A New Fertility Center in Westchester
Last month, Columbia University Fertility Center, one of the top fertility centers in the country and one of the few to take insurance for IVF, opened its first facility in Westchester. The new fertility center, located in White Plains, has an impressive suite of services to treat a range of fertility issues, and their doctors work with single parents and same-sex couples. We spoke with one of the center’s 11 specialists, Dr. Zev Williams, Chief of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at Columbia University Irving Medical Center, about the new center.
The New Columbia University Fertility Center in Westchester
The new Westchester center offers the same excellent services as the original Columbia University Fertility Center in Manhattan: screening and diagnosis, semen analysis, intrauterine insemination, onco-fertility services, preimplantation genetic testing and daily monitoring for IUI and IVF cycles. The only difference, according to Dr. Williams, is that “the egg retrieval and culturing of the embryos is done at our IVF lab in Columbus Circle, which is now one of the top IVF labs in the world.”
Columbia University Fertility Center’s Advanced Technology
According to Dr. Williams, the Columbia University Fertility Center offers some of the most innovative reproductive technology, including their new injection-free approach to ovarian stimulation, which is a lower cost treatment (using oral meds) for women who don’t respond to injections. They also have enhanced storage tanks for eggs and embryos.
During COVID, when it was difficult to visit fertility clinics in person, Columbia developed a sperm transport container, which makes it more convenient for men to provide a sample. “Previously, sperm samples had to be produced in special rooms at our fertility center,” Williams says. “We developed a special transport container that allows male partners to produce their sperm sample in the comfort and privacy of their own home, without any rush to bring in the samples.”
The Inequity of Fertility
This new sperm-transporter also helps reduce barriers to care, Williams says. And that is a good thing in an industry which specializes in extraordinarily expensive treatments. IVF patients typically spend more than $20,000, and egg-freezing patients can expect to spend more than $10,000 on treatment and storage. The global fertility treatments market is expected to reach $21.7 billion by 2025.
In 2020, The New York State Infertility Mandate required all large group-insurance providers to cover up to three cycles of IVF treatment for those with a medical diagnosis of infertility. Major insurance companies now also cover egg and sperm freezing for medically necessary purposes, such as a cancer diagnosis or surgery for endometriosis.
And while this law is expected to help the estimated one in eight couples who struggle with infertility, there’s still a significant financial burden for fertility patients, especially those without a large-group insurance provider.
Infertility Treatments in Westchester
Doctors say that the best advice for women facing fertility issues is to find a medical practice with exceptional personalized care and top-notch techniques. Fortunately, there are many good options in Westchester, and the new Columbia University Fertility Center, which combines boutique-level care with a leading academic center and a high-volume IVF lab, has already become a welcome addition to the community. “Patients love the convenience, the fact that they can zip in and zip out for their appointments, and that they know the office staff so well,” Dr. Williams says.
Support in Your Fertility Journey: Coping with Infertility in Westchester
In addition to the expense, dealing with infertility often results in emotional trauma. The following women-owned business in Westchester can help those struggling with medical treatments.
Well Collaborative, started by Chryssa Tsakiris in Sleepy Hollow, offers weekly acupuncture sessions which lower cortisol levels and maintain progesterone to help women who are trying to conceive.
Mamaroneck mom Emily Watson, a health coach, nutritionist and yoga instructor who struggled with infertility, created MyNestwell to help Westchester women and their partners take control of their fertility via nutrition, lifestyle and mindset.
Joanna Rosenblatt is a therapist in Westchester who counsels women and couples dealing with infertility. She provides a safe space to talk through the grief, shame and trauma, and provides emotional support during treatments.
