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Quick Links
Advanced Fertility Center of Chicago
Superior success rates for the past decade. Have a baby from IVF or egg donation- or get your money back.
Advanced Reproductive Care Inc. (ARC) Making treatment affordable since 1998. Call 1-888-990-2727 - ask about ARC Refund Guarantee Program™ - get money back if no live birth occurs.
New England Fertility
20 Years of Fertility Expertise.
Large Egg Donor Registry and Bank. Internationally recognized IVF Program.
Annual ART Success Rates Report
Pens That Communicate
Now supplying IVF Clinics in the USAwith a Custom Color Liquid Sperm Pensfor IVF Marketing.
Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology
Annual ART Success Rates
Report
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Every month in Connect, The AFA will feature a different list of supporters, professional members, and donors. This month, we'd like to thank the following:
Platinum Sponsors
Fertility Centers of Illinois
Fertility Physicians of Northern California
IVF Florida Reproductive Associates
Reproductive Biology Associates
Reproductive Endocrinology Associates of Charlotte
Reproductive Medicine Associates of New York
Shady Grove Fertility Centers
The Ronald O. Perelman and Claudia Cohen Center for Reproductive Medicine of Weill Cornell Medical College
Gold Sponsors
California Fertility Partners
Center for Advanced Reproductive Medicine
Fertility Center of the Carolinas
Law Offices of Julie M. Tavoso, LLC
Reproductive Science Center of New England
Silver Sponsors
Adoptions from the Heart
A Jewish Blessing, LLC
Boca Fertility
Center for Male Reproductive Medicine
Coastal Fertility Medical Center
Conceiveabilities
Extraordinary Conceptions
Fertility Institute of Hawaii
Future Family Starter
Law Offices of Steven W. Lazarus
Metro Drugs
New England Cryogenic Center
SCSA Diagnostics, Inc.
Surrogate Alternatives
The Surrogacy Lawyer
Village Fertility Pharmacy
Zouves Fertility Center
Professional Members
Erica Ploski, M.A., L.P.C.
Jeanette Moy, M.S., L.Ac
Lauryn Salassi Gilliam, M.S., L.M.F.T., Ph.D (Candidate)
Shiaoting Jing
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A Rose for You
With compassion, respect, and admiration for your courage, wisdom and grit, we give you this rose.
With this rose comes our heart felt hope that you will realize your fondest dream.
Sunday is Mother's Day. Some of you will wake up filled with heartache and others, a gnawing anxiety about getting through the day. We ask that you also let in a tiny ray of hope and optimism for the future in that waking moment. We know it's hard, but ask that you try. A tip list that might help appears below, as does a great article on surviving Mother's Day and Father's Day.
Last month's issue of Connect caused quite a stir, with lots of people writing in and asking for more content on infertility and religion. In response, we've added two additional articles on this topic. One focuses on egg freezing for Orthodox Jewish women and the other on faith and procreation.
Whatever your faith may be, or how it might affect your family building decisions, we ask one more thing of you. Please have faith in yourself, first and foremost. Know that you will get through this time of your life. Know that you have the courage to rise above your obstacles. Know that we are here for you and you are not alone.
We wish you joy, peace, and happy reading. -
The AFA Editor
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Surviving the Biological Clock: Religious Issues of Egg Freezing for the Single Orthodox Jewish Woman
By Kate Silverman, R.N., B.S.N.
 When a young Orthodox Jewish girl opens the chapter of dating, she first focuses on finding 'Mr. Right,' as does every young woman. But, as time goes by, the question of 'when will I find Mr. Right?' starts to morph into 'will I ever be a mother? The pressure of the biological clock adds to the already present social and societal pressures for finding Mr. Right. Meanwhile, as the search for Mr. Right continues, fertility slowly starts to decline.
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Surviving Mother's and Father's Day
By Judith Kottick, L.C.S.W.
Mother's and Father's Day may be holidays invented by the Hallmark Card Company, but it doesn't mean this commemoration of parenthood doesn't still have meaning. For many of us, the attitudes we hold toward any holiday stem from childhood memories of the rituals and sentiments about the day that our parents have created or passed down from their own families. At the same time, current life circumstances add a layer of feeling about the holiday that may dictate whether you are dreading or looking forward to the day's observation. So if your recollection of Mother's Day is a warm family gathering with cousins, good food and laughter, it may be a holiday you would enjoy under other circumstances, but not while going through infertility and longing for parenthood. If, on the other hand, you remember Father's Day as a period of tension between parents, step-parents or relatives that left you feeling forgotten or fought over, this may be a day you dreamed could be different with your own child, but is just as well skipped over this year, while going through infertility.
Read more
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Your Mother's Day Tips List for Making It to Monday.
1) Opt Out. Go where you want to go, do what you want to do. Period.
2) Sleep In. Beds were made for cuddling, snuggling and living in. Stay under the covers all morning or all day, ice cream optional.
3) Occupy. Yourself, or Wall Street. Read a great book, watch a cool movie, walk in the park or run around it. Give yourself something to do that you love.
4) Put yourself first. Because you deserve it pretty lady!.
5) Put worry and sadness last. It's ok to feel whatever you feel, but just for today, try to give yourself a vacation from sad.
6) Remember that it won't always feel like this. We promise.
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Does God factor into procreation decisions?
by Meryl Rosenberg, Esq. 
In the recent AFA newsletter, the question was asked,"What's God got to do with it?" For some, the answer is everything. For others of course, the answer is nothing. For many, the answer is somewhere in the vast in between. When dealing with any third party reproduction assistance in the context of assisted reproductive technology, the questions and answers surrounding religion can be a virtual minefield. For those whose religion is not of particular significance, they might be surprised at the considerations that come into play. As assisted reproductive technologies (ART) and third party reproduction have blossomed, so have the religious views. To date, most major religions have developed philosophies regarding ART and the use of a third party, drawing from their long-standing practices for guidance. When presented with infertility challenges, the emotional and other issues already often run high. For individuals whose religious beliefs and philosophies are also of importance, the challenges sometimes are insurmountable. The Bible teaches us to be fruitful and multiply. The question then is when God effectively interferes with the personal decision to procreate - to be fruitful and multiply - what does this mean for the individual?Does God factor into procreation decisions? Read more.
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Gay Women's Gathering -
An Evening About Lesbian Pregnancy
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The AFA's Event Calendar
There are events taking place across the country to help educate and support you on your family building journey. Please take a look through our calendar to find classes, discussion groups, workshops and emotional support groups on infertility, adoption, third party reproduction and LGBT family building.
To learn about all of The AFA's support groups, including those for Mind/Body and Over 40 issues,click here.
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The AFA's Infertility Awareness Stamp
and
Latest Tool Kits Are Now Available for Sale in our Store!
Check Out our Kits on Secondary Infertility, Donor Egg, and much more here!
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