Just the word “fertility” feels expensive these days, reproductive clinics come with an expensive price tag but hold the promise of an incredible gift.
The fertility journey looks different for every person. For some, they’ve watched family and close friends struggle to conceive and worry about what the conception process will look like for them. Others have been trying for a few months and are already starting to feel the pressure of that first positive pregnancy test, even though ACOG (American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists) guidelines don’t encourage OB’s to start investigating irregular cycles until they’ve been trying to conceive unsuccessfully for 6-12 months. Meanwhile, the fertility journey for some has been long and arduous, perhaps burdened with the label of “unexplained infertility.” The next steps in their fertility journey may be completely unknown.
Where Do You Go?
When you find yourself looking at reproductive technology, what does the cost look like and what other options are there?
On average, the cost for just an initial visit to a reproductive endocrine fertility specialist costs between $200-400 dollars, at which time, often a slew of testing and medication regimens are recommended. $400 worth of blood testing, up to $300 for semen analysis or up to $3,000 for a hysterosalpingogram… and that’s before any treatment has started.
After that, infertility treatments such as IVF can cost $11,500 on average per cycle, not including cost of medications. Even lesser interventions such as Clomid monitored cycles of IUI can quickly reach up to $4,000 per cycle. And insurance? Good luck. It’s not often covered — or if it is, not until high deductibles have been met, and only if the prices don’t exceed policy lifetime maximums.
That being said, investigating the root cause of subfertility is absolutely essential, but sometimes it’s hard to know who is the right reproductive endocrinologist for you — or maybe you are wondering if your OB/GYN, PCP or someone else would be able to help you before taking this spendy next step. Is there someone who could help you get pregnant naturally without so many expensive interventions?
Unfortunately, many people’s voices are left unheard in overly busy OB/GYN offices who are often tied to the ACOG’s infertility guidelines, preventing them from investigating causes of subfertility before 12 months of TTC unsuccessfully (if <35 years old) or 6 months of TTC (if >35). Their hands are tied, they are very busy and it’s hard to find compassionate care in the current medical system.
A New, Better Option with Premom
Here at Premom, we see these gaps in fertility care and our mission is to bridge the gap between people like you and fertility specialists of all kinds. Our goal through Premom Advisor is early intervention and prevention at an affordable price that fits your unique needs.
By providing secure virtual consultations through your Premom phone application, we are bringing you convenience, affordability and customization of your conception process needs! By offering services such as fertility awareness method instructors and fertility specialized nurses, nurse practitioners, and doctors, we can help you find the exact person to fit your needs, whether basic or complex.
Premom consultations range in cost from as little as $40 for a 30-minute virtual consultation, up to $200.
You are able to browse through our wide variety of fertility specialists, read practitioner bios and find a specialist who fits your needs. You can even take our quiz if you aren’t sure where to begin, or check out this blog post to learn more about the different fertility specialists we connect you to.
A virtual consultation may be just what you need if you are:
- Wondering why you still aren’t pregnant
- Curious if you are tracking BBT, LH and CM correctly
- Wondering what the next steps in your fertility journey should be
- Unsure about your intercourse timing
- Confused by your irregular cycles
- Hoping to get pregnant ASAP
Use this guide below to find the perfect provider to fit your individual needs. Fertility isn’t a “one size fits all.” That’s why we’ve brought all the resources to you.
Fertility Awareness Method (FAM) Instructors:
There are many different types of fertility awareness methods, and FAM educators are extraordinarily helpful in improving any FAM technique’s efficacy and accuracy.
Our FAM instructors may specialize in any of the following FAM methods and many more!
- FEMM
- Marquette
- Creighton
- Sympto-Pro
- Sympto-Thermal based techniques
- Billings Method
A visit with a FAM instructor provides you with fundamental insight into your chart, including discussion of your BBT, LH strips and cervical mucus. They can help identify issues in intercourse timing, when and how you take BBT or how you are using LH strips.
Perfect for: getting to know your cycles, learning to track cycles, basic troubleshooting
NFP Registered Nurses
Registered nurses with Premom have graduated from an accredited nursing program and have taken specialized training in fertility awareness methods. They can provide additional insight on your BBT, LH strips, intercourse timing and cervical mucus observations, combined with their experience in hospitals and OB/GYN and reproductive endocrinology clinics.
Perfect for: Getting to know your cycles, learning to track cycles, basic troubleshooting
NFP Nurse Practitioners
Nurse Practitioners are advanced practice registered nurses. They are considered mid-level practitioners who are trained to assess a patient’s needs and order/interpret diagnostics. Our NPs have a strong background in fertility awareness methods.
NPs can provide additional insight on your BBT, LH strips, intercourse timing and cervical mucus observations, in combination with their experience in hospitals and OB/GYN and reproductive endocrinology clinics. They also may be able to help identify trouble areas in your menstrual cycle and provide education on a variety of cycle variances that could be contributing to your fertility issues.
Perfect for: Irregular cycles, missing LH peaks, absent BBT rises, mid-level troubleshooting
NFP Doctors
Have some fertility questions you’ve always been wanting to ask, but don’t want to pay the high fees of a fertility clinic — or can’t get in? We’re connecting you with experts in the field of fertility while you wait.
Our physicians provide invaluable fertility resources from the front lines of fertility clinics and medical offices. Our providers have seen a wide variety of fertility complications that can be identified through review of cycle charts, LH strips, BBT, CM and an assessment of menstrual cycle history. These experts can provide valuable insight and education on potential obstacles to conception, beneficial lifestyle improvements and potential next steps you may need to take or investigate in your fertility process While they cannot provide medical advice, they can provide a wealth of education to guide your efforts.
MD/DO
MDs and DOs are traditionally trained physicians who often work in fertility clinics, medical practices or family medicine practices.
OB/GYN
Medical doctors with a specialty in obstetrics (pregnancy) and gynecology (female reproductive health).
RE (Reproductive Endocrinologist)
A subspecialty of OB/GYN with additional training in hormonal fluctuations and treatment as they relate to fertility.
ND/NMD
Naturopathic doctors take an integrative approach to fertility issues. They often use a “root-cause” approach, incorporating dietary and lifestyle changes in addition to therapeutic supplementation, as needed. These specialists utilize a combination approach of eastern and western medicine techniques.
Preparing for pregnancy? Consider working with an ND 3-6 months before TTC to ensure your cycles are regular and your body/home are also ready for a healthy, easy conception process.
Perfect for: Those TTC for more than 3 months, irregular cycles, miscarriage history, recurrent pregnancy loss, unexplained infertility, unable to afford or get into a fertility clinic
*We do not offer prescribing or lab testing through Premom Virtual Consultations, our providers are a wealth of knowledge in cycle interpretation and education for next steps in your reproductive journey.
Midwives
Midwives are medical professionals who help healthy women and children with the childbirth process, and the training is similar to that of a nurse practitioner. They are considered mid-level practitioners who are trained to assess various needs and order/ interpret diagnostics.
Midwives can provide additional insight on your BBT, LH strips, intercourse timing and cervical mucus observations. They also may be able to help identify trouble areas in your menstrual cycle and provide education on a variety of cycle variances that could be contributing to your fertility issues.
Perfect for: Irregular cycles, missing LH peaks, absent BBT rises, mid-level troubleshooting
What You Can Expect During Your Consultation with Any Premom Pregnancy Advisor:
- Any and all of your questions answered about charting, intercourse timing, other options, and identifying next steps in your TTC journey
- Chart interpretation: assessment of BBT, LH surges, CM readings, and intercourse timing
- Recommendations on how you can improve your charting and zero in on your fertile window
- A discussion of your fertility concerns and frustrations
- A safe place to be heard and supported
If you are concerned about your cycles, want to get pregnant as soon as possible or just want some help nailing down the basics of using LH strips and tracking BBT, check out the “Schedule Consultation” tab under the More navigation in your Premom app and book your first virtual consultation today!
