S6 Ep 16 - IVF Costs WHAT?! Fertility Loans and Making Fertility More Affordable with Angela Rastegar, CEO of Sunfish
Release Date: 04/23/2024
Fertility Freedom - Host Julia Explores Family Today
Stork'd
In this bonus episode, Julia took a moment on the 4th of July to reflect on the importance of reproductive freedom. She appreciates living in Massachusetts, where mandatory insurance coverage allowed her to undergo IVF treatments. However, she expresses concerns about potential changes to these laws due to the current political climate, noting that some states already have restrictions. Julia emphasizes the need to cherish our freedoms to build families in ways that feel right to us. She also reflectes on the diverse stories shared on the Stork'd podcast—some heartbreaking, others showcasing...
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Stork'd Munchkin | S6 Ep 19 - Finding Peace After Six Years of Infertility Treatment Without Answers with Abbe Feder
Stork'd
In this Stork’d Munchkin, Abbe Feder shares how she found peace after six years of infertility treatment and still has no answers to why IVF didn’t work for her. If you loved this Stork’d Munchkin, check out the full episode wherever you listen to podcasts! Resources:
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Stork'd Munchkin | S6 Ep 19 - The Emotional Rollercoaster When IVF Doesn't Work With Abbe Feder
Stork'd
In this Stork’d Munchkin, Abbe Feder shares that when she started IVF, she automatically thought that it would work and she would have a baby. Listen as she shares the emotional rollercoaster she felt when she started IVF and it didn’t work. If you loved this Stork’d Munchkin, check out the full episode wherever you listen to podcasts! Resources:
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S6 Ep. 19 - Leaning on Levity To Break the Grief: 6 Years of Unexplained Infertility With Abbe Feder, InCircle Fertility
Stork'd
Abbe Feder is the founder of InCircle Fertility and host of the Fertility Chic. In this episode, Abbe shares her own six-year journey through unexplained infertility, including her initial reluctance to turn to assisted reproductive technology. Ultimately, Abbe and her husband tried IUI and then IVF with multiple failed transfers and loss. After a traumatic birth experience and emergency hysterectomy, Abbe is the proud mom of twins. Abbe leans on her experience and a deep well of empathy and tools to guide hopeful parents through the infertility experience. InCircle Fertility is...
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Stork'd Munchkin | S6 Ep 18 - I Felt Erased - Maintaining Your Own Individuality While Balancing Parenthood
Stork'd
In this Stork’d Munchkin, Brittany Ross discusses how during her first pregnancy she didn’t want to lose her identity and become “just a mom.” If you loved this Stork’d Munchkin, check out the full episode wherever you listen to podcasts! Resources:
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Stork'd Munchkin | S6 Ep 18 - Embracing Parenthood on Your Own Terms with Brittany Ross
Stork'd
In this Stork’d Munchkin, Brittany Ross shares advice to those who find out they are pregnant and may not feel the expected emotional reaction to finding out you are and that you are allowed to feel however you want to feel. If you loved this Stork’d Munchkin, check out the full episode wherever you listen to podcasts! Resources:
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S6 Ep. 18 - Can’t I Be More Than Just “Mom”? - Retaining Identity in Parenthood with Brittany Ross, Comedian
Stork'd
Brittany Ross, a Los Angeles-based actor and stand up comedian opens up with refreshing authenticity about her journey into motherhood. She candidly shares her experiences of feeling like she lost her identity during her first pregnancy, as others only saw her as a mom-to-be and, after giving birth, felt defined solely by motherhood. Now pregnant again, Brittany reflects on navigating this journey differently, realizing she can embrace her role as a caring mom and her identity as a professional and individual woman. Join us as Brittany shares her insights and experiences in this honest and...
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Stork'd Munchkin | S6 Ep 17 - Leaning on Your Village: Ronit and Vida’s Advice for Those Experiencing a Miscarriage
Stork'd
In this Stork’d Munchkin, Ronit Menash and Vida Delrahim, co-founders of WeNatal, give advice to those who are experiencing a miscarriage. They emphasize leaning on your “village” and encourage listeners that it’s not the end of the story. If you loved this Stork’d Munchkin, check out the full episode wherever you listen to podcasts! Resources: WeNatal is offering a special discount to listeners of Stork’d. Go to WeNatal.com/Storkd
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Stork'd Munchkin | S6 Ep 17 - Why Doesn’t Anyone Know This? Sperm Quality and Conception
Stork'd
In this Stork’d Munchkin, Ronit Menash and Vida Delrahim, co-founders of WeNatal, discuss this shocking vital revelation: the quality of sperm can significantly affect fertility, contributing up to half of the reason for miscarriage. They banded together to address this and created a men’s prenatal vitamin. If you loved this Stork’d Munchkin, check out the full episode wherever you listen to podcasts! Resources: WeNatal is offering a special discount to listeners of Stork’d. Go to WeNatal.com/Storkd
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S6 Ep 17 - We Need to Talk About Sperm Quality - With WeNatal Founders Ronit Menash and Vida Delrahim
Stork'd
Ronit Menash and Vida Delrahim, the founders of WeNatal, join Julia on a poignant episode of the podcast to share their journeys to expand their respective families and create WeNatal. As close friends who endured miscarriages within days of each other, their bond grew even stronger. Together, they uncovered a vital revelation: the quality of sperm can significantly affect fertility, contributing up to half of the reason for miscarriage. In response, they developed specialized supplements for both men and women to boost fertility before trying to conceive. They delve into the potential...
info_outlineJulia sits down with Angela Rastegar, the driving force behind Sunfish, a company committed to dismantling financial barriers for hopeful parents navigating fertility challenges. Economic constraints often force individuals to abandon their dreams of parenthood. Sunfish steps in with personalized financial planning services and complimentary consultations. They are backed by a dedicated team of data scientists who analyze medical records and statistics to forecast fertility treatments’ duration and success rates, thus anticipating associated costs.
What truly sets Sunfish apart is their groundbreaking money back guarantee: in the event of a failed treatment, they offer a partial refund through their IVF Success Program. This pioneering approach empowers individuals to concentrate fully on their fertility journey, relieving the burden of financial worries. Please share this information with anyone facing a fertility journey, as access to resources on financing could make all the difference in continuing the journey or pursuing the next round of IVF.
IN THIS EPISODE:
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[0:20] Julia introduces the topic of affording your family-building journey
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[3:51] Angela explains the mission of Sunfish and how and why she started the company
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[10:29] Angela addresses the first steps in the family-building process, and she discusses how they can predict the exact cost of IVF and the guarantee they make to the prospective parents
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[17:34] Angela explains how costs vary and states they do have loan options and how she sees the fertility space evolving in the next five to ten years
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[26:03] Discussion of how lifestyle impacts results and all the other details that can be overwhelming on this fertility journey
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[30:49] Discussion of the demographics of those who are looking to use Sunfish services and where the name Sunfish came about
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[35:17] Angela describes what family means to her, and she tells a heartbreaking story of infertility and success stories
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
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Sunfish offers complimentary consultations to answer questions and provides educational material on their website.
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The average IVF baby costs $70,000, but that figure can vary. Sunfish helps aspiring parents with determining their family building goals (number of kids) and then helps each prospective family create a financial roadmap.
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Sunfish offers support and a money-back guarantee through its Gold IVF Success Program which includes an IVF Treatment Package, unlimited transfers, and up to one year of support and guidance. Through this program, Sunfish’s proprietary software calculates the expected financial costs for each family to achieve pregnancy based on a range of factors. If those projections underestimate the cost, Sunfish provides a partial refund. Eligible Sunfish customers can also finance this program with a loan.
Disclosures: Sunfish is not a Medical or Healthcare Provider, Insurer, or Financial Planner. Sunfish does not provide medical advice. Please consult your physician for details, as your unique needs may vary. Tools that Sunfish provides are for informational purposes only. All products are based on eligibility, for complete Terms and Conditions, please contact Sunfish.
RESOURCE LINKS:
BIOGRAPHY: Angela Rastegar, CEO of Sunfish
Sunfish offers financial support, guidance, and guarantees for family building, including IVF, egg freezing, gestational surrogacy, and egg + sperm donors. The team has offices in California and New York.
Angela Rastegar, co-founder and CEO of Sunfish, has spent many years in the assisted reproductive technologies space, previously as a Director at North Star Fertility and Circle Surrogacy. Rastegar has worked with hundreds of aspiring parents. She is also an investor and mentor to early-stage health tech startups, and previously an investor at a venture capital fund in Silicon Valley. Angela holds a degree in Human Biology from Stanford University, with a focus on reproductive health, and an MBA from Stanford Graduate School of Business. Rastegar has spoken at numerous industry events and conferences, including on the Fruitful and Multiplying Podcast, on the Slice of Healthcare Podcast, and gave a TEDx Talk in London regarding her prior startup.