Fertility companies are thriving as the rest of the healthcare industry stumbles. Many healthcare companies have seen their growth stunted by the market downturn, but fertility startups are defying the odds. Alessia Pierdomenico/Reuters Big returnsProgyny's success this year is boosting investor sentiment for private fertility companies, F-Prime Capital partner Carl Byers said. And some fertility companies are trying to stand out further by saying they can lower costs for employers. Experts predicted the fertility industry will see further consolidation this year, including more clinic acquisitions by private equity and by some fertility startups.

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Persons: Kindbody, Scott Schoenhaus, Sarah James, Cantor Fitzgerald, PitchBook, Progyny, James, Alessia Pierdomenico, Carl Byers, Byers, Asima Ahmad, Carrot, Cantor Fitzgerald's James, Gina Bartasi, Peter Anevski, he's, Anevski, Rebecca Torrence Organizations: Morning, The Business Research Company, Investors, Reuters, Prime, Clinics, Maven, for Disease Control, Fertility