Carrot

Fibroids cost the U.S. an estimated $27.1 billion a year, including up to $17.9 billion in lost work from absenteeism and disability alone. By age 50, nearly 80% of women will be diagnosed with uterine fibroids. Many go undiagnosed for years because symptoms like heavy, painful periods or pelvic pressure get normalized instead of treated. Comprehensive reproductive health benefits give employees a path to earlier diagnosis and a fuller range of treatment options so that a hysterectomy is not the only option. #FibroidAwarenessMonth

Today’s semi-final pairs countries with different rulebooks on who qualifies for fertility care. Even with public healthcare coverage, there are still barriers that leave people paying out of pocket or unable to play. Swipe to see the score on what a private IVF cycle costs in each country, and how many cycles are covered by the state. 🇦🇷 Argentina has one of the most inclusive IVF laws, but execution of the law is inconsistent. Legal coverage applies regardless of marital status or sexual orientation, guaranteed since 2013. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 England’s funding depends on where you live. Local care boards set their own eligibility rules, plus IVF for gestational surrogacy isn’t funded for male same-sex couples. 75% of IVF cycles are still funded privately. World IVF Day is coming up on July 25. On the heels of the World Cup, ask how your company can level the playing field on IVF access and affordability for your teammates around the globe.

Two teams take the pitch today with some of the stronger fertility coverage in Europe. Swipe through for the scoreboard on what a private IVF cycle costs in each country, and how many cycles public healthcare covers. 🇫🇷 France covers 4 cycles, but donor shortages mean an egg donation waitlist that can stretch two years before treatment starts. 🇪🇸 Spain has one of the largest donor pools in Europe. Half of French nationals seeking cross-border fertility care choose Spain as their destination. A high cycle count on paper doesn’t always translate to timely, affordable care. Employers can even the playing field by building fertility benefits into their game plan, wherever their teams are based.

84% of people are open to metabolic health support on their fertility journey. Only 44% had a provider bring it up. The same pattern holds true for men’s health: 80% are interested in support, but only 43% had a provider mention it. The interest is there. The clinical follow-through isn’t. Metabolic health, such as weight or insulin sensitivity, can impact ovulatory function and egg or sperm quality. Men’s health accounts for roughly half of fertility challenges. These are common, addressable factors that should be included in fertility conversations. While the clinical system isn’t reliably initiating these conversations, well-designed fertility benefits can. Employers who build metabolic health and men’s health support into their programs give employees access to interventions that can meaningfully change how a fertility journey unfolds. Source: Carrot’s 2026 Beyond IVF report. Link in comments.

Tomorrow’s the day! Let’s discuss a new model for supporting working parents after birth, and what it means for your benefits strategy.

Save your spot on the 16th. 🧡

You already know that our bodies produce estrogen. But did you know that there are naturally occurring plant compounds called phytoestrogens that mimic estrogen? One of these phytoestrogens is called isoflavones, and it can be found in soy products like tofu, soy milk, tempeh, and soybeans. Research shows that adding soy products to your diet can even increase bone density and decrease hot flashes.

Join me this Thursday at 1:30 pm est with Liz Miracle, MSPT, WCS from Origin and Dr. Lyndsey Garbi from Blueberry. We will be discussing a topic near and dear to my heart- working parents. Specifically how Carrot is redefining what support for working parents looks like with our partners Blueberry and Origin. Register here: https://lnkd.in/gsrSRpYA

It’s 1am. Your infant has a fever and nothing you do seems to soothe them. For first-time parents, it’s hard to make the call between “needs the ER now” and “monitor until morning.” A telehealth pediatrician can help you make that call. There are 99 emergency room visits per 100 infants per year, and more than half aren’t emergencies. They’re fever checks, rashes, ear pain, and gastrointestinal symptoms that could be addressed with a telemedicine appointment. When parents don’t have another option to get the answers they need, they turn to the ER. Full guide to pediatric telemedicine in the comments.