1. What is infertility? And who does it affect?

Infertility is a disease or condition of the reproductive system that affects more than 7.3 million Americans1. Infertility is when you cannot get pregnant after having unprotected, regular sex for a prolonged period of time. The duration of unprotected intercourse with failure to conceive should be about 12 months before an infertility evaluation is undertaken, unless medical history, age, or physical findings dictate earlier evaluation and treatment.

1Sourced from Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)


  1. When should I make an appointment?

If you’re under 35 years old and unable to get pregnant or stay pregnant after twelve months of trying, it might be time to talk to your OBGYN or a specialist about your fertility concerns. If you’re over 35 and have been trying for six months without success, you should seek medical advice.


  1. Are women and men affected equally?

Male infertility is as common as female infertility. Approximately 30% of infertility is due to a female factor and 30% is due to a male factor. In the balance of the cases, infertility results from problems in both partners and the cause of the infertility cannot be explained1.

1Sourced from Resolve.org


  1. What are RMANJ’s monitoring hours? And can I attend a different RMANJ location for fertility monitoring? 

RMANJ patients can visit our Basking Ridge, Eatontown, Englewood, Freehold, Hamilton, Marlton, Somerset, and Springfield locations between the hours of 6:00am and 7:30am for monitoring. Our offices in Morristown and West Orange are open a bit earlier to allow for even for flexibility, between the hours of 5:30am and 7:30am. Weekend hours may vary from office to office, so we recommend calling to confirm hours of operation.

With multiple locations and early morning hours, we make it more convenient for you to get the attention and treatment that you deserve.


  1. What insurance plans do you accept? 

RMANJ participates in several leading insurance plans, including Aetna, AmeriHealth, Cigna, Great West, Horizon Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Massachusetts, Oxford, QualCare, and United Health Care. Because coverage and authorization requirements vary, we recommend that you check your specific insurance coverage benefits before embarking on infertility treatment.



  1. Are there programs in place for patients without insurance? 

Yes. At RMANJ we have several financing options for patients. We participate in the ARC® Affordable Payment Plan, which helps with fertility financing and the cost of IVF or IUI. This program helps make infertility treatment more affordable through an extended payment program and allows you to make manageable monthly payments.

Your financial coordinator at RMANJ can discuss your financing options that are available. For more information, please call the RMANJ Finance team at 973-971-0612


  1. Is fertility preservation right for me?

For women and men facing some of life’s greatest health challenges, RMANJ’s Fertility Preservation Program in NJ provides critical options to stay positive about starting a family.

Originally developed to help overcome infertility complications associated with chemotherapy and radiation therapy, our program also benefits those with conditions such as ovarian cysts, a family history of early menopause and autoimmune disorders. Additionally, many younger women choose fertility preservation to ensure they can have a baby when the time is right for them.

Prior to cancer treatment, surgery or other procedures, your RMANJ team can discuss options for your post-treatment reproductive future.


  1. How does RMANJ work with patients from the LGBT community?

We understand that for some in the LGBT community, determining how they can start or even grow their families with the help of fertility experts is a process sometimes fraught with obstacles. RMANJ has been recognized by The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Foundation as “Leaders in LGBT Healthcare Equality.”

At RMANJ, We present couples with third-party reproductive services like egg donation, gestational carrier, and donor sperm – which will ultimately be combined with in vitro fertilization (IVF).


  1. What is Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)? And is there treatment for PCOS?

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a very common disorder that many women first learn about while seeking the cause of their infertility. PCOS affects 5-10% of women of reproductive age, making it one of the most common hormonal disorders in this age group1. The exact cause of PCOS is not known but it is thought to be a genetic trait that may run in families.

Women with PCOS may experience irregular periods, acne, oily skin, and higher testosterone levels. There are treatments available for women with PCOS. These treatments do not cure the disease but rather help improve the symptoms of PCOS. For women with PCOS who are obese, diet and exercise to maintain a normal body weight may alleviate many of the symptoms of PCOS. Women can also take oral contraceptive pills to correct some of the hormonal imbalances – which would decrease acne, excess hair growth as well as regulate menstrual cycles.

1Sourced statistic from Resolve.org


  1. What is Comprehensive Chromosome Screening (CCS)?

Comprehensive Chromosome Screening (CCS) is a type of preimplantation genetic screening that evaluates all 23 pairs of human chromosomes in search of any abnormalities (aneuploidy).  Aneuploidy is the term used to describe any embryo with either too many or too few chromosomes. Greater than 60% of miscarriages are caused by chromosomal abnormalities, with increased incidence due to age.

The purpose of Select CCS is to analyze, select and transfer only embryos that are euploidy (embryos that have the correct number of chromosomes).  Screening embryos in advance can help achieve higher implantation rates and fewer pregnancy losses, particularly for women 35 years or older, couples with multiple failed IVF cycles or implantation failure, and couples with repeated miscarriages.1

1Sourced from RMANJ


  1. What is Single Embryo Transfer (SET)?

Single Embryo Transfer (SET) is defined as the transfer of a single embryo at the blastocyst (day 5-6) stage that is selected from a larger number of embryos. Historically, physicians had a tendency to transfer more embryos to compensate for a low implantation rate.2

Today, women can avoid health risks that are associated with carrying multiples, including increased chance of Caesarean section, longer recovery periods following birth, and other complications through SET. We also can prevent the numerous medical complications that can affect twins, triplets or higher multiples during pregnancy, birth or for a lifetime, such as premature birth, low birth rate, and respiratory issues.

1Sourced from RMANJ

2 Sourced from WebMD


  1. What is Frozen Embryo Transfer (FET)?

 A Frozen Embryo Transfer (FET) is a cycle in which the frozen embryos from a previous fresh IVF or donor egg cycle are thawed and then transferred back into the woman’s uterus. Not only have FET’s shown to increase implantation rates but support improved obstetrical outcomes. FET transfers have also been known for being the “healthier” implantation process in FET cycles allowing for a better connection between the placenta and mother.


  1. What is in vitro fertilization (IVF)?

There are several acronyms to fertility treatment including IUI, CCS, SET, AMH and of course IVF. In vitro fertilization or IVF is the procedure most people commonly associate with fertility treatment. While not every patient is right or ready for IVF, it has been demonstrated to be a highly effective option for many with over 200,000 IVF cycles performed by US fertility clinics alone in 2015.¹

Patients are often graduated to IVF based on a number of factors including age, genetic disease, recurrent miscarriage, medical history, or issues related to sperm and egg quantity and or quality. Your IVF cycle is closely monitored by your expert RMANJ care team and consists of several key steps. Steps may include:

  • Ovarian Stimulation
  • Egg Retrieval
  • Extended Embryo Culture
  • Embryo Transfer (ET) / Frozen Embryo Transfer (FET)
  • SelectCCS / Comprehensive Chromosome Screening (CCS)
  • Embryonic Biopsy

¹Source: www.sart.org


  1. What is The Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology (SART)?

The Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology (SART) is the primary organization of professionals dedicated to the practice of assisted reproductive technologies (ART) in the United States. The organization represents the majority of the ART clinics in the country. The mission of SART is to establish and maintain standards for ART so that patients receive the highest possible level of care. ART includes the practice of In Vitro Fertilization (IVF). The mission of our organization is to set up and help maintain the standards for ART in an effort to better serve its members and patients.


  1. What is Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI)?

Often time’s sperm cannot penetrate the outer layer of a woman’s egg, for a variety of reasons. In order for an egg to be fertilized, the head of the sperm must attach to the outside of the egg and push through the outer layer to the inside of the egg (cytoplasm), where fertilization takes place.

In cases where the egg’s outer layer may be thick or hard to penetrate, a procedure called intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) can be performed along with in vitro fertilization (IVF) to help fertilize the egg. During ICSI, a single sperm is injected directly into the egg.




Your patient care team will provide updates during the transition.  We also welcome your questions at any time at 973-656-2089.

Visit us at RMANJ.com to learn more.