Gaia

We are proud to introduce our latest campaign, #itsnotjustyou At Gaia, we know that going through fertility treatment can feel like the loneliest place in the world. But we also know that 1 in 6 people experiences infertility: Your neighbor three doors down. Your boss’ sister. Your dog walker. Your hairdresser, and your OB/GYN. The guy at the coffee shop who had to remortgage his house to afford IVF. Your college friend who posted glowy maternity photos on Instagram - without showing the reality of her miscarriages. It’s not just you. It’s millions of us, with stories that have the power to break stigma and inspire change. So what would happen if we ended the silence? This is our chance to be brave and find out. Check out our campaign landing page and share your own story using the hashtag #itsnotjustyou and tagging @gaiafamilyofficial: https://lnkd.in/eJf8QhJa

Going through IVF is hard. It's expensive. It's tough. And it often feels like it consumes every part of your being. Many people think it's easy and it's "just" IVF, and that it guarantees a baby. And that's just not the case. But (and there is a but!), it's incredible. The first IVF baby was born just 46 years ago today. And since then, over 8 million babies have been born through IVF. Today, let's remember Robert Edwards, Patrick Steptoe and Jean Purdy - the trio whose pioneering efforts are the reason that for 46 years, IVF has given so many people the chance to build their families. And we think that is worth celebrating.

“It was the first time in our IVF journey that we actually thought we'd won something.” Meet our Gaia Members: Nicky and Rory. For many couples, the decision to stop or continue IVF is a hard one. Is it worth trying again and hoping for different results? Can you physically handle the toll treatment can take on your body? What happens if it doesn’t work? And, in many cases, the cost of treatment is a significant hurdle. Nicky and Rory knew this firsthand, having endured multiple unsuccessful rounds of treatment across multiple clinics. They decided to give IVF one last shot. That’s when they found Gaia. A year later, little Wylde was born. Knowing she almost didn’t come to be — and that we played a small part in writing this story — this is why we do what we do.

We’ve got to stop blaming women. The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) just published data showing that the average age to start IVF is now over 35 in the UK. In the US, it’s 36. And, as usual, the hivemind has been quick to react with the same old rhetoric: women are being selfish and prioritizing themselves, or their careers, over having children. Let’s start there. People decide to have children later in life for all kinds of good reasons. But beyond that, women who need IVF to conceive eventually become first-time mothers, on average, 6 long years later than those who don’t need IVF. There are many reasons for that — and none of them involve selfishness. It makes sense that women seeking IVF are older than those who can conceive unassisted, because getting pregnant becomes more difficult as you age. But it’s not like these women seek treatment any later than their counterparts start trying to conceive: Most healthcare providers recommend couples try to conceive for 12 months before even seeing a doctor. Testing to get a diagnosis can take months, with some conditions like endometriosis taking up to 9 years to be diagnosed. At Gaia, we’ve spoken to countless heterosexual couples where a male partner hadn’t even been investigated beyond a basic sperm analysis until years into their fertility journey, only to be diagnosed with male factor infertility. Even when time is of the essence, the path to parenthood can be long and anything but linear. Then comes the money. 2022 data from the Federal Reserve shows that the average American reaches $20,540 in savings by the age of 34. We also know that a cycle of IVF costs between $15,000 to $30,000, depending on medication and protocol, and even that depends on the state where you’re having treatment. We also know that on average, it takes 2-3 cycles of IVF to conceive. You do the math. Across the pond in the UK, there were 8000 more (11%) IVF cycles in 2022 than in 2019, but NHS-funded IVF cycles accounted for only 27% of IVF cycles, compared to 40% in 2012; the lowest since 2012. The demand for IVF is higher, but accessibility is only decreasing. When access is lacking, people wait to get treatment and save up. What people need are solutions to help people understand their fertility earlier in life, more straightforward diagnoses, and better ways to pay for the treatments. What they don’t need is judgment. --- https://lnkd.in/edgCrkr8

"Nader AlSalim had some truly interesting thoughts about the [fertility] industry: no one should pay for fertility treatments until the results are shown. He stated the only valid measures for fertility clinics are ‘dollar per birth and time to birth’”.Thanks again for having us HLTH Europe. Read more about the highlights from Digital Health Insider here:

Most of my recent posts have been "calling out all engineers!", but today, I thought I would change it up and share some exciting news! 🎉 After rigorous interviews and technical assessments, we have welcomed some exceptional talent to Gaia. In April, Sarah Regan joined us from health-tech startup Islacare, bringing a wealth of experience from her research career in programming experiments. May brought Tomas Barry to our team after 6 years successfully building ButternutBox from the ground up with his team. His mentorship and expertise are invaluable additions to Gaia. Last but certainly not least, George Nash, a seasoned startup engineer with a great background at companies like Improbable and Emitwise, as well as being a co-founder of his tech consultancy, has joined us this month. It's been fab seeing this talented team come together, and I am buzzing to witness the great things that lie ahead! 🚀 #Engineering #TechTalent #makingivfmoreaccessible

Last Thursday, we celebrated our US launch in New York City with so many people who believe in Gaia and what we stand for — from fertility influencers and community members who have fearlessly taken to social media to share their stories, to doctors, OB/GYNs, fellow founders and investors, and our very first Gaia Members, who came from the UK. What an incredible evening - thank you to everyone who made it happen! David Sable Brian A. Levine, MD, MS, FACOG Michael Guarnaccia MD, MPH, FACOG Taraneh Nazem, M.D. Hunter Stitzer Tara Sellers

Our Founder Nader AlSalim on stage at HLTH with Carrot Fertility and Hertility yesterday! There's still so much stigma around fertility treatment, and it's very much perceived to be elective. We know it's not. We're keeping the conversation going about how important it is for patients to have more agency and transparency in their treatment - and most importantly, believe they need to be able to pay for outcomes and not cycles.

Patients in Virginia can now request a Gaia Plan at Dominion Fertility. Since our very first meeting with Pinnacle Fertility, Inc., it’s been clear we share a passion for putting patients first and offering fair access to treatment. We’re thrilled to put Gaia Virginian members in such good hands, and look forward to expanding to more states! #ivf #fertility

2 years after our start in the UK (where a Gaia baby is born every 6 days), we are impossibly excited to announce that Gaia has now launched in the US. Reimagining family building in the US is not for the faint of heart. America faces unique challenges in fertility care, with substandard insurance coverage, an uncertain political climate, and societal stigma against open and honest talk about what it takes to make a family for millions of Americans. We’re on it.