When it comes to Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, or PCOS, there are two major statistics you should know:
One, it affects up to 15% of women.
Two, it is one of the most common infertility diagnoses.
If you’ve never heard of it, maybe you’re wondering why? Why is something that’s so common and so impactful on fertility seemingly a secret? We couldn’t agree more!
One of our biggest goals of the RMA of Connecticut PCOS Team is to bring awareness to the condition, spreading knowledge and giving women with PCOS a fair shot at treatment, management, and family building success.
That’s why, in coordination with PCOS Challenge, we’re sponsoring a grant for a woman with PCOS to pursue an in vitro fertilization cycle free of charge!
Read on to learn more...
Ready to build your family?
The PCOS Family Building Grant
RMA of Connecticut is delighted to be collaborating with PCOSChallenge to offer to one special recipient a grant to pursue the family of their dreams.
Whoever receives this grant will come to RMA of Connecticut for one, free of charge, in vitro fertilization cycle. This is RMA of Connecticut’s first time offering a grant of this kind.
This special person has to meet the criteria set forth by both PCOS Challenge and RMA of Connecticut. The general PCOSChallenge criteria is as follows:
Grant Information
What is it?
The PCOS Challenge Family Building Grant was created to help PCOS patients struggling with infertility caused by polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) build their families. The PCOS Challenge Family Building Grant includes a free IVF cycle (see more information on costs below). Grants are awarded once per year. Please carefully review the criteria for each option for which you are applying.
What is covered?
RMA of Connecticut will cover every part of the clinical side of the IVF procedure: all office visits, lab components (embryology and andrology), procedures involved in IVF (egg retrieval and embryo transfer).
Costs Not Covered by Grant:
- Travel – If awarded a grant, the grant recipient must be willing and able to travel to the physician’s office for which they have been awarded the grant to receive treatment. Travel expenses are not covered as a part of the grant. Grant recipients must make their own travel arrangements.
- Additional Costs – Precycle testing, medications, anesthesia, and preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) may not be included with some grants.
If such services are needed, grant recipient will need to cover the cost of such services. See the specific grants below for details.
Who qualifies?
The applicant must:
- Have a diagnosis of polycystic ovary syndrome from a physician.
- Be a U.S. citizen or legal permanent U.S. resident. Additionally, all grant applicants need to be either New York or Connecticut state residents.
- Be at least 25 years of age or older.
What must be included in the application?
Applicant must provide the following documents in order to complete the grant application.
1. Personal Statement - 400-500 words
2. Physician Statement(s) - Letter from applicant’s physician in PDF format confirming applicant’s diagnosis of infertility caused by or related to polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and that IVF is indicated for the applicant.
3. Photo - Headshot or photo of applicant or couple
4. Video Statement (Optional) - Applicant may provide a short video statement about why she/the couple is applying for this grant (up to two minutes). A link to an “Unlisted” or public video on YouTube or Vimeo may be submitted.
Why RMA of Connecticut Offers a PCOS Family Building Grant
PCOS is a syndrome that can be challenging, but there is hope for building your family. We see those challenges every day and help patients improve their lives and their chances of success.
If you have PCOS and are trying to conceive and have been told by a physician that you need IVF (or want to find out if you need IVF), contact us or apply for the grant. The good news about PCOS is that the prognosis for pregnancy is very good.
At RMA of Connecticut, we have a team that is dedicated to helping all people build their families. By treating PCOS earlier, (as early as adolescence), the goal is to improve the quality of life for those with PCOS and to ensure the best possible outcomes when and if a pregnancy is desired.
