show the saline with air bubbles flowing through the uterus. If there is no fallopian blockage, the saline and air bubbles can pass through the fallopian tubes and into your body (where it is safely absorbed). If the saline and air bubbles cannot pass, there is a blockage. 

• Benefits: Unlike HSG, there is no exposure to radiation and the test can be done in your fertility doctor’s office. 

• Drawbacks: Not as well-studied as the HSG, not as widely available, and not as effective at evaluating the fallopian tubes. 

Hysteroscopy 

A hysteroscopy allows your provider to look inside the uterus. The uterus is filled with fluid to better see the inside, and a hysteroscope (a narrow, lighted camera in the shape of a tube) allows the provider to see any problems. A hysteroscopy is done to diagnose problems of the uterus, often including unusual bleeding.  

• What it detects: Issues on the inside of the uterus or its lining (known as the endometrium). These may include polyps, fibroids, scar tissue, or problems related to how the uterus developed. Sometimes a hysteroscopy is done with other tools to take a tissue sample (biopsy) or treat problems (such as removing polyps). Your doctor would describe why the procedure may be needed in your case — it has many uses. 

• How it works: Often, medicine is used to help you relax, or anesthesia may be used. A hysteroscope is passed through the cervix, and a liquid is sent into the uterus to help the doctor see more clearly. If needed, specialized tools can be inserted to perform surgical treatments. 

• Benefits: This is a common, safe diagnostic procedure that can be performed along with surgery if needed in a single session. 

• Drawbacks: Any procedure has risks. Hysteroscopy has a small risk of bleeding, infection, reactions to anesthesia, and other problems. Your doctor will describe these risks to you. 

If you have questions about the tests your doctor has recommended for you, it’s always OK to ask them. Your Progyny Care Advocate is also here to help you understand your options and prepare for your conversations with your doctor. 

Disclaimer: The information provided by Progyny is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for medical guidance. 

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ASRM is one of my favorite annual gatherings because it’s a chance to reconnect with colleagues and friends, exchange ideas, and learn about the latest research shaping the evolution of reproductive endocrinology and infertility care. This year’s conference in San Antonio was especially meaningful, as I co-authored a featured abstract exploring how a specialized Medical Advisory Board (MAB), working in collaboration with a benefit provider, can help promote evidence-based, best-practice fertility care—specifically by advising on gonadotropin/IUI criteria to support safety and optimized patient selection.

Working alongside some of our Progyny network providers—including lead author Keri Bergin, MD—as well as Reproductive Medicine Associates of New York leaders including Alan Copperman, MD, and research lead and coordinator Joseph Lee, we examined how increased clinical review of IUI treatment requests might better optimize treatment selection and outcomes by reducing unnecessary risks.

Why does this matter?

Multiple-gestation pregnancies—more common when gonadotropins are used—carry disproportionate risks, including higher rates of pregnancy loss, preterm delivery, and extended NICU stays. These are outcomes every clinician and patient hopes to avoid. 

That’s why applying a thoughtful, medically grounded review process before approving gonadotropin/IUI cycles is so important. In our retrospective, two-year cohort study, our MAB of reproductive endocrinologists advised on shaping UM policy using ASRM and other peer-reviewed guidelines to ensure appropriate patient selection for requested treatment benefits. The actual reviews were conducted by a dedicated team of network REI providers and fertility nurses who apply these evidence-based criteria when evaluating requests. Gonadotropins can be an excellent option for many individuals on their fertility journey, but, as with any treatment, it’s essential to identify who is most likely to benefit and who may face unnecessary risk. 

Our findings were encouraging: refining the criteria for gonadotropin/IUI significantly reduced high-risk multiple-gestation pregnancies without compromising success rates. The multiple-gestation rate dropped from 10% of IUI pregnancies to 0%, while clinical pregnancy rates remained essentially unchanged. 

You can watch our presentation video, where Dr. Bergin and I walk through our approach and findings in detail: 

The takeaway is clear: careful, data-driven patient selection can meaningfully improve safety in fertility care. Organizations seeking to reduce multiple gestation pregnancies have a real opportunity to update policies and selection criteria in ways that support patients while maintaining optimal patient outcomes. 

At Progyny, we deeply value the clinical nuances that shape each patient’s family building path. Our role as a benefit provider is not to dictate care, but to ensure that requested covered treatments meet standards of clinical appropriateness—always with the goal of helping individuals receive the right care at the right time, in the safest and most supportive way possible. That commitment drives our investment in strong clinical partnerships and ongoing research that elevates the field and enhances the patient experience. 

I’m proud that Progyny is contributing meaningful, current data on this aspect of fertility treatment and that we were able to share these insights with the ASRM community. We had energizing conversations at the conference and received positive feedback from colleagues equally committed to improving reproductive health. Ultimately, our collective goal at ASRM remains the same: to help every intended parent have the healthiest possible path to a full-term baby. 

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A cancer diagnosis, or learning that you’re at higher risk, can raise urgent questions about your future fertility. For people who haven’t started or finished building their families, those questions can feel overwhelming. The good news: advances in reproductive medicine offer options that let you prioritize treatment while protecting your ability to have children later. 

So what options exist if you’re facing cancer treatment — or planning preventive care if you know you are at high risk for developing cancer — before your family is complete? 

Egg freezing 

Egg freezing preserves eggs for future use and is a well-established option before treatments that may affect fertility. It can be especially helpful when pregnancy needs to be delayed, including during cancer care. 

Eggs retain their age-related reproductive potential at the time they are frozen. This means that eggs frozen earlier in life may offer higher chances of pregnancy later. For example, eggs frozen at age 33 generally provide similar pregnancy potential when used at age 40 as they would have at 33, though outcomes vary and pregnancy is never guaranteed. 

Egg freezing has also been shown to be an effective form of fertility preservation. Long-term studies have found that most frozen eggs survive the thawing process, and many of those eggs can be successfully fertilized. While fertilization does not guarantee pregnancy or live birth, these outcomes support egg freezing as a viable option for people looking to preserve fertility.  

For individuals diagnosed with cancer — or those at higher risk, including adolescents and young adults — knowing these options exist can provide reassurance and hope for the future. 

Embryo freezing 

If you have a partner and are facing a cancer diagnosis, freezing embryos instead of eggs may be an option to consider. The process is similar to egg freezing. After eggs are retrieved, they are fertilized with sperm in the embryology lab and grown for several days until they reach an advanced stage called a blastocyst. 

Blastocysts can be tested for aneuploidy, which means having an incorrect number of chromosomes, and then frozen for future use. If you carry a known gene mutation that increases your risk for cancer, embryos can often be tested for that mutation as well. 

One advantage of embryo freezing is that your doctor can more accurately estimate the chance of a future live birth compared with frozen eggs. A key consideration, however, is that embryos are jointly owned by both partners. You must both agree on how the embryos can be used before they can be thawed and transferred into a uterus. 

An open conversation with a fertility specialist can help you weigh the benefits and limitations of freezing eggs versus embryos and decide which option best fits your goals and circumstances. 

Getting started 

If fertility preservation is something you’re considering, start by talking with your oncologist about your treatment timeline. From there, a fertility specialist can help determine whether egg or embryo freezing is appropriate and create an individualized plan.  

Because the process typically takes a few weeks, early coordination can help avoid delaying cancer treatment. After treatment is complete and you’re ready to pursue pregnancy, it’s important to reconnect with your oncology and fertility care teams to confirm that it’s a safe time to move forward. Once you receive medical clearance, your fertility specialist will guide you through next steps based on your overall reproductive health. 

If you have questions, Progyny is here for you. Please contact your Progyny Care Advocate for support.  

Disclaimer: The information provided by Progyny is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for medical guidance. 

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Treatment for tubal factor infertility typically involves surgery and/or in vitro fertilization (IVF), which bypasses the fallopian tubes. The choice depends on the location and severity of tubal damage, as well as individual factors such as age, ovarian reserve, sperm quality, and other infertility diagnoses. 

IVF

IVF bypasses the fallopian tubes entirely and is often preferred when tubal disease is severe or unlikely to be successfully repaired. IVF success rates are generally reported per cycle, and many people achieve pregnancy without undergoing surgery. However, for patients with a dilated fallopian tube, called a hydrosalpinx, surgery may be recommended to improve success with IVF. IVF involves medication injections, monitoring, and a minor outpatient procedure to remove eggs from the ovary, which are then fertilized in a laboratory.  

Though rare, there are rare risks that can occur with IVF. These include ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, bleeding, infection, ovarian torsion, and damage to nearby structures. The risk of complication is less than 1%. 

Surgical options

Surgery may be appropriate for select patients, particularly younger women without other infertility factors. Common surgical approaches include: 

• Selective tubal cannulation: Can open a blockage near the uterus (proximal obstruction). 

• Laparoscopic fimbrioplasty or neosalpingostomy: Can treat mild distal tubal disease or mild hydrosalpinx. 

• Laparoscopic salpingectomy: Recommended for severe or irreparable hydrosalpinx before IVF, as removing the damaged tube improves implantation and pregnancy rates. 

• Tubal reversal (after prior sterilization): Microsurgical procedures may restore fertility in carefully selected patients. 

Surgery vs. IVF

Direct comparisons of pregnancy rates between tubal surgery and IVF are limited. Surgery may restore natural fertility over time, while IVF typically offers higher per-cycle success rates and avoids some surgical risks. Your fertility team can help evaluate which approach makes sense based on your unique situation. 

Deciding on treatment 

When choosing between surgery and IVF, consider: 

• Your age and ovarian reserve 

• Sperm count and quality 

• Desired family size 

• Location and severity of tubal disease 

• Other infertility factors 

• Risk of ectopic pregnancy or complications 

• Your doctor’s experience 

• IVF program success rates and cost 

• Personal preferences 

Your care team can help weigh these factors and guide you toward the treatment path most aligned with your goals. 

If you have questions, Progyny is here for you. Please contact your Progyny Care Advocate for support.  

Disclaimer: The information provided by Progyny is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for medical guidance. 

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Pregnancy loss, sometimes called miscarriage or spontaneous abortion, is the most common complication of early pregnancy. It affects about 1 in 5 clinically recognized pregnancies and refers to the loss of a pregnancy before 20 weeks of gestation. 

Causes 

Most losses are a one-time event and do not affect your chances of becoming pregnant in the future. 

The most common cause is a random chromosomal problem in the embryo, known as chromosomal aneuploidy. These changes usually happen by chance and are not caused by anything you did. 

Less common causes include: 

• Differences in the shape of the uterus, such as a uterine septum 

• Certain blood-clotting conditions 

• Hormonal conditions, including thyroid disease 

Symptoms 

Vaginal bleeding is the most common sign. Cramping may also occur. While bleeding can be alarming, it is relatively common in early pregnancy, and many people who experience first-trimester bleeding go on to have healthy pregnancies. 

How it is diagnosed 

If you have bleeding during pregnancy, contact your doctor. Your care team may perform a physical exam and an ultrasound to better understand what is happening and evaluate the pregnancy. 

Treatment options 

There are several ways to manage a pregnancy loss. The best approach depends on your medical situation and, when it is safe to do so, your preferences. 

Options may include: 

• Expectant management: Allowing the pregnancy tissue to pass on its own, often used in the first trimester 

• Medical management: Using medication to help the uterus expel the pregnancy tissue 

• Dilation and curettage: A minor surgical procedure to remove pregnancy tissue from the uterus 

Your doctor will consider factors such as how far along the pregnancy was, the amount of bleeding, and your preferences. 

Emotional support 

The emotional impact can be significant. Many people and couples experience grief comparable to the loss of a child. Open conversations with your doctor about both physical symptoms and emotional well-being can help you access the support and resources you need. 

Progyny is here for you, too. Please contact your Progyny Care Advocate for support. 

Disclaimer: The information provided by Progyny is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for medical guidance. 

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Balancing fertility treatment with work can feel overwhelming. Medical appointments, hormone side effects, and the emotional ups and downs of infertility don’t stop for the workday. But you can take steps to protect your well-being and stay focused on your job while navigating this journey. 

Decide what to share 

You don’t have to disclose your fertility journey at work. Some people choose to share limited details with a manager or HR to explain schedule flexibility, while others keep work and personal life completely separate. Either choice is valid. If you do share, focus on what you need, like time for appointments, without going into personal details. 

Know your benefits 

Check your sick leave, flexible scheduling, remote work options, and mental health resources. While infertility isn’t always covered specifically, existing policies can help you manage appointments and recovery time. Knowing your options ahead of time can reduce stress and make planning easier. 

Plan your workload 

Treatment and emotional stress can affect energy and focus. Schedule demanding tasks during your peak energy times when possible. If you need temporary adjustments, frame requests around productivity and workflow rather than personal circumstances. 

Manage emotional triggers 

Workplace celebrations, pregnancy announcements, or casual questions about family plans can be difficult. It’s okay to step away for a short break if you need to. Simple grounding techniques — like deep breathing, walking, or jotting down thoughts — can help you reset and stay focused. 

Seek support 

Support outside work is essential. Therapy, support groups, or trusted friends can provide space to process feelings and reduce isolation. Having this outlet can make it easier to maintain focus and boundaries at work. 

Be kind to yourself 

Infertility can affect performance, focus, and confidence. If you’re not operating at your usual level, that’s normal. Recognizing that this is a challenging season and treating yourself with compassion can help you manage both work and treatment more effectively. 

You don’t have to handle infertility perfectly or alone. Small adjustments, clear boundaries, and self-care can make work more manageable during this difficult time. 

Progyny is here for you, too. If you have any questions, please contact your Progyny Care Advocate for support. 

The post How to deal with infertility while at work  appeared first on Progyny.

In vitro fertilization (IVF) was originally developed in the early 1970s to help people who had blocked or damaged fallopian tubes. Since then, advances in IVF and other assisted reproductive technologies have led to the birth of millions of babies. 

Sometimes IVF alone is not enough, especially when male infertility or a history of poor fertilization in an IVF cycle is present. Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) is a laboratory technique developed to help improve fertilization in these situations.  

How ICSI works 

ICSI involves injecting a single sperm directly into an egg outside the body. 

Most of the time, sperm comes from ejaculated semen. The lab prepares the sample by spinning it in a centrifuge to separate live sperm from debris and nonmoving sperm. 

If no sperm is found in the ejaculate because of an obstruction, a lack of sperm production, or an ejaculation issue, sperm can sometimes be retrieved surgically from the testes or epididymis. ICSI allows these sperm to be used for fertilization. 

After your egg retrieval during an IVF cycle: 

• An embryologist stabilizes a mature egg. 

• Using a thin micropipette, they guide a single sperm into the egg. 

• The sperm is injected into the cytoplasm of the egg. 

• The egg is then cultured in the lab and checked the next day for signs of fertilization. 

Who may use ICSI 

ICSI is most commonly used to address male infertility when fertilization rates may be lower. This includes: 

• Low sperm concentration (count) 

• Low sperm motility (movement) 

• Poor sperm morphology (shape) 

Other reasons you may use ICSI include: 

• A previous IVF cycle with failed fertilization 

• Preimplantation genetic testing to reduce the chance of sperm contamination 

• Using previously frozen eggs 

• Semen results that are borderline or difficult to interpret 

• HIV discordant couples (when only one partner has HIV) 

ICSI success rates 

ICSI can fertilize up to 80% of eggs. While it does not guarantee fertilization, complete fertilization failure is rare. As with IVF, egg quality and age are the main factors that influence success. 

Is ICSI safe? 

The outcomes of ICSI are similar to IVF without ICSI, and the same general risks apply. 

Some concerns discussed in research include: 

• A small increase in the risk of hypospadias, a condition where the opening of the penis is not at the tip 

• Possible links to imprinting disorders, such as Angelman syndrome, though current evidence is limited 

• A slightly higher chance of one embryo splitting into two, especially when transferring a blastocyst 

According to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, conditions that have been associated with ICSI — including imprinting disorders, hypospadias, and sex chromosome differences — occur in far fewer than 1% of children conceived with ICSI. The overall increase in the risk of birth differences related to ICSI is small. 

Some people with very low sperm counts have underlying genetic conditions that can be passed to children. If this applies to you or your partner, your doctor may recommend genetic screening before treatment. 

If you have questions, Progyny is here for you. Please contact your Progyny Care Advocate for support.  

Disclaimer: The information provided by Progyny is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for medical guidance. 

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Choosing a sperm donor is a deeply personal decision. With so many factors to consider, it can feel overwhelming, but the right information can help you make a choice that fits your family-building goals. 

Key factors to consider 

Genetic health

 
If you’ve had genetic testing and are a carrier for a specific mutation, select a donor who has tested negative for that same condition. This helps reduce the risk of passing genetic diseases to your child. 

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) status 

CMV is a common virus. If you’ve never been exposed, choose a donor who is also CMV negative to lower the risk of complications during pregnancy. 

Blood type and Rhesus factor (Rh) 

Blood type may be relevant, especially if you or your partner are Rh negative. Rh is a protein found on the surface of red blood cells. Matching Rh factor can help prevent immune-related complications in pregnancy.  

Family planning needs 

Sperm banks limit how many vials can be sold per donor. Consider purchasing multiple vials if you anticipate multiple pregnancy attempts or if you want to use the same donor for future siblings. 

Learning about the donor 

Many sperm banks offer membership options that give access to: 

• Photos of the donor as a child and/or adult 
• Audio interviews to learn about the donor’s personality, values, and life experiences 
• Medical and family history for several generations 

These resources can help you feel confident in your choice by providing a fuller picture of who the donor is. 

Support for your decision 

While choosing a donor can feel daunting, your care team and the information provided by sperm banks can guide you. Many banks also offer matching services to help you find a donor who aligns with your preferences and goals. 

If you have questions, Progyny is here for you. Please contact your Progyny Care Advocate for support.  

Disclaimer: The information provided by Progyny is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for medical guidance. 

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During your fertility journey, there may come a time when you stop and ask yourself some big questions: 

• Is my current treatment plan working? 

• Do I feel supported by my doctor and care team? 

• Should I get a second opinion? 

These are all normal and important questions. Knowing whether to adjust your treatment plan or seek care from a different doctor or clinic can have a major impact on your peace of mind. Below are some things to think about as you make that decision. 

Have you been on the same fertility treatment for three or more cycles? 

Yes. Most fertility specialists (reproductive endocrinologists, or REIs) agree that if you haven’t had success after three cycles, it may be time to review your plan. Ask your REI about adjusting medications, adding supplements or acupuncture, or trying a new treatment. 

No. Some fertility treatments can take up to three cycles before you see results. It can help to talk with your REI about what changes might come next if things don’t work out. Having a clear plan can help you feel more in control and reduce the stress of waiting. 

Do you understand your REI’s plan for your next cycle? 

Yes. That’s great. Understanding your treatment plan helps you feel confident and empowered. Always ask questions and reach out to your fertility care team if something isn’t clear. 

No. Don’t hesitate to call your REI’s office for clarification. You deserve to fully understand the risks, benefits, and chances of success for your treatment plan. If your REI isn’t available, your fertility nurse can also help explain things. 

Are you unsure about part of your treatment but feel uncomfortable speaking up? 

Yes. If something doesn’t sit right with you, speak up. Ask your REI to explain their reasoning. If you still don’t feel comfortable after getting answers, it might be time to get a second opinion. 

No. That’s wonderful. Still, if doubts ever come up, don’t ignore them. You know your body and your needs best — and your voice matters in your care. 

Have you been thinking about a second opinion but haven’t taken the step yet? 

Yes. Many fertility patients hesitate to get a second opinion because they don’t want to “insult” their REI. But remember — this is your health and your future family. Your REI understands that finding the right fit is important. 

Getting a second opinion doesn’t mean you’re leaving your current clinic. Sometimes hearing the same advice from another specialist can give you peace of mind or new clarity. Think of it as gathering more information to make the best decision for you. 

No. Okay, just keep checking in with yourself. If you ever feel uncertain, unheard, or unclear about your treatment, seeking another perspective can be a smart and empowering step forward. 

The bottom line 

Your fertility journey is deeply personal. You deserve care that feels right for you — medically and emotionally. Remember, it’s perfectly okay to ask questions or seek another opinion if it helps you feel more confident in your care. 

Sometimes a fresh perspective can bring the clarity, confidence, or change you need to keep moving forward. 

Progyny is here to help you throughout your fertility treatment. Please contact your Progyny Care Advocate for support.  

Disclaimer: The information provided by Progyny is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for medical guidance. 

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When starting your family building journey, the first step is to understand your health and fertility profile. 

Your reproductive endocrinologist will talk with you about your goals with fertility treatment and ask questions about your medical and reproductive history. You’ll also discuss diagnostic testing (it may take up to a month to complete testing and get results). 

Diagnostic tests will help your team create a personalized treatment plan for both you and/or your partner. Choosing the most effective treatments for your unique needs will increase your chances of achieving your goals. 

Ovarian reserve 

During a fertility evaluation, your doctor may use blood tests and/or an ultrasound to estimate your egg supply, often called ovarian reserve. Everyone born with ovaries has all their eggs at birth, and this supply naturally decreases with age. (This is unlike sperm, which is produced continuously after puberty.)  

The estimate for how many eggs remain does NOT measure how fertile you are or guarantee your chances of pregnancy. It’s simply information to help your doctor choose the safest and most effective medicine doses if you go forward with fertility treatment.  

Bloodwork to estimate ovarian reserve may include: 

• Anti-Müllerian hormone: This can be done on any day of your cycle 

• Estradiol or follicle-stimulating hormone: Tested on the 2^nd or 3^rd day of your natural menstrual cycle (only if you’re not on the pill or hormonal support) 

• Thyroid-stimulating hormone: To screen thyroid function 

• Prolactin and testosterone: If you have irregular or absent menstrual cycles 

Ultrasound  

A transvaginal ultrasound is used to perform an antral follicle count, or how many follicles are in the ovaries. This is a rough indicator of ovarian reserve. An ultrasound may also allow your doctor to learn if you have any growths (like non-cancerous cysts) in the ovaries. 

Transvaginal ultrasounds may also be used to check the thickness of the uterine lining, as well as the shape of your uterus. Your doctor will be able to see if there are any growths (like polyps or fibroids) that might affect your fertility.  

Uterus and fallopian tubes 

It’s important to find out if there are any issues in the uterus or fallopian tubes that are making it difficult to become pregnant or maintain a pregnancy.  

Depending on your family building goals and medical history, your doctor may recommend tests including: 

• Hysterosalpingogram (HSG): An x-ray that uses contrast dye to check for blockages in the fallopian tubes and look for signs of uterine fibroids, polyps, scar tissue, or other problems in the uterus 
   

• Sonohysterogram (SIS): A transvaginal ultrasound that is done while your uterus is filled with saline solution, to better see the inside of the uterus 
   

• Hysteroscopy: A visual exam of the inside of the uterus using a small, lighted tube inserted through the vagina 

Sperm quality 

Your doctor will also assess the fertility of a partner with sperm.  

The first step is a semen analysis, which evaluates the number, movement, and shape of the sperm.  

For additional testing, the partner producing sperm may be referred to a reproductive urologist, who specializes in male fertility. Tests may include ultrasounds or hormone tests. 

Genetic testing  

Fertility testing includes genetic testing to identify if you or your partner carries any genetic disorders or mutations. Finding potential genetic issues early can be helpful in your fertility journey.  

Moving forward after fertility testing 

Fertility tests will give you and your doctor essential insight into your fertility profile (and your partner’s fertility profile). And this will help you work together on a personalized treatment plan. Be sure to ask any questions along the way!  

You can always ask your Progyny Care Advocate for guidance, as well. 

Disclaimer: The information provided by Progyny is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for medical guidance. 

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Embryo transfers can be exciting and nerve-wracking at the same time. To help you feel more comfortable, let’s break down what to expect during the procedure and how to prepare. And you can always ask your healthcare team any questions you have. 

What is an embryo transfer? 

An embryo transfer is a procedure to place an embryo into the uterus with a small, thin catheter (tube). This tube often has the consistency of a spaghetti noodle.  

• A fresh embryo transfer is done just a few days after retrieving the egg. 

• A frozen embryo transfer uses an egg that was retrieved in a prior cycle, frozen, and thawed. 

What should I do in the days leading up to the procedure? 

The best thing you can do is stay as healthy as possible. Fortunately, this doesn’t mean making extreme changes. Eating well-balanced meals and getting moderate physical activity most days is great.  

It’s also important to prioritize sleep and find healthy ways to manage stress, like deep breathing, meditation, light physical activity, or talking with others who understand what you’re going through. 

What will an embryo transfer feel like? 

The embryo transfer is not painful. But it may be uncomfortable, since you’ll need to have a full bladder. Why is a full bladder needed?  

Embryo transfers are guided with an abdominal ultrasound while the speculum exam is done. A full bladder allows the doctor to properly see the abdominal ultrasound. It also helps straighten out the angle between the cervix and uterus. (A straighter passageway makes it easier to pass the catheter into the uterus.)  

What is the recovery time? 

Generally, an embryo transfer is done without medicine or only using medicine to help calm the nerves. It’s rare to use anesthesia.  

This means there’s no real recovery time and you can go home quickly after the procedure. Once home, you can go about your daily activities. It’s a good idea to take the day off from work so that you’re not stressed. 

When will I find out if it was successful? 

Most embryo transfers are done when the embryo is already at the blastocyst stage (a small ball of cells, a few days after the sperm meets the egg). The blood pregnancy test is 8 to 10 days after the embryo transfer.  

It’s recommended to do a pregnancy test with bloodwork instead of urine, because urine tests aren’t always correct. This is a big event in your life — you want an accurate result. 

If you have any questions about embryo transfer, get in touch with your Progyny Care Advocate. We’re here for you! 

Disclaimer: The information provided by Progyny is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for medical guidance.  

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Male infertility is common, and it can be stressful. Fortunately, treatments are available. Working with a reproductive urologist (a doctor who specializes in male fertility and sexual health) may be an important step in your fertility journey.  

Let’s go over why you may seek out a reproductive urologist and talk about what to expect with your first visit. 

Causes of male infertility 

Infertility is often due to sperm-related issues: 

• Low sperm count 

• Low sperm movement  

• Sperm that is not the typical size or shape 

These issues may be caused by: 

• Structural issues such as a varicocele (swollen vein in the testicle) or blockages within tubes that carry sperm 

• Hormone issues affecting sperm production 

• Medical conditions including obesity, diabetes, and an undescended testicle 

• Genetic conditions including Klinefelter’s syndrome and cystic fibrosis 

• Environmental factors such as substance use, chemotherapy, and radiation 

When to see a reproductive urologist 

Often, infertility doesn’t have signs or symptoms that you can feel or see. Other times, you may have problems with sexual function, pain or swelling in the testicle, breast growth, or less facial or body hair than expected.  

People may see a specialist if they have had: 

• Trouble conceiving after trying for 1 year 

• Pregnancy loss 

• An infertility diagnosis (or think they may have one) 

• Cancer treatments 

What to expect during your first visit 

Your doctor will talk with you about your goals, health history, and lifestyle. You’ll have a physical exam, including the genital area. Your doctor will also talk about tests that may be done. 

Getting ready for your visit 

To get ready and make the most of your time, please bring: 

• Results from semen analysis, if already done 

• Recent medical records and tests 

• A list of all medicine and supplements you take 

Be sure to ask your doctor’s office if there is anything else you can do to prepare. 

Tests to diagnose infertility 

Your doctor will recommend testing, which may include: 

• Semen analysis to test sperm 

• Bloodwork to check hormone levels 

• Genetic testing 

• Sperm DNA testing to look for damage  

• Ultrasound of the scrotum 

Based on your test results, personal situation, and family goals, your doctor will talk with you about possible treatments. These may include medicine, fertility treatment with a partner, surgery, and donor sperm. 

Meeting with a reproductive urologist and going through a family building journey can bring up a lot of questions. Be sure to reach out to your Progyny Care Advocate for guidance at any time. 

Disclaimer: The information provided by Progyny is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for medical guidance. 

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Egg freezing is a proactive way to take control of your fertility future. Many people don’t realize that they’re born with all the eggs they’ll ever have. Unlike other cells in the body, eggs don’t regenerate, and both their quantity and quality naturally decrease over time. 

Egg freezing offers a way to safeguard your reproductive potential, giving you the flexibility to build your family on your own timeline. While the idea of fertility treatments may feel overwhelming at first, the process is often more manageable than expected. With the right guidance and support, egg freezing can be a straightforward and empowering experience. 

What is egg freezing? 

Egg freezing, a form of fertility preservation, involves retrieving and freezing your eggs at your current age so they can be used later when you’re ready to move forward with family building. Because egg quality and quantity decline with age, freezing eggs earlier can increase the chance of a successful pregnancy in the future. 

What is the typical timeline of the treatment process? 

While some circumstances may require a faster treatment path — for example, if you want to freeze eggs before starting chemotherapy or radiation — most people will first meet with a healthcare provider to review their medical history, run initial bloodwork, and complete an ultrasound to assess ovarian reserve and overall reproductive health. 

The overall timeline depends on your menstrual cycle. Once your period starts, you can schedule an ultrasound and bloodwork. Based on those results, your provider will review your medication protocol and next steps. Treatment usually begins with the following menstrual cycle. Depending on your protocol, you may start with birth control pills or other medications before beginning stimulation with injectable medicines. 

When it’s time to begin ovarian stimulation, you’ll start daily injections for about 9 to 12 days. During this time, you’ll have ultrasounds and bloodwork about every other day so your care team can monitor your progress. These visits usually happen early in the morning, and you’ll receive updates later that day about any medication adjustments and your next appointment. 

Once the follicles (small, fluid-filled sacs in the ovary that house and nourish eggs) have grown to the appropriate size, you’ll take a “trigger shot” to help the eggs mature for retrieval — typically about 36 hours before the procedure. 

You’ll then come in for the egg retrieval, which takes about 15 to 20 minutes under anesthesia. During the procedure, the care team carefully accesses the ovaries (with ultrasound guidance) through the vaginal wall to collect the fluid containing the eggs. The eggs are then evaluated under a microscope, and mature eggs are frozen for future use. 

Afterward, you’ll recover for about an hour before going home. You’ll need someone to drive you and stay with you that day as you recover from anesthesia. Most people feel sore for a couple of days, while others may have mild discomfort for up to a week. 

Because not every follicle contains a mature egg — and not all eggs survive the freezing and thawing process — your provider may discuss how many eggs to freeze to optimize your chances of success. 

Finding support 

While the treatment process can take a physical toll, it can also bring emotional challenges. Although deciding to freeze your eggs can be empowering, it’s normal to experience a range of feelings throughout the process. 

Coming to the decision to freeze your eggs can be difficult, and there are often many steps between initial interest and starting treatment. Fertility journeys can sometimes feel isolating, so it’s important to build a support system you can lean on and talk about your experience with. 

Progyny is here to support you, too. Contact your Progyny Care Advocate with questions, concerns, or anything else that’s on your mind. 

Disclaimer: The information provided by Progyny is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for medical guidance. 

Related content/Recommended reads: 

Egg freezing: frequently asked questions  

Five myths about egg freezing  

The post Egg freezing 101 appeared first on Progyny.

Going through an in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycle that doesn’t work can be very frustrating. One reason this can happen is that the embryo doesn’t implant in the uterus, which is needed for pregnancy to occur. 

If you’ve had more than one failed IVF cycle or if your fertility doctor thinks you might face challenges with IVF, they might suggest a procedure called assisted hatching to help improve your chances. 

What is assisted hatching? 

After an egg is fertilized in the lab, it begins to grow and divide into cells. The growing embryo is surrounded by a protein shell called the zona pellucida. For the embryo to stick to the uterus and start a pregnancy, it needs to “hatch” out of this shell. 

Assisted hatching is a lab procedure where the embryologist (a scientist who works with embryos) makes a tiny hole in the zona pellucida to help the embryo hatch more easily. This can give the embryo a better chance to attach to the uterus. 

Most of the time, assisted hatching is done on day 3 (when the embryo has 6 to 8 cells) or day 5 (when the embryo is more developed, called a blastocyst). The embryologist uses special tools, like a laser or sometimes a tiny needle, to make the hole in the shell. After that, the embryo is placed back into the incubator to keep growing. 

Who might benefit from assisted hatching? 

Assisted hatching is not needed for everyone. It may be suggested for people who: 

• Are 38 or older 

• Have had two or more IVF cycles that did not result in pregnancy 

• Have embryos that appear to have slower or lower-quality development 

• Want their embryos to undergo genetic testing (assisted hatching is the first step when performing an embryo biopsy) 

In these cases, assisted hatching can help embryos that may have trouble breaking out of their shell on their own, giving them a better chance to attach to the uterus. 

Does assisted hatching increase IVF success? 

Assisted hatching can help some people get pregnant, especially those with embryos that are struggling to hatch or who are older. However, it doesn’t guarantee success. Some studies show it can improve pregnancy rates for certain people, but the results can vary. 

The success of assisted hatching also depends on the embryologist’s experience. It’s important to ask your clinic about their success with this procedure. 

Is assisted hatching safe? 

Like any medical procedure, assisted hatching does come with some risks, but it is generally safe when done by an experienced embryologist. Possible risks include: 

• Embryo damage: If the zona pellucida is weakened too much, the embryo might not survive. 

• Higher chance of twins: Assisted hatching can sometimes lead to twins if more than one embryo successfully implants in the uterus. 

These risks are small, but it’s something to consider when deciding if assisted hatching is right for you. 

Conclusion 

Assisted hatching can help improve your chances of getting pregnant with IVF, especially if you have certain risk factors like older age or poor embryo quality. However, it’s not a guarantee. Talk to your fertility care team about whether assisted hatching is a good option for you and make sure to ask about their experience with the procedure. 

Progyny is here for you, too. Please contact your Progyny Care Advocate for support.  

Disclaimer: The information provided by Progyny is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for medical guidance. 

The post What is assisted hatching in IVF ? appeared first on Progyny.

If you haven’t visited a fertility clinic and are wondering what the experience is like, don’t worry — this video walks you through the first steps into a typical fertility clinic and gives you a look into what happens in each room.  

Initial consultation visit 

Your first conversation about treatment options typically takes place in your doctor’s office. This is when they gain a greater understanding of your situation through an initial evaluation or consultation, getting to know you, your medical history, and your family building goals.  

The initial evaluation usually also involves some bloodwork at the phlebotomy room, and an ultrasound. This ultrasound and blood work can give the doctor significant information about your reproductive health, and from there a diagnosis and plan of action can be quickly determined. 

If you are doing a timed intercourse or intrauterine insemination (IUI) cycle, you will come into the office a few times for ultrasounds (and possibly bloodwork), so that your treatment can be perfectly timed. 

If you are doing IVF, you will come into the office multiple times throughout your treatment. In a two-week stimulation cycle, you might come into the office 4 to 8 times for morning monitoring. This will include a pelvic ultrasound in the exam room, and more blood work.  

You are also taking action at home. It could be taking oral medicines and supplements for treatment like timed intercourse, or intrauterine insemination. If the treatment is IVF, you will self-administer 2 to 3 injectable medicines for a couple of weeks. These injectable medicines are the hormones that allow doctors to retrieve multiple eggs in an IVF cycle. 

Collection room for sperm sample collection 

A semen sample is usually requested early during the evaluation phase and then again later when it’s time to fertilize the eggs. Your partner can sometimes provide a sample that is collected from home or can provide a sample collected at the clinic in their designated collection rooms.  

These are often located next to the andrology lab where the sperm is cleaned, tested, or prepared for fertilization. The andrology lab also contains tanks for storing frozen sperm. 

Other areas of the fertility clinic 

There are a few other areas of the fertility clinic that you may use on your journey. Many of today’s best clinics have in-house psychiatric services, which are typically available to most patients.  

All patients who utilize donor eggs, donor sperm, and traditional surrogacy tend to require a psychological exam. Clinics may have a health and nutrition expert who could assist you if your doctor recommended diet and exercise. 

For IVF, it leads to a surgical procedure called egg retrieval, which typically takes place in the clinic’s operating room. One part of the fertility clinic that makes a huge impact is one that patients rarely get to see — the embryology lab. 

Embryology lab tour 

An embryology lab is responsible for the safe handling of eggs, sperm, and embryos. There’s space in the incubator labeled with two unique identifiers for you and your partner and on the inside again, so the shelf and the place in the incubator are labeled, too. 

Progyny is here for you if you have questions. Please contact your Progyny Care Advocate for support.  

Disclaimer: The information provided by Progyny is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for medical guidance. 

The post What to expect at a fertility clinic and lab appeared first on Progyny.

We are honored to received this recognition, not by nomination or application, that identifies local leaders in customer satisfaction, brand reputation and excellent service.

If you are looking for fertility services in the Kansas City region, we are here to help. Contact us today.

The post RRC is a Top 3 Business in Kansas appeared first on Reproductive Resource Center Kansas City IVF.

A healthy pregnancy supports a healthy baby. Here are 10 simple ways to take care of yourself during pregnancy. 

1. Take a prenatal vitamin 

Take a prenatal vitamin with at least 400 micrograms of folic acid every day. Prenatal vitamins also provide key nutrients like iron, vitamin D, and calcium.  

It’s best to start taking it at least one month before getting pregnant and continue through the first 12 weeks to support the early development of your baby. Most doctors recommend taking prenatal vitamins throughout pregnancy and while breastfeeding. Confirm with your doctor before you begin since needs vary. 

2. Focus on a balanced diet 

Aim for a mix of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, dairy, and a variety of protein sources. 

• Wash produce before eating it. 

• Make sure all meat is fully cooked. 

• Eat 8–12 ounces (about two to three servings) per week of fish that are lower in mercury, such as salmon, sardines, or cod. Avoid high-mercury fish like swordfish or king mackerel. 

• Choose dairy products made from pasteurized milk. 

If you follow a restricted diet, such as vegan or gluten-free, talk with your doctor or a registered dietitian to be sure you’re getting the nutrients you need. 

3. Keep moving 

Regular exercise is good for you during pregnancy. Aim for about 150 minutes of moderate activity each week, or 20–30 minutes on most days. If you’re not active now, you can start with light movement. 

Avoid activities with a high risk of falling or injury, such as downhill skiing, horseback riding, or road biking in traffic. Walking, jogging, swimming, spinning, yoga, light weights, and Pilates are common options during pregnancy. If you have pregnancy complications or new symptoms, ask your doctor before starting or continuing an exercise program. 

4. Make healthy choices 

Avoid alcohol and nicotine during pregnancy. If you need support quitting, your doctor can help you find resources. 

5. Limit caffeine 

Keep caffeine under about 200 milligrams per day. That’s roughly two 8-ounce cups of coffee. 

6. Keep having sex if you want to 

Sex is safe in an uncomplicated pregnancy. If you have bleeding, pain, or other new symptoms, check with your doctor. 

7. Travel with a plan 

You can travel during pregnancy. Before you go, check where you can get medical care if you need it. Most airlines allow travel until about 36 weeks in an uncomplicated pregnancy, but rules vary. Ask your doctor what’s safe for you based on your health and your destination. 

8. Prevent bug bites 

Use an EPA-registered insect repellent, including those with DEET, especially in areas where there’s a risk of illnesses like West Nile virus or Zika. 

9. Care for your teeth 

Keep up with routine dental cleaning and dental care. Preventive visits and necessary dental treatment are safe during pregnancy. 

10. Review your medications 

Many commonly used medications can be continued during pregnancy, but some are unsafe. If you take prescription or over-the-counter medications daily, talk with your doctor before stopping or changing anything. For medications you take as needed, your doctor can help you choose options that are considered safe during pregnancy. 

If you have questions, Progyny is here for you. Please contact your Progyny Care Advocate for support.  

Disclaimer: The information provided by Progyny is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for medical guidance. 

Related Content

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Facing challenges on your family-building journey can put strain on any relationship. The financial, emotional, and physical aspects of fertility treatment can affect how you connect with your partner, family, and friends. 

We spoke with Dr. Alice Domar, a health psychologist who specializes in fertility care. Dr. Domar answered some of the most frequently asked questions about relationships, boundaries, and strategies to check in on yourself and your partner.  

1. How can I set boundaries and build supportive communication with family and friends?

Setting boundaries is personal. Some people talk openly about every step of treatment. Others prefer to keep details private. Think about what you’re comfortable sharing and what you’d like to keep to yourself. 

It can help to prepare simple, repeatable responses to questions or comments that feel uncomfortable. Your response can be polite (“I’m not comfortable discussing this”), educational (“Infertility is common, and causes can be male or female”), or direct (“I’m not sure why you’re asking that”). 

Family and friends may offer support, especially if they’ve had similar experiences, but they may also give unsolicited advice. Some people email loved ones to set expectations. For example: “When we have news to share, we’ll reach out. Please avoid asking if we’re pregnant.”

2. How can I support my partner?

Ask what they need. Often both partners are affected, even if only one has a medical diagnosis. One strategy: each partner writes a list of 10 things the other can do on a difficult day. When the moment comes, you can choose something from the list—whether it’s giving space, offering comfort, or helping with small tasks.

3. How can I check in with myself?

It’s normal to have ups and downs throughout treatment. If you feel persistently sad, overwhelmed, or unlike yourself for more than a week or two, you may benefit from additional support. Options include support groups, talking with someone who has been through infertility, checking resources through the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, or asking your doctor for guidance.

4. What helps couples maintain their relationship during treatment?

Talking regularly can help you stay connected. Many couples experience infertility differently, so avoid pressuring each other to feel the same way. Try setting aside a few minutes each day to check in. Outside of that time, it may help to keep fertility conversations from taking over the rest of your life together.

5. What if I’m experiencing secondary infertility and feel uncomfortable joining support groups?

Secondary infertility can be just as distressing as primary infertility. Look for a group specifically for people with secondary infertility or choose one that includes more than one participant with similar experiences.

6. What if I’m scared to tell someone what I’m going through?

Sharing information about your diagnosis is your choice. No one is entitled to details you don’t want to share. Telling a manager or supervisor may feel especially stressful. Infertility is recognized as a disease by the World Health Organization, so you can frame the conversation around seeking support or treatment for a medical condition.

7. How can I put these suggestions into practice?

You might try: 

• Accepting that you and your partner may cope differently 

• Limiting fertility-related conversations to a set time each day 

• Avoiding social events that feel emotionally difficult 

• Encouraging your partner to read others’ stories to understand common reactions to infertility

8. If therapy isn’t an option, what other resources can help?

You can: 

• Join an online support group through your clinic  

• Talk with a friend or relative who understands the experience 

• Have a single session with a reproductive mental health professional for coping strategies

9. How can I manage expectations for my relationship after treatment?

There’s no guaranteed return to “normal,” regardless of the outcome. Research shows that couples who face infertility together often maintain strong relationships, and many report feeling closer after navigating challenges as a team. 

How you manage your relationships throughout treatment will look different from others and that’s okay. The goal is to find what feels right for you and the people you care about. 

Progyny is here for you if you have any questions. Please contact your Progyny Care Advocate for support.  

Disclaimer: The information provided by Progyny is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for medical guidance.

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For many people, family building includes fertility treatment. That process can feel overwhelming, disruptive, and stressful. You may be making high-stakes decisions, coping with grief and uncertainty, and managing impacts on your finances, relationships, work, and physical health. It is normal to need extra support during this time. 

If you are otherwise healthy, navigating the healthcare system and insurance — especially behavioral health — may be new. It can be a lot to manage, and it is OK to ask for help. Some clinics also require visits with a behavioral health specialist if your plan includes a donor or a gestational carrier. 

Below are practical ways to get started, plus questions to help you find the right fit. 

Three ways to start your search 

Check your resources
Review your insurance network and look for therapists who list fertility or infertility as a specialty. Directories such as Psychology Today let you filter by specialty, location, and insurance participation.  

Talk with your clinic and support network
Many clinics maintain referral lists for individual or couples counseling and for support groups. These lists are often curated to include fertility-experienced providers. 

LGBTQ+ community centers may also offer programs and resources tailored to family building. For example, The Center in New York City provides services designed to meet the needs of LGBTQ+ individuals and couples. 

Explore the fertility community
There is a strong fertility community with many support options. For example, the American Society for Reproductive Medicine has a mental health professional group and a directory of therapists who specialize in fertility. Social media can also be a way to find providers and peer support through clinic and therapist pages or moderated groups. 

Three questions to ask when choosing a therapist 

Do they specialize in fertility or infertility?
Look for expertise that matches your needs. You should not have to teach your therapist the basics of fertility treatment, such as the difference between IVF and IUI, or the considerations around known versus anonymous donors. 

Do you feel comfortable with them?
The relationship matters. While many therapists can work effectively with people from different backgrounds, you may feel most comfortable with someone who shares your culture, religion, primary language, or lived experience. It is OK to speak with a few therapists before deciding. This is your time and your journey, and you should feel respected and understood. 

Are they properly licensed?
Confirm that the therapist is a licensed mental health professional, such as a PhD, PsyD, LCSW or LMSW, or LMFT, and that they have relevant experience. Accredited centers, such as the Ackerman Institute for the Family in New York, can also be a starting point. 

Many people hesitate to seek therapy because of stigma around mental health care. Fertility challenges can be one of the most stressful experiences you face, and stigma can add to feelings of isolation. Talking with a therapist can help you navigate this complex journey with clarity and support. Asking for help is a meaningful step in caring for yourself. 

Progyny is here to support you. Contact your Progyny Care Advocate for help you with your search.  

The post Top tips for finding a therapist appeared first on Progyny.

Starting fertility treatment is a big step and choosing a clinic is one of the most important decisions you’ll make. It can feel overwhelming at first, but you don’t have to figure it out alone. 

Your Progyny Care Advocate can help you explore your options, answer questions, and connect you with clinics that fit your goals. 

Why choosing a clinic matters 

Every fertility journey is different. Finding a clinic that aligns with your needs, preferences, and comfort level helps set you up for the best possible experience and outcomes. 

Some clinics are part of large medical centers, while others are smaller boutique practices. Both can provide excellent care. What matters most is finding a team you trust and a location that works for you. 

What to look for in a clinic 

When exploring clinics, consider: 

• Experience and expertise: Does the team have experience with your diagnosis or care needs? 

• Treatment options: Does the clinic offer the procedures and technologies you might need, such as genetic testing or egg freezing? 

• Clinic culture: Do you feel comfortable and supported by the staff? 

• Location and convenience: Can you easily get to appointments during treatment? 

What to know about Progyny in-network providers 

You have access to the top fertility specialists across the country. All our in-network clinics follow the highest medical standards and comply with American Society for Reproductive Medicine guidelines. 

Each clinic’s outcomes and credentials are regularly checked to ensure consistent, high-quality care. When searching for an in-network provider, you’ll see a clinic score, which reflects treatment outcomes for Progyny members at that specific location. 

Next article: What to ask when choosing a fertility clinic

Full Series

1. How to choose a fertility clinic
2. What to ask when choosing a fertility clinic
3. Understanding Clinic Options: Size, Services, and Specialties
4. Getting support and finding the right fit

The post How to choose a fertility clinic appeared first on Progyny.

Fertility treatment can bring a mix of emotions, such as hope, stress, excitement, and uncertainty. Finding the right clinic is about more than success rates — it’s about feeling heard, supported, and confident in your care, too.  

When to consider a second opinion  

Trust your instincts. If you ever feel:  

• Your questions are left unanswered 

• Your concerns aren’t being validated  

• You’re uncomfortable with communication or care style  

• Your first treatment attempts haven’t gone as expected  

It may be time to seek a second opinion. Many people do this after one or two unsuccessful cycles or simply to confirm their treatment plan.  

Using the Progyny provider search tool  

This search tool helps you explore in-network clinics and compare details like:  

• Clinic score (Progyny member outcomes)  

• Practice size and specialties  

• Languages spoken  

• Services offered  

Getting help from your Progyny Care Advocate (PCA) 

You don’t have to make these decisions alone. If you’re unsure where to start, your PCA can help you find the right fit for your goals, preferences, and lifestyle. 

The post Getting support and finding the right fit appeared first on Progyny.

Choosing a fertility clinic is a personal decision. The right fit depends on your medical needs, comfort level, and preferences for how you want your care to feel. Asking a few key questions can help you make that decision with confidence. 

Are there different specialties within fertility care? 

Yes, including: 

• Reproductive endocrinologists (REIs) are gynecologists who have specialized training in reproductive medicine, including infertility treatment and fertility preservation.  

• Reproductive urologists are doctors who have specialized training in the male reproductive system and male infertility. 

Some clinics may also have expertise in conditions such as polycystic ovary syndrome, endometriosis, or fibroids. If you’ve received a specific diagnosis, ask whether the clinic has doctors who specialize in that area. 

Depending on your or your family’s fertility needs, an REI may work with other specialists — such as gynecologists, surgeons, endocrinologists, urologists, and geneticists — to create a personalized care plan. 

Should I choose based on outcomes, treatments, or my doctor? 

Each of these factors plays a role and what matters most can vary by person. 

Many people focus first on success rates, which reflect how often patients achieve pregnancy or live birth. These results are influenced by several factors, especially the quality of the embryology lab, which handles eggs, sperm, and embryos. Most fertility doctors agree that the lab is one of the most important parts of IVF treatment. 

It’s also important to feel comfortable with your doctor. You should feel heard, respected, and confident in their recommendations. Keep in mind that you’ll likely meet other providers in the practice for monitoring, procedures, and follow-up visits, so it helps to feel comfortable with the entire care team. 

How much does location matter? 

During treatment, you may need to visit the clinic several times a week for bloodwork and ultrasounds, especially during stimulation and monitoring. Choosing a clinic that’s convenient to your home or workplace, when available, can make the process less stressful. 

What about the clinic’s hours? 

Before you begin treatment, ask: 

• What are your monitoring hours? 

• How do you handle weekends or holiday monitoring? 

• Will I need to take time off work for procedures? 

Knowing what to expect can help you plan your schedule and reduce stress once treatment begins. 

The post What to ask when choosing a fertility clinic appeared first on Progyny.

Some clinics are part of large medical centers, while others are small boutique practices. Each offers different advantages depending on what you value most — from personalized attention to access to advanced technologies. 

Understanding these differences can help you find a clinic that feels right for you. 

Large centers vs. boutique practices 

Large centers often have multiple physicians, advanced on-site labs, and connections with hospitals or academic programs. They may offer more appointment availability and a wide range of procedures under one roof. These clinics can be a great choice if you prefer a team-based approach or need specialized services. 

Boutique clinics are typically smaller, with one or two physicians who may take on fewer patients. This can mean more direct access to your doctor and a highly personalized experience. These clinics may appeal to people who value continuity with one provider and a more intimate setting. 

Neither is better or worse. It’s about which environment helps you feel supported and confident in your care. 

Affiliated hospitals or university programs 

Some fertility centers are connected to hospitals or medical schools. These affiliations can offer access to research programs or clinical trials and may be beneficial if your care involves complex medical factors. 

Private practices may offer greater scheduling flexibility or faster turnaround times. It’s worth asking about a clinic’s affiliations and whether they participate in ongoing research, donor programs, or fertility preservation initiatives. 

Labs, technology, and treatment options 

Behind every fertility clinic is an embryology lab, which plays a key role in IVF and related procedures. Lab quality and technology can directly influence success rates. 

When comparing clinics, consider asking: 

• Do you have an on-site lab or work with an external partner? 

• What technology do you use for embryo culture and storage? 

• How do you monitor and maintain lab conditions? 

You can also ask about additional services, such as: 

• Preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy  

• Egg or sperm freezing 

• Third-party reproduction (using donor eggs, sperm, or embryos) 

• Gestational carrier programs 

Inclusivity and family-building support 

Every family’s path to parenthood is unique. Progyny in-network clinics are experienced in caring for all family types and in supporting individuals with a variety of diagnoses, such as polycystic ovary syndrome or endometriosis. 

When you meet with a prospective clinic, you might ask: 

• How do you support diverse family structures and gender identities? 

• Do you offer gender-affirming care or donor services? 

• What emotional or mental health resources are available to patients? 

The answers can help you gauge whether the clinic’s environment aligns with your values and comfort level. 

The post Understanding Clinic Options: Size, Services, and Specialties appeared first on Progyny.

Starting fertility treatment is a big step and choosing a clinic is one of the most important decisions you’ll make. It can feel overwhelming at first, but you don’t have to figure it out alone. 

Your Progyny Care Advocate can help you explore your options, answer questions, and connect you with clinics that fit your goals. 

Why choosing a clinic matters 

Every fertility journey is different. Finding a clinic that aligns with your needs, preferences, and comfort level helps set you up for the best possible experience and outcomes. 

Some clinics are part of large medical centers, while others are smaller boutique practices. Both can provide excellent care. What matters most is finding a team you trust and a location that works for you. 

What to look for in a clinic 

When exploring clinics, consider: 

• Experience and expertise: Does the team have experience with your diagnosis or care needs? 

• Treatment options: Does the clinic offer the procedures and technologies you might need, such as genetic testing or egg freezing? 

• Clinic culture: Do you feel comfortable and supported by the staff? 

• Location and convenience: Can you easily get to appointments during treatment? 

What to know about Progyny in-network providers 

You have access to the top fertility specialists across the country. All our in-network clinics follow the highest medical standards and comply with American Society for Reproductive Medicine guidelines. 

Each clinic’s outcomes and credentials are regularly checked to ensure consistent, high-quality care. When searching for an in-network provider, you’ll see a clinic score, which reflects treatment outcomes for Progyny members at that specific location. 

The post How to choose a fertility clinic   appeared first on Progyny.

Fertility treatment can feel overwhelming. The emotional ups and downs, physical demands, and financial stress can take a toll. You’re not alone — many people find this journey challenging. 

The good news? There are ways to make it easier and help you feel more in control. Here are some tips from Dr. Alice Domar, a health psychologist who specializes in fertility care: 

• Create your comfort list: Think about what helps you feel calm. Maybe it’s taking a walk, calling a friend, listening to music, or watching a favorite show. Write these down or make a note on your smartphone so you’ll have them ready when stress hits. 

• Practice relaxation early: Meditation, yoga, or mindfulness can help. Relaxation apps like Calm offer guided sessions to get you started. Try a few and see what feels right for you. 

• Talk with your partner: Open communication matters. One helpful method is “paired listening,” which means you take turns talking for a few minutes while the other listens, then switch. Keep distractions like phones and TVs away during these talks. 

• Have a backup plan: If a treatment cycle doesn’t go as hoped, knowing your next steps — like meeting your doctor or exploring other options — can bring peace of mind. 

• Choose who to share with: Tell only those who will support you and respect your privacy. Sharing widely can lead to overwhelming messages, so keep it simple. 

Stress may not disappear completely, but these tips can help you feel supported and more in control. Remember, you deserve care and compassion every step of the way. 

If you have questions, Progyny is here for you. Please contact your Progyny Care Advocate for support. 

The post Managing stress during fertility care appeared first on Progyny.

Adoption involves several key steps, from choosing an agency to completing a home study and navigating legal and logistical requirements. Each journey is unique, but knowing what to expect can help you plan and feel more confident as you move forward. 

There are some misconceptions about adoption that can affect your decision-making and emotional well-being. Getting accurate information can help you feel confident as you explore this family-building path.  

One common misconception is that adoption is only a last resort. People build their families through adoption for many reasons, and it is not always tied to infertility.  

Find the right adoption agency for you  

Choosing an adoption agency is an important part of the process. The experience is in-depth, and it helps to partner with an agency you feel comfortable with. The agency staff, your attorney, and your support network will become important parts of your family-building team. 

Here are a few questions to ask as you begin your search: 

• What are your hours, and how responsive are you? Adoption does not follow a 9-to-5 schedule. An agency that is reachable when you need support can help you feel more prepared. 

• How long is your matching list, and how does it change? This can help you understand timelines and set expectations from the beginning. 

• How do you connect with expecting parents, and what is your matching process? Learning how an agency builds relationships and manages matching can give you insight into what your experience may be like. 

Choosing an agency is a personal decision. As you compare your options, here are a few extra steps to take: 

• Read reviews and ask to connect with adoptive parents who have used the agency. 

• Be mindful of promotional materials that promise short timelines. Every adoption timeline is different. 

• Ask for a clear breakdown of fees early in the process. You should receive this information in writing. 

Adoption costs 

Costs vary based on the type of adoption you pursue. Talk directly with each agency about all costs, including potential upfront fees, ongoing expenses, and billing practices. For domestic newborn adoption, fees may range from $30,000 to $60,000. 

Adoption logistics 

Every adoption experience is unique, but there are some shared logistics to keep in mind. 

Timeline 
There is no standard timeline from starting with an agency to being matched with a child. The process may take a few months or up to two years. Stay in close communication with your agency so you have a realistic understanding of what to expect at each stage. 

Paperwork 
Adoption involves a significant amount of paperwork. This documentation helps move the process forward. Your agency team will guide you, help you stay organized, and explain what is needed from you. 

Legal support 
You may have legal questions along the way. Building a reliable legal team can help you navigate any challenges and understand your rights and responsibilities. Your agency can also help you find legal support that fits your needs. 

Home study for adoption 

Your adoption agency will schedule a home study as part of your process. A home study includes interviews and a review of your home environment. This helps the agency learn about you, understand how a child would fit into your life, and ensure safety for everyone involved. This process can take several months. Once it’s complete, you will be eligible for matches! 

Summary 

Adoption is a meaningful way to grow your family, and understanding the process can help you feel more at ease. Take time to choose an agency you trust, learn what to expect with timelines and paperwork, and get familiar with costs and legal steps. A home study helps confirm readiness and safety for all involved. With the right support, you can move forward feeling informed and supported. 

If you have questions, Progyny is here for you. Please contact your Progyny Care Advocate for support.   

Disclaimer: The information provided by Progyny is for educational purposes only and is not legal advice. Always consult a lawyer for legal guidance. 

The post Understanding the adoption process appeared first on Progyny.

Surrogacy is one way to grow your family. You may consider surrogacy if you have experienced infertility, have a medical reason you cannot carry a pregnancy, are part of the LGBTQ+ community, or you are planning to have a child as a single parent. The process can feel complex, so this guide walks you through the basics. 

What is surrogacy? 

Surrogacy is a process where another person, called the gestational carrier, carries a pregnancy for you. The child is usually not genetically related to the carrier. 

You will undergo in vitro fertilization (IVF) to create embryos using your own egg and sperm, or with the help of donor egg, donor sperm, or both. A fertility specialist will then transfer the embryo to the gestational carrier, who will carry the pregnancy. 

Costs to expect 

Surrogacy involves several fees. These may include: 

• Agency services, matching, and screening 

• Psychological evaluations 

• Legal services 

• Medical costs for you and the carrier, including IVF 

• Compensation for the gestational carrier 

• Insurance or surrogacy support services 

The average total cost of surrogacy in the United States is $100,000 to $150,000. It’s important to note that costs vary widely based on individual circumstances, location, and the specific services needed. 

Who is involved 

Surrogacy includes a team of people who support different parts of the process. 

Intended parent(s): You will parent and raise the child. You may be genetically related to the embryo. 

Egg or sperm donor: You may use donor egg, donor sperm, or both. Donors can be known or anonymous. 

Reproductive endocrinologist: This fertility specialist creates the embryos and performs the embryo transfer. 

Attorneys: Each party has legal representation. Attorneys write the surrogacy contract and may manage escrow funds. 

Surrogacy agency: An agency may support most of the process, including matching, screening, legal referrals, and emotional support. 

Social workers or psychologists: They complete evaluations for the gestational carrier and the intended parent(s) and may offer ongoing support. 

Gestational carrier: After screening and signing a contract, the gestational carrier receives a frozen embryo transfer. If pregnant, they receive routine prenatal care and stay in contact based on the agreement. 

The surrogacy process: step by step 

1. Create embryos through IVF 

You will start at a fertility clinic to learn about IVF and begin the medical screening process. Tell your clinic that you plan to use a gestational carrier so they can complete the required testing. 

If you have a Progyny benefit, you may be able to use a portion of your Progyny Smart Cycle for IVF services related to embryo creation. Your Progyny Care Advocate (PCA) can explain your options. 

2. Choose a surrogacy agency or attorney 

A surrogacy agency may manage matching, screening, counseling, case management, legal support, and referrals. Both you and the gestational carrier will complete psychological evaluations, and each party will have separate legal counsel. 

Surrogacy laws differ by state. It’s helpful to work with someone who understands the laws where you live and where the birth will take place. Your fertility clinic may offer referrals. 

You may also work directly with a surrogacy attorney, who will handle the legal contract. An attorney may not provide the additional services an agency offers. 

You can ask: 

• What do your fees include, and what is the payment timeline? 

• What insurance coverage is available for the gestational carrier? 

• How do you screen candidates, and who completes the evaluations? 

• How many intended parents or carriers have you matched in the last year? 

• What is your matching process like? 

When speaking with an attorney, you can ask: 

• How long have you worked in surrogacy and assisted reproductive technology? 

• In which states are you licensed? 

• If the surrogacy happens in another state, which state has legal jurisdiction? 

3. Match with a carrier and complete legal requirements 

Your agency can help you find a gestational carrier. Once matched, you will sign a legal agreement and complete any state-specific requirements. 

You may want to ask the carrier: 

• What were your previous pregnancies like? 

• Are you open to carrying one or more embryos? 

• What is your comfort level with selective reduction or ending a pregnancy if there are serious complications? 

• How would you like to stay in touch during the pregnancy and after birth? 

4. Embryo transfer and pregnancy 

After the contract is complete, the gestational carrier will take medication to prepare for the transfer. The reproductive endocrinologist will transfer a frozen embryo into their uterus. The procedure is brief and typically does not require anesthesia. 

After transfer, there is a two-week wait to confirm pregnancy. If the pregnancy test is negative, another embryo may be transferred. Many journeys include more than one attempt. If pregnant, the gestational carrier receives routine prenatal care. 

Surrogacy includes many steps and decisions, and having the right support can help you navigate the process with confidence. 

If you have questions, Progyny is here for you. Please contact your PCA for support. 

The post Understanding the surrogacy process appeared first on Progyny.

But what if ovulation isn’t happening on schedule? If you live in Kansas City or the surrounding Midwest region, here’s what you need to know.

Step One: Schedule a Preconception Appointment

Before trying to conceive (TTC), schedule a preconception appointment with your OB/GYN  in Kansas City. Your gynecologist will:

•             Identify your ovulatory rhythm

•             Check on timed intercourse with your fertile window

•             Flag irregular cycles early

If ovulation isn’t occurring every 21 to 41 days, it’s time to check in again with your physician.

5 Common Reasons You May Not Be Ovulating

1. PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome)

•             One of the most common causes of infertility in the U.S.

•             Linked to insulin resistance and hormone imbalance

•             Symptoms include weight gain, irregular cycles, difficulty losing weight

•             Even women with “skinny PCOS” (not overweight) may struggle with ovulation

Learn more in our guide: Understanding and Treating PCOS.

2. Being Underweight or Over-Exercising

•             Extreme fitness or eating disorders can suppress ovulation

•             Body interprets stress/starvation as unsafe for pregnancy

•             Healthy BMI for conception. Use the Mayo Clinic BMI Calculator to check yours.

3. Low Ovarian Reserve Due to:

•             Genetics

•             Cancer treatments

•             Lifestyle factors

•             Testing includes AMH, FSH, and antral follicle count via ultrasound

4. Early Menopause

•             Irregular periods may signal perimenopause

•             Average menopause age: 51, but some experience it in their 30s–40s

•             Causes: genetics, medical treatments, cancer therapies

Read: 7 Ways You May Be Bringing on Early Menopause.

5. Hormone Imbalance which can stem from:

•             PCOS

•             Thyroid disorders

•             Stress, inflammation, or medication side effects

•             Environmental factors also play a role in fertility

If you’re in Kansas City or the Midwest region and struggling with irregular ovulation, don’t wait. Your reproductive health matters whether or not you plan to conceive.

Contact the Reproductive Resource Center of Kansas City to schedule a consultation and explore personalized fertility solutions.

The post Why Am I Not Ovulating Regularly? appeared first on Reproductive Resource Center Kansas City IVF.