Gaia

We are proud to introduce our latest campaign, #itsnotjustyou At Gaia, we know that going through fertility treatment can feel like the loneliest place in the world. But we also know that 1 in 6 people experiences infertility: Your neighbor three doors down. Your boss’ sister. Your dog walker. Your hairdresser, and your OB/GYN. The guy at the coffee shop who had to remortgage his house to afford IVF. Your college friend who posted glowy maternity photos on Instagram - without showing the reality of her miscarriages. It’s not just you. It’s millions of us, with stories that have the power to break stigma and inspire change. So what would happen if we ended the silence? This is our chance to be brave and find out. Check out our campaign landing page and share your own story using the hashtag #itsnotjustyou and tagging @gaiafamilyofficial: https://lnkd.in/eJf8QhJa

Our founder Nader AlSalim is heading to Slush in Finland this November to speak about the ruthless journey of founding a startup. Nader's story and the road to Gaia isn't just inspiring: it's personal. We hope to see you there.

This week, the New York Times published an article highlighting that an increasing share of Americans are choosing not to have children. One of the leading causes? Cost. The cost of raising a child is now estimated to be $21,681 per year - a whopping 19.6% increase in less than a decade. That figure’s not for the faint of heart.  Meanwhile, fertility rates are also on the decline. People who need IVF to start their family spend $50k on average. For many, that’s all the savings they have – and more. What happens, then, when the time comes to raise that family? That’s why we so firmly believe in giving people better financial access to treatment — so their savings get to stay put for a rainy day, parental leave, or for the nursery they’ve longed for. And if they don’t bring home a baby? Those savings should be there to help them move forward, too.

As a growing company in the family building space, we grow, evolve, and hold ourselves to high standards through Member feedback. We read every review, acknowledge when we miss the mark and do our best to make it right, and hold regular team summits to review what we've heard. We value transparency and accountability, so we’re sharing Trustpilot reviews from real Gaia Members. We strive to provide our Members with the best possible IVF experience, committed to providing an unwavering service from start to finish. Our Members team is built with people who genuinely care, like Stella Cooke, who understand the profound journey our Members are on. To them, it isn’t just a job. They go above and beyond, dedicating hours to solving problems for Members. This level of dedication is what sets us apart. 

Changing the family-building industry starts with truly understanding the community we’re serving. And how do we achieve that? By listening to, and amplifying, their stories. Gaia’s podcast, Misconception, is your gateway to these powerful narratives. We dive deep into the diverse and emotional journeys of surrogacy, infertility after cancer, coping with baby loss, double donation and so much more. Each episode is a poignant reminder of the impact and importance of our work. A reminder of our reason why, and motivation to continuously do better. Listen now wherever you get your podcasts. Be inspired, and join us in shaping a more empathetic, patient-led industry 🧡 --- Listen on Spotify here: https://lnkd.in/dxZpfP3u

Sorry for being late to chime in here, but we needed a minute to cool down. The decision to have a child is personal. Yet, whether it’s a conscious decision or one made by circumstance, it’s a topic with a disproportionate focus on women. When was the last time you heard a man without a child being called a “childless cat man, miserable with his own life”? Likely never. Also – isn’t it paradoxical that those who demean childless women are also those trying to restrict access to IVF?

Going through IVF is hard. It's expensive. It's tough. And it often feels like it consumes every part of your being. Many people think it's easy and it's "just" IVF, and that it guarantees a baby. And that's just not the case. But (and there is a but!), it's incredible. The first IVF baby was born just 46 years ago today. And since then, over 8 million babies have been born through IVF. Today, let's remember Robert Edwards, Patrick Steptoe and Jean Purdy - the trio whose pioneering efforts are the reason that for 46 years, IVF has given so many people the chance to build their families. And we think that is worth celebrating.

“It was the first time in our IVF journey that we actually thought we'd won something.” Meet our Gaia Members: Nicky and Rory. For many couples, the decision to stop or continue IVF is a hard one. Is it worth trying again and hoping for different results? Can you physically handle the toll treatment can take on your body? What happens if it doesn’t work? And, in many cases, the cost of treatment is a significant hurdle. Nicky and Rory knew this firsthand, having endured multiple unsuccessful rounds of treatment across multiple clinics. They decided to give IVF one last shot. That’s when they found Gaia. A year later, little Wylde was born. Knowing she almost didn’t come to be — and that we played a small part in writing this story — this is why we do what we do.

We’ve got to stop blaming women. The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) just published data showing that the average age to start IVF is now over 35 in the UK. In the US, it’s 36. And, as usual, the hivemind has been quick to react with the same old rhetoric: women are being selfish and prioritizing themselves, or their careers, over having children. Let’s start there. People decide to have children later in life for all kinds of good reasons. But beyond that, women who need IVF to conceive eventually become first-time mothers, on average, 6 long years later than those who don’t need IVF. There are many reasons for that — and none of them involve selfishness. It makes sense that women seeking IVF are older than those who can conceive unassisted, because getting pregnant becomes more difficult as you age. But it’s not like these women seek treatment any later than their counterparts start trying to conceive: Most healthcare providers recommend couples try to conceive for 12 months before even seeing a doctor. Testing to get a diagnosis can take months, with some conditions like endometriosis taking up to 9 years to be diagnosed. At Gaia, we’ve spoken to countless heterosexual couples where a male partner hadn’t even been investigated beyond a basic sperm analysis until years into their fertility journey, only to be diagnosed with male factor infertility. Even when time is of the essence, the path to parenthood can be long and anything but linear. Then comes the money. 2022 data from the Federal Reserve shows that the average American reaches $20,540 in savings by the age of 34. We also know that a cycle of IVF costs between $15,000 to $30,000, depending on medication and protocol, and even that depends on the state where you’re having treatment. We also know that on average, it takes 2-3 cycles of IVF to conceive. You do the math. Across the pond in the UK, there were 8000 more (11%) IVF cycles in 2022 than in 2019, but NHS-funded IVF cycles accounted for only 27% of IVF cycles, compared to 40% in 2012; the lowest since 2012. The demand for IVF is higher, but accessibility is only decreasing. When access is lacking, people wait to get treatment and save up. What people need are solutions to help people understand their fertility earlier in life, more straightforward diagnoses, and better ways to pay for the treatments. What they don’t need is judgment. --- https://lnkd.in/edgCrkr8

"Nader AlSalim had some truly interesting thoughts about the [fertility] industry: no one should pay for fertility treatments until the results are shown. He stated the only valid measures for fertility clinics are ‘dollar per birth and time to birth’”.Thanks again for having us HLTH Europe. Read more about the highlights from Digital Health Insider here: