Fertility Care for All: Yes, We Can

How Michelle Obama’s IVF Story Impacts Everyone

Former President Barack Obama’s now-famous rallying call - yes, we can - nearly landed on the cutting room floor because he was concerned it was "too corny." According to campaign advisor David Axelrod, the former President wrinkled his face, turned to Michelle Obama and asked, “Meesh, what do you think?”

She paused and said, “Not corny.” And the rest is history.

As the Obamas embark on their post-presidential journey, new stories have emerged in Michelle Obama's just-released memoir, Becoming. A critical revelation that resonated around the world was that the former First Lady said she and her husband used in vitro fertilization (IVF) to give birth to their two daughters, now 17 and 20 years old.

Describing her fertility experience, Michelle addressed the crippling shame and isolation of miscarriage and assisted reproductive technology. While IVF had been available for more than a decade by that time, the stigma surrounding access to fertility care was strong. In a 1988 article about IVF from The New York Times, the reporter noted that “some parents did not want their names used because they had been subject to verbal assaults by critics of the technique.”

And so, it took 20 years for Michelle to speak openly about their fertility experience in a way that can reshape the public conversation for good. Today, a new generation of millennials want to know: can we modernize fertility care for everyone who wants it? Can we provide fertility care for all?

Yes, we can.

3 Ways You Can Help Expand Access to Fertility Care

First, we each have a responsibility to shatter the remaining stigma around fertility: at home, among friends, and in our workplaces. Fertility is a fundamental part of human health. It deserves the same openness and support as any other basic health care needs like mental health, exercise, diet, and preventative care.

The great news is that women have begun to have more open conversations with each other about fertility. Campaigns like #SaytheFword engage this community through content and new products. But men have a role to play, too. Fertility is not only a women’s health issue; it’s human health. Men should join this conversation as equal partners, co-conspirators, and allies. The role of sperm in creating an embryo is vitally important. We must expand our view of fertility care as not only an issue primarily for women to one where men and women have an equal role and responsibility.

Second, we must bring these conversations to work. This might seem daunting since most employer-sponsored insurance plans don’t cover treatments like egg freezing, genetic testing, IVF for same-sex couples, or adoption for single parents to name a few. And if they do, then it’s typically only for cases of infertility, defined as the inability of a male and female to become pregnant after 6 or 12 months of unprotected sex. Especially because fertility can be a health topic shrouded in shame, how do we talk to our employers about this?

Thanks to efforts from Michelle Obama and others, fertility is no longer a taboo topic at work.

In fact, according to a 2018 nationwide Carrot survey, more than 52 percent of millennial men and women believe fertility coverage is as important as medical, dental and vision. And, one in three would consider changing jobs in order to access fertility coverage for treatments like egg freezing and IVF. Company executives want to know how they can redesign core health programs to better meet the needs of employees; they want to hear from you. Carrot is privileged to partner with many of the world’s most innovative HR teams who are setting new standards for how fertility is covered. Other companies are following suit. The future of fertility will shape the future of work; and employer-sponsored coverage is emerging as the new status quo.

At Carrot, we witness the incredible impact of a single voice. One employee inside a huge company can create change for everyone. Review your benefit plans and if you don’t see support for fertility treatments, adoption or surrogacy, talk with your HR team, CEO or other management leaders. Find friends and allies within your organization, if possible, and join forces to speak openly about why fertility matters. Employee resource groups often act as the initial forum for these catalyzing conversations. In most cases, companies can move quickly to adjust plans and bring in new vendor partners like Carrot to deliver immediate support.

Lastly, step up for others. In a recent nationwide survey, Carrot found that more than half of men and women would feel increased respect and loyalty to their employer if LGBTQ+ coworkers could access fertility and family-forming benefits, even if they themselves never needed these benefits. This 'halo-effect' signals that millennial workers seek value-aligned companies that make explicit commitments to inclusion.

Companies cannot - and should not- break the bank in order to provide financial coverage for fertility care. But, every company can provide some coverage in a way that is equally accessible to every employee regardless of age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, expression or marital status. Arbitrary restrictions around how money should be allocated between clinical care vs. pharmacy orders vs. adoption vs. surrogacy make no sense in an age when fertility is planned and families are formed in myriad different ways.

If you see someone at work struggling with a fertility issue - egg freezing, infertility, same-sex family forming, transgender fertility care, or adoption - consider whether you can step up for someone who might feel unable to do so for themselves. Ask if they could use an ally and friend offering both support and discretion. Don’t use personal names without permission if you approach HR. But, if you have permission to step up on someone else’s behalf then consider the life-changing potential of your actions.

The movement to achieve fertility care for all requires each of us to participate, including those with a public voice like Michelle Obama as well as private conversations we have with each other. Let’s each do our part to shatter the stigma at home and at work, not just on behalf of ourselves but also others who may need support.

If we succeed, we can look back and say: yes, we did.

(Learn more about fertility coverage at work with Carrot: carrotfertility.com)