In this episode, we welcome Annika, an attorney specializing in assisted reproductive technology (ART), who offers a unique perspective as both a professional in the field and someone who built her own family through reciprocal IVF. Annika shares her personal journey with her wife, including the decision to use reciprocal IVF (her wife's egg, Annika carried) and the financial and emotional considerations that guided their path. The conversation highlights the significant financial hurdles of fertility treatment and the inequity of insurance coverage that exists, even in states like Massachusetts that have a fertility mandate. In addition to being their preference for non-clinical reasons, reciprocal IVF was medically recommended for their family, but was considered "elective" because they did not attempt conception "the old-fashioned way" or through IUI/ICSI first.
A 2013 graduate of BU Law, Annika studied assisted reproductive technology (ART) and was particularly interested in ARTs intersection with "intent-based parentage". A past co-chair of the Massachusetts LGBTQ Bar Association and current GLAD Law Board Member, Annika shares her passion for her practice, which combines estate law, family formation, confirmatory adoptions, and pro bono name changes for the transgender community. She also discusses her advocacy work for the Massachusetts Parentage Act (MPA), sharing how her daughter, Maya – affectionately known as the "MPA baby" – was born during the campaign and even participated in its signing.
In both her practice and her own personal experience, Annika has witnessed the societal stigma surrounding fertility treatments, contrasting the openness in the queer community about needing medical intervention with the shame often experienced by straight couples. She criticizes outdated terms like "social infertility" and "elective" treatments, emphasizing their harm in insurance advocacy. The importance of updated terminology isn’t just reserved for during the family building process, but is also important for when talking about parenting, from intent-based parentage in law to the need for updated language in medical forms that are more inclusive of diverse family structures.
LINKS:
Connect with Annika: https://www.absesq.com/
TOPICS COVERED IN THIS EPISODE:
family building, reciprocal IVF, LGBTQ family planning, fertility treatment options, assisted reproductive technology, parenting with same-sex couples, emotional support for parents, fertility insurance coverage, navigating fertility challenges, queer family advocacy, medical history for families, parenting and legal rights, family formation law, financial aspects of IVF, support for LGBTQ parents, personal experiences in family building, family planning resources, parenting journeys, overcoming fertility stigma, legal issues in family creation, Attorney, assisted reproduction technology law, reciprocal IVF, LGBTQ+ fertility, two moms, same-sex couples, queer couple, queer family, donor sperm, donor conception, PCOS, natural cycle, cost of fertility treatment, fertility, family building, Massachusetts Parentage Act, insurance coverage for fertility care, confirmatory adoption, social infertility, inclusive insurance mandates, family formation law, intent-based parenting, intent-based parentage
CONNECT WITH ALLPATHS FAMILY BUILDING: https://allpathsfb.org
Follow us on social media @allpathsfb
Want to share your story or ask a question? Get in touch at podcast@allpathsfb.org!
