Jessica and Matt

I am  Jessica and I am married to my high school sweetheart, Matt. We were married in 2015 and tried expanding our family in 2016. After trying for a year, we were referred to a fertility doctor. Unfortunately, after multiple tests, pokes, prods, and procedures, we were diagnosed with unexplained fertility--which, as the name suggests, means that there is no known medical reason as to why we had not conceived yet. So, we began treatments.

We endured 18 medicated cycles and 3 failed IUIs. After our last failed IUI, we took a break from treatments and began to truly think about our options ahead. We were told that IVF would likely be effective, but the cost of it deterred this teacher and police officer from pursuing it. Because Tennessee's insurance companies are not mandated to cover infertility costs, we were going to have to pay for IVF completely out-of-pocket, after already spending tens of thousands of dollars on treatments thus far. After a great deal of research and a recommendation from our OB-GYN, we were referred to Boston IVF in Evansville, Indiana.

Not only were they suggested because of their phenomenal doctors and nurses, but more importantly because it was a much more affordable option than anywhere else in Tennessee. Despite the miles between us, we met with our new doctor in January of 2020, and after a slight postponement due to COVID-19, had our egg retrieval surgery in May of 2020, and got pregnant with our baby boy in July of 2020. He is due to join our family in April of this year!

We are overjoyed and blessed with how our journey has gone, but that does not come without reflecting on everything we did to get where we are. We are excited to share our story with Tennessee Fertility Advocates to help rally for Tennessee insurance coverage for infertility costs. Tennesseans should be able to receive care covered by their insurance agencies in their own state for a disease that is out of their control.