DR. FAHIMEH SASAN: Real Talk About Fertility and Inclusive Family Building for ALL
Kindbody's Founding Physician
Fahimeh Sasan, M.D. is Kindbody's Founding Physician and is passionate about creating a new generation of women’s health and fertility care. Dr. Sasan did her residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Mount Sinai Hospital in NYC and has been practicing and delivering clinical excellence for 15years. She was rated one of NY Times Top Doctors in 2016 and 2017 and is passionate about helping women better understand their fertility and their options for the future. In clinics designed for the women of today, Dr. Sasan and her team provide fertility services, gynecologic care, and wellness support – offering the first one-stop-shop for all women’s healthcare needs.
Fahimeh was kind enough to take some time to sit down with ALL CEO, Hayley Cammarata. Watch the video below for the full interview or check out the shorter Q/A Below!
I admire the commitment that Kindbody has to support affordable fertility care to women, in a way that has not been available before. Help our ALL community understand exactly what that means and why it is so important.
Our mission at Kindbody is to reinvent the delivery of reproductive health and fertility care. We are building a national network of accessible, modern and tech-enabled clinics with a goal to end the fragmentation of care that exists in women's health, We provide the entire array of gynecologic care including pap smears and contraception, as well as the full spectrum of fertility care from egg freezing to IUI ( intrauterine insemination) and IVF ( in-vitro fertilization) , and including LGBTQ services such as donor egg, donor sperm, and surrogacy. In addition, we have therapists and nutritionists who are experts in dealing with PCOS, endometriosis, pregnancy loss and beyond.
We are passionate about providing affordable fertility care by lowering costs, providing financing options, accepting insurance, and educating women and couples about discount programs for fertility medications.
Kindbody is also improving access to fertility care by going directly to employers and advocating the adoption of broader and more inclusive fertility benefits. The expansion of employer fertility benefits is a win-win as employers are able to recruit and maintain incredible exceptional talent, while improving access to an essential healthcare benefit. Finally we are able to lower costs and improve access by utilizing technology to improve efficiency and outcome.
What is the most common misconception that you think women have around their fertility and bodies?
The most common misconception that women have about their fertility is that because they feel young and take good care of themselves that this translates to good fertility . The reality is that women are born with all the eggs we will ever have and our egg quality and egg quantity declines with age. This decline in egg quality and quantity is NOT something we can control and it is not something we can improve with lifestyle changes or even with fertility drugs or treatment. That is why it is essential for women to have a fertility assessment and get the actual objective facts about their ovarian reserve and understand their fertility status and options.
In my experience, society has lead me to believe that I am not a whole, complete, fulfilled woman without children. What would you say to women who have the same experience?
As women it is imperative that we love ourselves and that our sense of personal fulfillment comes from within. Many women will have a child to fill a void, or couples will get pregnant to help mend a broken relationship - but the reality is that in these situations having a child can actually make the problem worse. I feel really passionately that women need to change the societal narrative by starting a new dialogue about women's reproductive health and fertility. We need to have honest discussions about menstruation, miscarriages, our desire to have children ( or to not have children ever) , and infertility issues. The more we have these conversations the less scary these topics become and we can take ownership of our aspirations and bodies.
Across the country and the globe, women are seeking higher education, high career aspirations, we are choosing to travel and wait for the right partner ... as a result we are electively delaying child bearing. Since fertility declines with age - this trend to wait to have children will be directly linked to an increase in infertility issues. Due to these trends it is imperative that women become proactive about fertility and explore options of egg freezing for fertility preservation and family planning.
Our favorite ALL question: Now just humor me, if you had 30 seconds to say one thing and EVERYONE on the planet stopped and actually listened…what would you say?
You are never too young or too old to learn more about your body and your fertility. Please do not assume that your fertility is good because you are young - the reality is that 20% of women under the age of 35 will have premature diminished ovarian reserve. Conversely there are also options for women in their 40's and beyond to have children if they desire. Make an appointment at Kindbody ( virtually or in-person) and we promise to be a partner in your journey to help you understand your fertility and empower you with knowledge and options.
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