A note from RMACT: Last week, we shared the first part of Stephanie G.'s story in which she talked about how she made the decision to pursue the path to motherhood, on her own terms. This week, Stephanie takes us through her journey and details all that her process entailed. Please note that some of the processes and procedures that Stephanie experienced differ from what a patient at RMACT would experience. We applaud Stephanie for making her dream of becoming a mom a reality, something we wish for all our readers.

A note from RMACT: Stephanie G. is a single mother by choice who reached out to RMACT in March of 2018 while we were promoting a Facebook Live event for single moms-to-be. Although Stephanie is not a patient at RMACT, she feels very passionate about being a resource for other women who are trying to decide if single motherhood is a good option for them. Because of her desire to help other moms-to-be, we wanted to share Stephanie's story on Path to Fertility in the hopes that it might help those who are thinking of becoming single moms turn their desire into their reality. Read on for part 1 of Stephanie's 3 part story.

This year, Advocacy Day was a day that made history. “The Access to Infertility Treatment and Care Act” was introduced to Capitol Hill. Written and proposed by Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT03) and Senator Cory A. Booker (NJ), this bill will ensure that most health plans will provide coverage for treatment for infertility and that fertility preservation services will be provided when medically necessary.

RMACT is the only Connecticut fertility practice to demonstrate its dedication to LGBTQ-inclusive policies and practices for the second consecutive year.

Some of the most emotionally difficult conversations I have in my office on a weekly basis are those with patients who are diagnosed with cancer and come to me for fertility preservation. There is a psychological “double blow” hitting them all at once: not only is their cancer itself scary, but they are also worried that they will not be able to have children afterwards because chemotherapy and radiation – while life saving – can damage their sperm and eggs. Fertility preservation is a paramount concern for both men and women faced with cancer treatments. This is why it is important to tackle these difficult issues even in younger patients who are not planning to have children until the distant future. Cancer patients are understandably focused on their treatments, but fertility preservation should not be overlooked. Here are some common misconceptions and insights that often surprise patients and even some of my medical colleagues.