RICHMOND, Va. (WTVR) - More than 7.3 million Americans have fertility problems. That’s according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That means one in eight couples of childbearing age is infertile.
Fertility treatments are the answer for many couples, but the emotional and financial impacts of those treatments can be difficult.
Tanya Herndon’s appendix ruptured when she was only six-years-old. Several surgeries and years later, scar tissue on her fallopian tubes left her unable to get pregnant. In-Vitro Fertilization is the best bet for Tanya and her husband Patrick.
They have joined the trend of sharing their story with the public on a crowd funding website to try and raise the money they need for the treatment that is not covered by insurance. GoFundMe.com says couples have raised more a million dollars for fertility treatments and adoptions since 2010.
Tanya was a little hesitant to share their story at first.
“I was just nervous about everyone knowing what was going on, and at the time, I just felt broken,” she said.
“We could afford a child if we were to have one on our own, but the thing is we’re adding $24,000 to that. Not everybody can do that,” Patrick said.
So far, the couple’s GoFundMe page has raised about $600.
A free seminar is being held at the Jepson Alumni Center at the University of Richmond on Tuesday, November 5 from 6 to 9:30 p.m. Local experts will address everything from treatment to holistic medicine, to the benefits of therapy and support groups. The issue of cost and financing for treatments will also be covered.
Click here for more information or to register for the free “Fertility Workshop: Taking Control of your Ticking Clock.” CBS 6’s Julie Bragg will be the emcee.
