New Multi-Cycle program reduces risk of infertility treatment for older mothers

Fertility experts at the Reproductive Science Center of the Bay Area (RSC) announced they have launched a new program from IntegraMed geared toward easing the risk of infertility treatment for qualified women of ages 49 and younger who want to use their own eggs in order to achieve pregnancy.

Older patients often require multiple cycles of in vitro fertilization (IVF) in order to have children with their own eggs and therefore frequently fail to qualify for typical IVF refund programs that are geared toward younger women with a higher likelihood of shorter and more affordable treatment periods.

According to the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology, success rates for IVF decline dramatically after age 37, making age the most important factor for women wanting to pursue pregnancy using their own eggs. After age 43, donated eggs from younger women are often required for successful pregnancy.

The National Center for Health Statistics reported that between 1980 and 2004, the number of women in the United States giving birth at age 35 and older has tripled and the number of mothers giving birth at age 40 or older has nearly quadrupled. According to the Centers for Disease Control, more than half of all in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles between 1998 and 2003 were among women 35 years and older.

RSC's new Attain Multi-Cycle plan allows qualified patients to pay one single, discounted fee (less than the cost of two fresh IVF cycles and receive up to four treatment cycles (two fresh IVF cycles and two frozen embryo cycles.) In other words, the Multi-Cycle program offers a lower fixed cost for greater treatment access; more information is available online.

Some insurance plans offer benefits for insemination services (IUI), but few provide coverage for IVF. A list of RSC's financial programs and contracted insurance carriers is available at http://www.rscbayarea.com/financing-program-for-infertility-patients.