Redefining the Fertility Journey During Infertility Awareness Week
If you've ever felt like navigating fertility care was akin to a second job, you're not imagining it… and in fact, that could be considered an understatement. It’s also incredibly common. One in six people globally have experienced infertility at some point in their lives—and for most Americans, the path to treatment is a financial obstacle course on top of an emotional one. Only about 25% of Americans have insurance that covers IVF but coverage can come with limits, exclusions, and fine print. A single cycle of IVF, including procedures, medications, and genetic testing, can run anywhere from $15,000 to $30,000—and that's often just the beginning.
Angela Rastegar, founder of Sunfish, knows this firsthand. She froze her eggs in 2016 and later went through several rounds of IVF, an experience she describes as an "emotional rollercoaster."
"One of the worst parts was how unpredictable the process was," she explained, "After months and years of saving and planning, ending up with a 'zero embryos' result was crushing in more ways than one." That frustration became the foundation for Sunfish. The platform uses a combination of proprietary AI and human support; the platform predicts a target number of eggs to freeze based on clinical data, and if a cycle falls short, a second one is included at no extra cost.
But ultimately, Rastegar’s experience showed her that technology can’t be the entire solution. "AI can help take the guesswork out of fertility, but it'll never replace the care and support a human can provide." And her advice for anyone just starting to weigh their options is practical: Watch out for hidden fees like storage and medications and use data to set realistic goals. “Be your own advocate and don’t be pushed into decisions that don't feel right,” she says, “And remember—you're not alone."
