Navigating Infertility, Financial and Treatment Options Proves Challenging: Shady Grove Fertility (SGF) Physicians Host Educational Seminars, Free for Information Seekers

WASHINGTON, Sept. 30, 2019 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Curious about when it's the right time to see a fertility specialist? Unsure how to navigate through arduous insurance benefit details to determine what costs would be covered versus not? Unclear how to access quality infertility treatment in an affordable way? Shady Grove Fertility (SGF) can help provide answers. SGF equips their current and prospective patients with frequent free, online and in-person events to help address these very topics, and much more.

Throughout the month of October, the practice will host 16 in-person seminars and virtual webinars on topics such as financial options, what to expect when you're not expecting, LGBTQ family building, in vitro fertilization (IVF), what your menstrual cycle says about your fertility, and more. Each event concludes with a question and answer session so that attendees have the opportunity to get their questions answered.

A 2018 SGF survey found that 65 percent of patients said they wished they had seen a fertility specialist sooner. Yet, many couples wonder when the right time is. During the live "What to Expect When You're Not Expecting" seminar, attendees will learn what red flags signal a potential problem, why an early evaluation leads to better outcomes, what is typically accomplished during an initial consult with a reproductive endocrinologist, which four simple tests help diagnose infertility, and what treatment options are available, ranging from simple, low-tech to the most advanced.

Fertility Seminars: What to Expect When You're Not Expecting

October 2 | Waldorf, MD | Sunita Kulshrestha, M.D.
October 2 | Woodbridge, VA | Brad Swelstad, M.D.
October 8 | Philadelphia, PA | Caleb Kallen, M.D., Ph.D.
October 9 | Atlanta, GA | Desireé McCarthy-Keith, M.D., M.P.H.
October 16 | Fredericksburg, VA | Nancy Durso, M.D.
October 23 | Rockville, MD | Lauren Roth, M.D.
October 30 | Lancaster, PA | Melanie Ochalski, M.D.

Fertility Webinars

October 10 | IVF | Joseph E. Osheroff, M.D.
October 24 | What to Expect When You're Not Expecting | Wende Allen, PA-C
October 31 | What Your Menstrual Cycle Says about Your Fertility | Natalie Stentz, M.D., M.S.C.E.

A 2018 national survey conducted by RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association, of whom Shady Grove Fertility is a visionary partner, revealed the overwhelming majority of respondents (n=425) cite financial challenges as the biggest hurdle to seeking help from a fertility specialist.

As a leading national fertility center, SGF believes cost should not be a barrier to seeking help from a fertility specialist. "At SGF, our top priority is to clear the obstacles our patients face when trying to start a family. We feel that by reducing or eliminating the financial stress of fertility treatment, more patients will be able to seek care and move forward with treatment," shares Michael J. Levy, M.D., co-founder.

The good news is 90 percent of SGF patients have coverage for their initial physician consult and 70 percent have some level of coverage for diagnostic testing and treatment, including intrauterine insemination (IUI) and in vitro fertilization (IVF). The news is especially good for Maryland residents who often benefit from state-mandated IVF coverage.

For those patients without adequate insurance coverage, the practice has created guarantee and discount programs exclusively for their patients, including their exclusive Shared Risk 100% Refund Program, which guarantees participants will take home a baby or receive a full refund*.

Other popular programs that make treatment affordable include SGF's Shared Help Discount Program, an income-based program that offers a discount on most treatments and procedures provided by SGF, the Military Discount Program, which offers active U.S. military and reservists a 25 percent discount off qualifying self-pay rates, and a Shared Donor Egg Program, which reduces the cost of donor egg treatment by up to 50 percent when sharing donating eggs with other patients—an approach that does not lower the chances of conception but does significantly lower the cost.

Financial Options

October 3 | Columbia, MD | SGF Financial Services Team
October 16 | Virtual Financial Options Webinar | SGF Financial Services Team
October 17 | Fairfax, VA | SGF Financial Services Team
October 22 | Towson, MD | SGF Financial Services Team

SGF is dedicated to helping gay, lesbian, and transgender people and couples realize their dream of parenthood. SGF has been a leader in donor—also called third-party—reproduction, for nearly 30 years. Kate Devine, M.D., SGF's Director of Research who also sees patients at SGF's K Street location, will host an LGBTQ Family Building seminar on October 22, 2019 at SGF's Washington, D.C. K Street location.

"As a practice we are dedicated to helping members of the LGBTQ community achieve their goals of building a family. We feel privileged to have the opportunity to educate couples about their family building options, and to help them begin their path to parenthood," says Dr. Devine.

LGBTQ Family Planning Seminars

October 15 | Atlanta, GA | Anne Namnoum, M.D.
October 22 | Washington, D.C. | Kate Devine, M.D.

While all SGF in-person and online events are complimentary, interested parties must register to attend by visiting the SGF calendar of events.

About Shady Grove Fertility (SGF)

SGF is a leading fertility and IVF center of excellence with more than 85,000 babies born and counting. With 36 locations throughout FL, GA, MD, NY, PA, VA, D.C., and Santiago, Chile, we offer patients individualized care, accept most insurance plans, and make treatment affordable through innovative financial options, including treatment guarantees. More physicians refer their patients to SGF than any other center. Call 1-888-761-1967 or visit ShadyGroveFertility.com.

*Shared Risk payment is in the form of a refundable deposit, some exclusions apply.

SOURCE Shady Grove Fertility