The journey towards becoming a parent is different for everyone.
For some, this journey can be complicated, as experienced by two Northwestern Mutual employees. Luckily, through NM’s fertility benefits, they were able to find hope.
For Ava, IT Risk Metrics II, a surprising cancer diagnosis transformed the idea of preserving her fertility from a distant thought into an immediate priority.
Ava was diagnosed with breast cancer after finding a lump during a routine self-check. Her doctor immediately recommended consulting with a fertility clinic. At just 25 years old, it was a heavy decision that she thought she had years to consider—but one Ava now had to make quickly.
“Freezing your eggs is common for young cancer patients because chemotherapy can damage them,” Ava said. “It seemed like a daunting process, but I didn’t want to regret not doing it.”
By using Kindbody, a fertility benefit offered to NM employees, Ava was able to use their services and consult with a dedicated care navigation team.
"Fortunately, it only took a phone call to activate my benefit. I feel lucky to work at NM and have access to amazing benefits that have truly made a difference in my life," Ava said.
For Abby, IVF was the only path to conceiving a child with her husband. Before joining NM, she considered IVF, but the high cost meant facing hefty loans just for a chance to have a child.
By utilizing Kindbody, Abby was able to take advantage of the flexible fertility benefits, which includes fertility treatment services such as IVF, intrauterine insemination (IUI), egg/embryo/sperm freezing, male fertility services, donor services and fertility medications through KindbodyRX.
“With other programs there can be hidden fees or certain exclusions, but our benefits make it really easy,” Abby said.
The result? Abby and Ken are preparing to welcome a baby girl in August.
Despite their individual obstacles, both women have used NM’s fertility and family planning benefits to build their ideal futures.
Interested in working here? Learn more about the benefits offered to NM employees and be sure to check out our open roles.
Matt, centralized supervision specialist, will never forget the gut-wrenching stomach pain that woke him one October night. Initially he hoped it would pass, but the pain didn’t dissipate. His wife convinced him to seek emergency care.
We believe it’s critical to support and empower our employees to prioritize their mental health and provide resources to help them do so.
At NM, we understand how important the health of our employees is, which is why we offer perks and benefits designed to help them achieve their wellness goals.