1 in 6 Struggles with Infertility—Here’s How We Can Help
Sometimes, I feel a pang of guilt when I look at my children—the children of my dreams.
It’s no secret that I owe my family to the miracle of IVF.
At 40, my eggs weren’t viable. I chose to use a 27-year-old egg donor to improve my chances of a healthy pregnancy.
It was the first truly selfless act I made as a mother: giving up my genetics so my child would have the best chance at life.
I’ll never forget the moment I learned that using the eggs of a 27-year-old made my odds of a healthy pregnancy equal to hers. It felt like discovering the fountain of youth. My doctor gave me hope—and IVF gave me my babies.
But here’s where the guilt creeps in: I know how rare my story is.
I had insurance coverage and the financial means to afford IVF—something most people don’t have.
The average cost of one IVF cycle is $15,000–$20,000, not including medications or donor compensation. And it rarely works the first time. Studies show it takes an average of 2.5 to 3 cycles to have a successful pregnancy.
That means the true cost of bringing home a baby through IVF often reaches $50,000–$60,000 or more.
Here’s the heartbreaking truth: 85% of people who pursue IVF pay out of pocket. Nearly half end up stopping treatment, not because they’ve lost hope, but because the financial, emotional, and physical toll becomes unbearable.
Considering that 1 in 6 people worldwide struggles with infertility, that’s millions of dreams deferred—or denied entirely.
I carry that awareness with me every day. And while guilt alone won’t change the system, action can.
That’s why I was so inspired when I learned about The Stork Foundation—a nonprofit dedicated to helping people overcome the financial barriers of infertility.
In just five years, they’ve awarded 38 grants totaling $300,000 and have already welcomed 19 “Stork Babies” into the world. Behind every number is a family whose dream came true.
I hope you’ll join me in supporting their work. Together, we can ensure more hopeful parents get the chance to hold their miracle baby and make their family complete.
