Dr. Melissa C. Yih featured in Staten Island Advance as a LGBTQ+ ally

If you are looking for a fertility doctor that is a passionate ally to the LGBTQ+ community, look no further than our very own Dr. Melissa C. Yih. Dr. Yih, who is Board Certified in both Obstetrics and Gynecology and Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, has been building families for the LGBTQ+ community for 20 years in New Jersey and New York.  

Dr. Yih proudly sits on the Board of the Pride Center of Staten Island, an amazing community organization built on inclusion, advocacy, and allyship. We are thrilled that the Staten Island Advance/ SILive.com decided to feature Dr. Yih in their “This Is Pride” featured series which highlights LGBTQ+ advocates. In the piece, Dr. Yih discusses why she’s an ally, what Pride means to her, and why legislative access to fertility care for the LGBTQ+ community in New York does not go far enough.

“New York state did pass a fertility mandate and same sex female couples can get full coverage usually, but they have to be deemed infertile. This means they have to do at least 12 cycles of donor sperm insemination if they are under 35 years of age of at least six cycles of donor sperm insemination if they are over 35 years of age. They usually have to pay for this out of pocket which can cost thousands of dollars,”

“It is not right to deny a couple (same sex female) fertility services just because they do not have access to sperm. We are trying to say that same sex female and male couples are ‘infertile’ so that they should be eligible for care right away without having to wait out a one year timeline,”

IRMS Staten Island has tirelessly advocated for legislative coverage for LGBTQ+ individuals and couples for decades. Alongside Dr. Yih, we staunchly believe in reproductive fertility rights for all and will continue to build beautiful LGBTQ+ families every day.

Dr. Melissa C. Yih (Photo: Staten Island Advance/Jan Somma-Hammel)

For more information about Dr. Yih and IRMS’ LGBTQ+ dedicated services – you can reach us through our contact form, by visiting our social handles or by calling 718.697.0255.

Credits:  This Is Pride portrait: Dr. Melissa Yih, ally and fertility specialist, helps LGBTQ+ partners create their own families
By Tracey Porpora | porpora@siadvance.com and Jan Somma-Hammel | jsomma@siadvance.com

Melissa C. Yih, MD, is Board Certified in both Obstetrics and Gynecology and Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility and has been practicing in the NJ area since 2002. Dr. Yih received her undergraduate degree from Wellesley College and her medical degree from The Robert Larner, M.D. College of Medicine at The University of Vermont. She completed her Obstetrics and Gynecology residency and her clinical fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at New York-Presbyterian Weill Medical College of Cornell University. Her areas of interest include counseling patients regarding fertility preservation options.