IntegraMed Conference Identifies 3 Trends That Will Transform Fertility Success Rates

The three trends in fertility treatment are:

1. Improved pregnancy rates with decreased multiple rates through metabolomics. With metabolomics, embryo quality can now be evaluated non-invasively to more accurately measure their quality. In doing so, only the most viable embryo needs to be transplanted rather than multiple embryos, thus improving pregnancy rates while significantly reducing the instances of multiples through in vitro fertilization (IVF).

2. Use of vitrification technology to successfully freeze eggs. One of the most exciting and long-awaited advances in fertility preservation is the ability to successfully freeze eggs via a technology called vitrification. Through vitrification, eggs are plunged in liquid nitrogen and instantly frozen, ensuring that this largely water-based cell does not form crystals that would expand and disrupt the egg’s membrane.

Dr. Schnorr predicts that within the next three to four years about 25% of all fertility preservation will utilize vitrification.

3. Improvement in the evaluation and treatment of severe male-factor infertility. Today 40 percent of infertility problems are attributed to the man. Procedures to improve the evaluation, risk assessment and treatment of severe male-factor infertility were discussed

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New fertility option for couples having difficulty getting pregnant

Having a baby is not easy for some couples so, to help in the process, there is a new fertility option breaking ground in the Valley.

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East Coast Fertility Aims to Build Families One Baby at a Time

East Coast Fertility is attempting to dispel the notion that all U.S. clinics pursue aggressive treatments and send patients home pregnant with multiples. While they want to achieve a pregnancy for the patient, their priority is health and safety. In addition, they are mindful of the burden multiple births can put on a country’s healthcare system.

(PRWeb UK) November 30, 2009 -- Many patients and doctors in the U.K. worry that cross-border fertility care in popular destinations such as the U.S., Spain and Greece involve overly aggressive treatments. They feel standard practices abroad are not in line with their recommendations for treatment. However, the fact remains that couples struggling to start a family sometimes have no other option but to seek help away from their homes. This is especially true in cases where egg donors are needed to achieve pregnancy. In the U.K. there is a three year wait for donor eggs, while the wait in the U.S. is much shorter. It makes sense for couples to travel to get the services they so desperately need, but they often fear that they will be encouraged to transfer several embryos at once and risk a multiple birth.

East Coast Fertility is attempting to dispel the notion that all U.S. clinics pursue aggressive treatments and send patients home pregnant with multiples. While they want to achieve a pregnancy for the patient, their priority is health and safety. In addition, they are mindful of the burden multiple births can put on a country’s healthcare system. Dr. David Kreiner of East Coast Fertility reflects on the negative opinion that sometimes surrounds cross-border fertility care. “We want patients abroad to know that we share their concerns, and our goal is to help them build their families one baby at a time.”

ECF offers a Single Embryo Transfer (SET) donor egg program. They encourage patients to pursue this protocol by removing the financial incentive from transferring multiple embryos at once. Many patients feel pressure to succeed the first time because of the high cost of treatment, so they risk multiple births by transferring several embryos during an IVF cycle. The SET donor egg program removes this financial pressure. For the price of a single donor egg cycle, patients transferring one embryo at a time get free cryopreservation, storage and unlimited frozen embryo transfers until the patient has a live birth. Unlike other cross border destinations, patients in the U.S. can choose well-screened donors based on personal preferences. The increased availability of donors, the ability to choose those donors and the SET program at ECF offer British patients the highest quality of care combined with the ethics and approach that they have come to expect in their home country.

“We were surprised to learn that patients in Spain are unable to choose their donor,” says Pamela Madsen, celebrated fertility blogger (www.thefertilityadvocate.com) and member of the ECF staff. “And we know it’s common in many countries to transfer 2-3 embryos during a donor egg cycle. We want patients to know we can offer them more options. ”

Dr. Kreiner and his team recently traveled to London to offer consultations to couples there who were thinking of seeking treatment in the US. “I’m glad we took the time to meet with these couples personally,” said Dr. Kreiner. “It gave us a chance to show them that we offer high quality treatment with high quality standards.” East Coast Fertility offers free phone consultations to patients abroad. For additional information, visit their website at www.eastcoastfertility.com.

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Anti-Mullerian Hormone test

Stock photo by gmarcelo
AMH assessment is also useful in fertility assessment as it provides a guide to ovarian reserve and identifies women that may need to consider either egg freezing or trying for a pregnancy sooner rather than later if their long-term future fertility is poor.

Measuring AMH alone may be misleading as high levels occur in conditions like polycystic ovarian syndrome and therefore AMH levels should be considered in conjunction with a transvaginal scan of the ovaries to assess antral follicle count.

In view of it's potential use to assess a woman's ovarian reserve and future fertility, measurement of AMH is sometimes called the biological Body Clock Test. see www.ukbodyclock.com

It also has the potential to rationalize the program of ovulation induction and decisions about the number of embryos to transfer in assisted reproduction techniques to maximize pregnancy success rates whilst minimizing the risk of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS)

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Fertility clinics in Raleigh

Photo by crenin
Duke Fertility Center leads the way in egg freezing, fertility services for cancer survivors, and pre-implantation genetics. Their website includes the cost of each procedure listed, as well as their pregnancy success rates.

UNC Specialty Women's Center at Rex diagnose and manage hormonal disorders, evaluate and treat the causes of recurrent pregnancy loss, the most modern surgical and medical treatments for infertility.

North Carolina Center for Reproductive Medicine has the highest pregnancy success rate in the state. They take a holistic approach to treating infertility. Discounted rates for IVF and tubal reversal surgery available this summer.

Carolina Conceptions provides on-site IVF, egg donation/egg recipiency, husband and donor IUI, and a gestational/surrogacy program. Access to a fertility counselor and a reproductive urologist. They guarantee new infertility consultations within two weeks.


Read more: http://www.examiner.com/x-14154-Raleigh-Infertility--Miscarriage-Examiner~y2009m7d17-Infertility-and-miscarriage-101-Where-can-I-find-fertility-clinics-in-Raleigh

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Free Egg Donation Cycle for One Lucky Attendee

Erickson Law and Conceptual Options a Center for Surrogacy and Egg Donation, announce a Free Egg Donation Cycle to be awarded to one lucky seminar attendee. "We have pulled together the finest Southern California surrogacy and egg donation professionals who were willing to offer their services to one lucky seminar attendee. The goal of these two seminars is to pass along information and guidance to prospective parents. A little incentive to help break the ice never hurts," states Surrogacy Lawyer Theresa M. Erickson.

Erickson Law is hosting a European Surrogacy & Egg Donation Conference to be held in Genève, Switzerland July 29-31, 2009. The U.S. based conference will be held on August 20, 2009. Please contact Michel Tournay at 001-858-748-4222 or for conference attendance information, visit www.Surrogacy-EggDonation.com/geneve.convention.html.

For additional information on the Free Egg Donation Cycle please visit our site at www.Surrogacy-EggDonation.com/Free-Egg-Donation-Cycle.html or contact one of our Surrogacy & Egg Donation Case Managers at 858-748-4222.

Read more: http://www.prweb.com/releases/2009/07/prweb2622104.htm

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First-Ever Egg Donor Web Portal Becomes One of The Largest Resources for Aspiring Parents in the U.S.

Through a unique and effective collaboration of egg donor agencies through out the United States, The Donor Network Alliance (DNA) - the industry's first ever web-based collective of egg donors - has quickly become one of the largest egg donation resources in the country with more than one thousand diverse and multi-cultural egg donor candidates.

Launched just over three months ago and already generating widespread industry recognition, the DNA website is a robust portal of potential egg donors listed with agencies throughout the entire U.S. In order to find the perfect donor, the comprehensive yet easy-to-use database enables intended parents to search specific donor parameters such as ethnicity, education, phenotype and more. The system then automatically generates an email that is sent directly to the registered donor agency of the individual donors.

Populating rapidly with egg donor candidates across the county, the simple functionality of the DNA website not only streamlines the process, it also saves aspiring parents a considerable amount of time and money during an already difficult and emotional fertility journey. For participating agencies, it provides an increase in exposure and expanded opportunities for their donors and intended parents.

Robin von Halle, DNA Co-Founder explains that the goal was to build a program to give intended parents more control over their egg donor search process, as well as create a positive unification that did not previously exist within the industry. "We are delighted to bring together some of the most credible and esteemed agencies across the country, while better serving the needs of the infertility community. We have close to 2,000 additional donor candidates to add to the website and it's our goal to reach 8,000 by the end of the year," she adds.

DNA began with three competing egg donor agencies in Chicago (Alternative Reproductive Resources (ARR), The Center for Egg Options Illinois (CEO) and ConceiveAbilities), and now collaborates with agencies from California, Massachusetts, Texas, Washington DC, Florida, Colorado, Arizona, Minnesota, Georgia and more. The website will soon be launching internationally, in order to provide family building options to many international fertility patients often restricted by limited resources or reproductive laws in their own country.

Robin von Halle will be attending the 25th Annual Meeting of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology in Amsterdam, The Netherlands from June 28 - July 1 and will be available to discuss this program and third party reproductive options in the U.S. and abroad.

For more information on The Donor Network Alliance (DNA) visit www.donornetworkalliance.com or contact Haylie Marchant at 773.366.9185 or Haylie@catalystcommunications.us

Source: http://news.prnewswire.com/DisplayReleaseContent.aspx?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/06-24-2009/0005049762&EDATE=

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Sparing Women from Fertility Drugs

In October 2007, a British woman whose eggs were matured in a lab rather than her body gave birth to healthy twins, marking the U.K. debut of a procedure that could spare women using assisted reproduction from potentially dangerous fertility drugs.

During in vitro fertilization—IVF, the standard assisted-reproduction technique—women take drugs to stimulate egg production and maturation. The eggs are then harvested, fertilized, and implanted. The drugs, however, sometimes cause a condition called ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, which in rare cases can be life-threatening.

During in vitro maturation, or IVM, immature eggs are removed and nurtured in a lab before being fertilized and implanted. Only one dose of fertility drugs is required.

The technique is still immature: The BBC reports that, of 2 million children born worldwide through IVF, around 400 were produced through IVM; success rates of lab-matured eggs are currently lower than those used in IVF. But for women who are especially sensitive to fertility drugs, or want to freeze eggs for future use, IVM may be a good option.

Source: http://www.portfolio.com/culture-lifestyle/2009/04/27/Sparing-Women-From-Fertility-Drugs

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World Egg Bank® Announces Fertility Financing Program For Donor Egg Recipients

Phoenix, AZ (PRWEB) April 22, 2009 -- The World Egg Bank® (TWEB), the leading egg donor bank, today announced the immediate availability of the Donor Egg Recipient Financing Program to assist donor egg recipients seeking to delay payment of their costs for up to two years. The program designed by TWEB and Home National Bank (HNB - Scottsdale, AZ) is unique in the fertility services field after the few available options, such as Capital One, are no longer viable with the tightening of available consumer credit.

"Our clients have an urgent need to move forward toward their pregnancy goal, and unfortunately finances often get in the way. In today's difficult economic environment, finding financing is particularly challenging for many couples. Waiting for better times is not an option," said Diana Thomas, President and Founder of The World Egg Bank®.

"Home National Bank understands family values and goals. Home National Bank provided financing to The World Egg Bank® because they saw us bring the dreams of prospective parents within reach. With HNB's help we are scaling our already unique roster of screened donors and we are increasing immediate availability of frozen donor eggs. However, recipients too need help in times of tight credit and HNB recognized that our recipients are uniformly serious, committed and reliable individuals of character," said TWEB's CEO Marco Messina.

TheWorldEggBank.com has the largest inventory in the world of frozen donor eggs available for immediate shipment anywhere, and has the experience of shipping worldwide since 2005. TWEB is actively expanding its team to ensure the highest standards of safety and service, the largest selection of donors, immediate delivery and peace of mind for egg recipients and infertile couples throughout the world.

About The World Egg Bank:
The World Egg Bank is the result of the merger of X and Y Consulting Inc. (XYC) and Cryo Eggs International L.P., (CEI) in February 2009. The World Egg Bank provides fertility services to women in need of donated eggs to achieve pregnancy. Over the last 12 years the company has operated the leading match-making service in the US and internationally by bringing donors and recipients together. In 2004, CEI became the first frozen egg bank in the world. In 2005, the first child conceived in the US from a frozen egg bank's egg was born under the care of the founders. The World Egg Bank scientific team and Scientific Advisory Board include the leaders (Dr. Jeffrey Boldt, Dr. Michael Tucker and Dr. Simon Fishel) of oocyte cryopreservation (the technology for freezing and thawing human eggs).

Source: http://www.emediawire.com/releases/2009/4/prweb2346064.htm

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RMA of New York now offers evening consultations

April 20, 2009 --Reproductive Medicine Associates of New York (RMA of New York) (http://www.rmany.com ) has announced the launch of evening appointments to new patients wishing to schedule a consultation at its main location in Midtown Manhattan. RMA of New York offers comprehensive treatment options including second opinion consultations, intrauterine inseminations (IUI), in vitro fertilization (IVF), preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD), and oocyte cryopreservation (egg freezing). These services are provided by the award winning clinical team (http://www.rmany.com/our-team.aspx ) with extensive experience in reproductive endocrinology, urology and complementary care.

For more information, please call 212.756.5777 or visit http://www.rmany.com

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Pay It Forward

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Non-Profit Organization Created to Help Couples, the Military and Cancer Patients Preserve Their Fertility and Build Their Families

Triad - Cary, NC - In the spirit of giving this holiday season, the North Carolina Center for Reproductive Medicine (NCCRM) announces the creation of the Pay It Forward Fertility Foundation http://www.payitforwardfertility.org/ . This new non-profit organization will help people of various circumstances afford fertility treatments that are not covered by health insurance. The mission of the Pay It Forward Fertility Foundation focuses on assisting three groups:

* Couples who cannot afford fertility treatments such as in vitro fertilization (IVF), donor egg IVF and embryo adoption.
* Military personnel at North Carolina posts and bases who are being deployed and want to preserve their fertility by cryopreserving their semen or embryos.
* Cancer patients who want to preserve their fertility before they begin treatments such as chemotherapy, radiation and/or surgery which could leave them sterile.

“This foundation is a dream realized for us at NCCRM,” says Sameh K. Toma MD, Medical Director at the North Carolina Center for Reproductive Medicine. “The majority of couples with fertility issues can get pregnant if they seek treatment. However, finances stop many people from pursuing their options because many health insurance companies in North Carolina don’t cover fertility treatments.”

The Pay It Forward Fertility Foundation is being started with a generous donation from Lori and Rob Moscato of Raleigh. The Moscatos conceived their daughter through IVF at NCCRM. After giving birth to Sophia in 2006 they conceived their son Ryan on their own. “Rob and I feel so blessed and so fortunate to have two little miracles, each in their own way,” explains Lori Moscato. “We were fortunate to have health insurance coverage for our IVF treatments but we know most people don’t. We want to help those couples because we can’t imagine life without our beautiful children and we want to pay it forward.”

The Pay It Forward Fertility Foundation will begin taking grant applications in January of 2009. A Board of Directors will review each application thoroughly as part of the approval process. Recipients of grants through the foundation will be treated at NCCRM’s Cary or Greensboro offices.

“We also want to reach out to families who can “pay it forward” by making donations to the non-profit foundation,” says Gerald Mulvaney MD, Director of NCCRM’s Greensboro office. “The name of the non-profit says it all. We want to continue helping couples in need and not have this be a one time deal for a few people. We’re hoping more people like the Moscatos will consider funding the Pay It Forward Fertility Foundation with donations.”

Media Contact: Sharon Delaney McCloud – 919-810-5085; smccloud@nc.rr.com
The Moscatos and physicians at NCCRM are available for interviews.Visit http://www.payitforwardfertility.org/ for more information.
About the North Carolina Center for Reproductive Medicine (NCCRM):
Located in Cary and Greensboro, NC, the North Carolina Center for Reproductive Medicine (NCCRM), The Talbert Fertility Institute, was founded in 1992 to provide advanced reproductive services to couples in a state of the art facility with board certified physicians. NCCRM is one of the most established, full service clinics in the Southeast and has one of the highest pregnancy rates in the country. http://www.nccrm.com/

Source: http://healthcare.dbusinessnews.com/shownews.php?type_news=latest&newsid=173289

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Egg-donor agencies offer guaranteed options

CHICAGO — Three egg-donor agencies in Illinois have joined forces to offer a first-in-the-nation guarantee for would-be parents: If a young woman who agrees to provide eggs to an infertile couple changes her mind, they can select another donor at any of the agencies for a relatively minimal fee.

The cooperative arrangement, launched last week, comes amid anecdotal reports that more women are inquiring about becoming paid egg donors in the current economic downturn. Even before the financial crisis, this niche of assisted reproduction was growing rapidly, fueled in part by older couples trying to have children.

Through the new Shared Donor program, the three agencies can offer such couples a wider array of potential donors, enhancing the prospect of a timely match. Nancy Block, president of The Center for Egg Options, said the agencies had been helping one another informally but recently "realized we should be doing this routinely."

Typically, if an egg donor doesn't pan out, a couple gets back most of the money promised to the young woman for her time and effort. Donor fees are about $7,000 in the Chicago area; usually, all but $1,500 will be returned.

But agencies don't offer refunds on their administrative fees, about $5,000 on average. For access to another agency's donor list, they previously would have had to pay a second time. The Shared Donor program eliminates the extra charge and substitutes a one-time $400 fee per family.

Full story: http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/nation/6150180.html

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Three Chicago Area Fertility Agencies Launch 'Shared Risk' Program

Picture by www.egg411.com
CHICAGO, Nov 24, 2008 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Three leading area fertility solutions agencies today announced the launch of a unique cooperative program to help intended parents better manage the risk of egg donors dropping out before the retrieval process is completed.
The "Shared Risk Donor Program" is an initiative by The Center for Egg Options (CEO), Northbrook, IL; ConceiveAbilities, and Alternative Reproductive Resources (ARR), both of Chicago.

Egg donation is an increasingly common approach to achieving pregnancy when viable eggs are not otherwise available. Intended parents choose a donor through an agency, based on traits important to them. Her eggs are retrieved as part of a medical process, fertilized, and either carried by the birth mother or a gestational surrogate. The donor is compensated for her time and effort for the retrieval process.

Occasionally, egg donors will withdraw from the process for personal or medical reasons after the fee has been paid. The Shared Risk Donor Program gives intended parents the option of choosing a new egg donor from any of the three agencies should this happen. Participants will not incur any additional agency fees, even if the donor is not represented by their agency. There is a nominal enrollment fee.

"The process of building a family through advanced reproductive technologies can be stressful," said Nancy Block of CEO ( http://www.egg411.com/ ). "The early loss of an egg donor doesn't happen often, but when it does, it's emotionally frustrating and a financial drain."

Nazca Fontes of ConceiveAbilities ( http://www.conceiveabilities.com/ ) said that rather than leave would-be parents discouraged at being back at square one, this program gives them easy access to three times as many potential egg donors as they originally had, without a correlating agency cost.

According to Robin von Halle of ARR ( http://www.arr1.com/ ), "We all recognized the problem and shared the desire to offer a solution that demonstrated how seriously we take our roles as advocates for our clients -- and as leaders at putting our industry in a more positive light."

For further information, contact Block at 847.656.8733; Fontes at 773.868.3971; or von Halle at 773.327.7325.

Source: http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/Three-Chicago-Area-Fertility-Agencies/story.aspx?guid={EBFA57E6-E7DB-40C2-893C-85CA2C359158}

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New Organization Filling Growing Need For Specialized Fertility Treatment Support

Fertility treatment can be a difficult, complex, and often a secretive journey - even more so when couples or singles are not able to have children using their own eggs. But a new support group, Parents Via Egg Donation Organization (PVED), is offering information, resources and a sense of community to those considering or attempting to create families using donor eggs - and to those who already have families created via egg donation.

The global nonprofit organization has more than 2500 members who have joined the group seeking information, resources, and support as they go through the egg donation process. The membership includes couples and singles of various religions, races and sexual orientations. "Many of these individuals didn't feel like they had any means of receiving support, getting educated, becoming empowered, or had a voice," said Founder Marna Gatlin, who conceived her son with egg donation. "Often they felt isolated."

Gatlin has run a small e-mail listserv for years, but recently realized the need for a central resource and created PVED. "I decided to create an organization that would embrace every parent who had chosen egg donation to grow their family," said Gatlin. "And I took the idea a step further: this resource would be a global resource for unbiased, timely, and accurate information about egg donation, eliminating the need to search far and wide for piecemeal information and answers."

The organization offers how to information: How to select a donor; how to select an agency; how to select an infertility clinic; information about disclosure, medications, as well as information on the step-by-step egg donation process and resources and links where readers can learn more. Gatlin also offers information regarding agencies, legal and medical professionals, treatment centers, mental health therapists, pharmaceutical companies, and other resources.

The Parents Via Egg Donation Organization was created to provide an informational and supportive environment where parents and parents-to-be can come together to exchange information about all facets of the egg donation process. Our mission and purpose is to educate, support, and empower families and individuals at any stage of the process who choose to use egg donation to build a family.

Source: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/130470.php

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For Egg Donors, Surrogates, and Intended Parents: New Assisted Fertility Blog

Northeast Assisted Fertility Group, Inc. -- an alliance of leading independent third party reproduction professionals -- has launched a new blog. It is intended to address the complexities of third party reproduction (egg donation and surrogacy). Using a combination of opinions and hard data, the NAFG blog will be a valuable resource to anyone following trends in fertility treatment.

New York, NY (PRWEB) October 20, 2008 -- The Northeast Assisted Fertility Group (NAFG) is pleased to announce the launch of its new blog, which will provide up-to-date information on the complexities of third party reproduction (egg donation and surrogacy): http://www.assistedfertilityblog.com/

The goal of this blog is to separate myth from reality in these controversial branches of fertility treatment by providing sound information and data, reasoned opinion, practical advice, and inside knowledge based on real life experience.

The blog's target audience includes egg donor recipients and egg donors, surrogates/carriers, intended parents, fertility industry professionals and advocates, media, and the public at large. The content will be timely and updated frequently, easy to search, and written in a clear, accessible style. Themes covered include issues such as the economy and the United States Presidential election, as well as practical guidance for those considering using an egg donation program or donating eggs for the first time. Other entries will consider the ethical, legal, psychological, political, financial, and practical aspects of being an egg donor, surrogate mother or intended parent. As infertility literature has become a genre in its own right, the blog will review and recommend books that enrich our understanding.

The blog's main contributor is Katherine Benardo, gestational carrier/egg donor program manager of NAFG. According to Benardo, "There is a lot of misinformation and misunderstanding surrounding these topics, both within the general public as well as those experiencing infertility. The blog will respond to the sensationalism with accurate information, and offer support to those going through fertility treatment." The blog will also feature special guest contributions from assisted fertility attorneys and other industry professionals, as well those who have created their families through surrogacy and egg donation.

Users will be able to subscribe to the Assisted Fertility Blog via email or RSS, including personalized sites such as My Yahoo!, MyAOL or iGoogle. The site is optimized for seamless integration with Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Digg, and other popular social media websites.

Anyone interested in following trends related to fertility treatment are encouraged to take advantage of this invaluable resource by visiting the blog and joining the discussion. Everyone involved in these fields has their own unique experience and point of view.

Source: http://www.prweb.com/releases/2008/10/prweb1484174.htm

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Millions Affected by Infertility: How Atlantans Have Overcome the Issues

National Infertility Awareness Week Oct. 19-25

ATLANTA, Sept. 29 /PRNewswire/ -- National Infertility Awareness Week, Oct. 19-25, is a movement to raise awareness about the condition which affects 7.3 million Americans. Metro Atlantans grappling with infertility can consider options available to them that others here have had success.

Infertility, which touches both men and women, is defined as the inability
to conceive after one year of trying with unprotected intercourse for couples
in which the female is younger than age 35 and six months of trying for
couples in which the female is older than 35.

"The good news is that nearly 90 percent of infertility cases are overcome
through today's advanced techniques," said Michael Tucker, scientific director at Georgia Reproductive Specialists (GRS), Atlanta. Recognized as one of the world's top 10 scientists in early human reproduction, Tucker is responsible for pioneering the world's first birth from frozen donor eggs. This
breakthrough freezing is offered at GRS.

There are many faces of infertility. Take for example, Shane McCord, a
recent patient of GRS. At age 3, he was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis, a
disease frequently leaving the patient infertile. After tests revealed McCord
lacked a vas deferens, he and his wife were able to conceive using in vitro
fertilization (IVF).

Another patient, Susan Stegall, and her partner wanted to raise a family.
Stegall received through IVF her partner's egg, which had been inseminated by a sperm donor. Together, they had a son. Five years later, the same process involved Stegall's egg and the same sperm donor and resulted in a baby girl.

Aware that age is a factor in influencing fertility, patient Kurena Hill
came to GRS after she and her husband were unable to conceive. After several unsuccessful attempts at intrauterine insemination, also called artificial insemination, and a miscarriage, the doctor of then 35-year-old Hill extracted nearly a dozen eggs from her, froze them and then transferred thawed, fertilized eggs to Hill. As a result, at age 36, she gave birth to a daughter.

While IVF is far from the only solution to infertility, a recent survey by
GRS of couples facing infertility issues indicates it was the most widely
known treatment among respondents. Virtually all -- 97 percent -- of the women and men surveyed said that prior to receiving infertility counseling they were familiar with IVF. Conversely, only 37 percent were aware of intracytoplasmic sperm injection, which involves the direct injection of sperm into eggs obtained through IVF. Some 57 percent were aware of the process of freezing eggs for later use.

Age is a factor with infertility for both women and men. Almost half -- 45
percent -- of the survey respondents were 35, the age at which fertility
starts declining significantly, or older. These respondents reported they had
been trying to conceive an average of 23 months.

"Our message to couples facing infertility is that most infertility issues
can be overcome with the proper diagnosis and treatment," said Dr. Mark
Perloe, GRS medical director. "A structure as we have provides the patient
with the utmost in testing, counseling and treatment options. Our renowned physicians are here to help fulfill our patients desire to start or expand a family."

Source: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/millions-affected-by-infertility-how-atlantans-have-overcome-the-issues,558684.shtml

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Egg freezing free for women

Picture by xoBEGGSxo
Working women who want to postpone motherhood can have their eggs frozen for free - if they agree to give half to infertile couples.

Egg freezing, which is generally restricted by doctors to cancer patients made infertile by chemotherapy, is increasingly being made available for non-medical reasons.

Yet its £5,000 price tag is prohibitive for many would-be mothers.

The Bridge Centre clinic in London, however, is offering free egg freezing if women agree to give half the eggs to infertile couples.

Full story: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/health/3042427/Egg-freezing-free-for-women.html

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