Woman shares IVF journey through audio diary

Every year, thousands of people in Massachusetts pursue parenthood through fertility treatments. One option is in vitro fertilization, or IVF.

According to the CDC, 5.4% of all births in Massachusetts resulted from IVF in 2021, the highest rate of any state in the country. Part of the reason for Massachusetts' strong showing is the commonwealth requires insurance to cover some IVF treatments. Most states don't.

Radio Boston follows one mother's journey. Fatima Shahzad of Somerville recorded herself in 2022 while she was going through her second round of IVF. At the time, she and her husband Dylan were trying to conceive their first child. Fatima and Dylan welcomed a baby girl last August.