Investing in Maternal and Child Health

The Business Case for Promoting Health Pregnancy

The Business Case for Promoting Health Pregnancy

Infertility and the Impact of Infertility Treatment on Healthy Pregnancies

One in ten couples in the United States has difficulty conceiving a child.^22 Clinical guidelines suggest that couples should

seek assistance for infertility if they have trouble getting pregnant after 12 months of trying if the woman is 35 years of age

or younger. If the woman is over age 35, a couple should seek assistance after 6 to 10 months of trying without successful

conception.^23

Causes of Infertility^23 :

Infertility can be caused by a wide variety of underlying problems, and couples often experience more than one reason for

infertility:

• Aging (fertility declines as men and women age).


• Cancer treatment.


• Certain chronic illnesses, such as diabetes or Hodgkin’s disease.


• Damage to the reproductive organs.


• Exposure to radiation and certain chemicals, such as pesticides.


• Genetic conditions.


• Problems with ovulation (a woman’s ability to produce an egg).


• Problems with sperm (amount, quality, or both).


• Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and other reproductive infections.


• Tobacco, alcohol, or drug use.

Treatment options^23 :

After a thorough evaluation and diagnosis of infertility, treatment options include:

• Medications to assist with releasing an egg (ovulation).


• Surgery to repair part of the reproductive system. For example, scars in a fallopian tube can block eggs from traveling
  from the ovaries to the uterus.


• Insertion of sperm from the man or a donor into the woman’s uterus (called artificial insemination or intrauterine
  insemination [IUI]).


• Assisted reproductive technologies (ART), which involve surgically removing a woman’s eggs, fertilizing them with
  sperm in the laboratory, and then reinserting the fertilized egg into her uterus. In vitro fertilization (IVF) is an ART
  procedure.

Recommendations to Employers Regarding Infertility Benefits

Employers are increasingly providing coverage for infertility treatments. These treatments are expensive, and they can also put

women at-risk for pregnancy complications and other reproductive health problems. Employers who provide infertility coverage

should follow these guidelines to reduce cost, manage risk, and protect the health of beneficiaries:

• Mandate that network fertility centers inject the minimum number of eggs necessary to achieve a viable single birth.
  Multifetal pregnancies, common in women undergoing infertility treatment, are at high risk for complications and 61.9%
  result in preterm births.^1 ART-induced pregnancies account for less than 1% of births in the United States; however, they
  account for 17% of twins and 38% of triplets or higher-order multiples.^24 By selecting “fertility centers of excellence,”
  large employers may be able to reduce the complications and unintended consequences of multifetal pregnancies.


• Set an age limit for infertility treatment.


• Set an annual or lifetime maximum for infertility treatment or set a maximum number of attempts per lifetime.
  Depending on their resources and philosophies, large employers have selected lifetime maximum amounts between
  $15,000 and $100,000; many clinical guidelines suggest a maximum of three attempts per lifetime.^25


• Work with your health plan(s) to establish clinical indications for ART and other infertility treatments.


• Provide education and support services (e.g., health coaching, education materials, expert consultations) to women
  and their partners considering infertility treatment. Health coaches can help women and their families make informed
  decisions and better communicate with care providers.^26