Boys! Boys! Boys!

    by The American Fertility Association

     June 2012
    In This Issue
    ***Are There Any Men Listening?
    ***Happy (Birth)Father's Day
    ***Reproductive Options for Gay Women
    ***Family Building Options for Gay Men
    ***June 24th is New York Pride
    ***The AFA's event calendar
    ***The AFA's Latest Tool Kits
     
    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

    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

     

    HRC Fertility

     

    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

    Atlanta Center for Reproductive Medicine

     

     

    Center for Advanced Reproductive Medicine

     

    Fertility Center of the Carolinas

     

    Fertility Specialists of Houston

     

    Law Offices of Julie M. Tavoso, LLC

     

    Reproductive Medicine Associates of Philadelphia 

     

    Reproductive Science Center of New England

     

     Silver Sponsors

     

    A Jewish Blessing, LLC

     

    Andrea Bryman, L.M.F.T.

     

    Apthorp Pharmacy

     

    Baby Steps Fertility

     

    Bethesda Fertility Center

     

    Coastal Fertility Medical Center

      

    Conceiveabilities

     

    Conceptions Center for Ovum Donation


    Cynthia Fruchtman, Esq.

     

    Elite IVF

     

    Fertility & Surgical ASsociates of California

     

    Fertility Institute of Hawaii

     

    Future Family Starter

     

    Gretchen Kubacky, Psy.D.

     

    IVF New Jersey

     

    Judith Kottick, L.C.S.W.

     

    Law Offices of Steven W. Lazarus

     

    Law Offices of Victoria T. Ferrara, PC

     

    Metro Drugs 

     

    New York Fertility Services

     

    Pacific In Vitro Fertilization Institute

     

    San Diego Fertility Center

     

    Sperm Bank of California

     

    Success Meds, LLC

     

    Surrogate Alternatives

     

    The Center for Reproductive Medicine

     

    The Surrogacy Lawyer

     

    Village Fertility Pharmacy

     

    Zouves Fertility Center

     

     

    National Men's Health Month
    men in a group 123 RF
     
    Gotta love those boys!!!!  It is their month, after all. 
     
    You know, the tag line associated with
    Men's Health Month is: Awareness.  Prevention. Education. Family.  Sounds alot like The AFA, doesn't it?  We've been advocating for increased awareness of men's reproductive health issues, and over-all health issues for a long time, yet we find ourselves still hitting some of the same snags associated with those boys, over and over again.  Let's face it, ask anybody who has ever loved a man and they will tell you, most men don't like to go to the doctor, take care of their health, or admit to that fact in any way.  They also don't want to talk about it, think about it, or discuss it, especially with you.  It doesn't help that Father's Day lands smack in the middle of June.  Unless you are buying them a present, they don't want to talk to you about that, either, if fatherhood feels out of their grasp right now. 
     
    This issue of Connect celebrates men and takes on the stuff they wish would go away.  More information on men's health and reproductive issues can be found here.

    June is also Gay Pride Month. The AFA's long-standing commitment to LGBT family building is well known.  What's not as well-known is the hit we took because of it, several years ago.  We were the first to come out (so sue me) as being in favor of all-inclusive family building and well, some of our supporters simply did not agree with us, choosing to withdraw their friendship rather than work with "those gays".   Anyway, years later, we can all acknowledge that times have changed.  I'm proud that The AFA played a role in that change, and for those of you who joined us, and on behalf of all the babies born because of our collective desire to say yes to love and family, we want to say thank you.

    June marks the official beginning of summer, too.  Some of you may be considering taking a break from treatment for now and others may be escalating their efforts.  Whatever the warm weather brings you, we wish you sunshine, aqua seas, and happy reading. - The AFA Editor    
    Are There Any Men Listening?

     

    By Bob Bamman, L.C.S.W.

     

    two men talking When I was asked by The AFA to author a blog in recognition of National Men's Health Month I immediately thought what a wonderful idea - to reach out, during this month that promotes male physical and mental health, to men who are experiencing within their marriages the pain and stress of infertility (male, female, or unexplained), and the coincident challenges of medical treatment and consideration of possible alternative family building scenarios such as adoption or donor conception. This is an area that has touched me personally (I am an adoptive dad) and to which I have also devoted much of my professional work. I got excited, then the Catch-22 hit me: In this particular arena and on this particular website, The American Fertility Association, how many men are actually going to log in and read this (if you are a male reading this, congratulations!)? Read more
    Happy (Birth)Father's Day 

     

    By Carolyn Berger, L.C.S.W. 

    holding dads finger google

    Father's Day is fast approaching and with it comes quick trips to the stationery store to find the perfect card for Dad.

    This year I've been reading and thinking about the role of birth fathers a lot and have been heartened to find an assortment of birth father cards at the store. One of my favorites is the slightly overdone " To My Wonderful Birth Father: You have been a beacon of light in my life. May your life be illuminated by my love for you, not only today but always." Read more 

    Reproductive Options for Gay Womenlesbian wedding with baby google images

      

    For gay women, there are a number of viable routes to consider when achieving parenthood is the goal. Many women will explore the concept of at home insemination versus intrauterine insemination performed in a doctor's office, and others will find themselves pondering the benefits of reciprocal IVF. If you opt to create your family through a biological route as opposed to pursuing adoption, one of the first things you will need to do is learn about sperm donation. Read more.

     

    Family Building Options: Gay Men and Assisted Reproductive Technologydads and son googleimages

     

    For gay men who wish to be dads, surrogacy and egg donation are viable routes to parenthood, as is adoption. If you are thinking about becoming a dad and considering all your

    options, this is a very exciting time for you. Whether you are single or are part of a couple, the first thing you need to consider is if you wish to have a genetic link to your child. Adoption and foster care adoption are wonderful ways to create a family with a child who is waiting for you. surrogacy and egg donation will afford you the opportunity to have a biological connection to your baby.  To read more about this, The AFA's LGBT Handbook can be acceessed here. 

     

      
      June 24th is New York Pride!! 

     

    Come visit Ken and Carolyn at The AFA's booth.  We'll be handing out tons of educational material and other assorted cool stuff.  Look for us there!

     
    gay pride baby   
       
    The AFA's Event Calendar

     


    calendar google images

    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.

     

       
    The AFA's Infertility Awareness Stamp
    and 
    Latest Tool Kits Are Now Available for Sale in our Store!
     
    Check Out  our Kits on LGBT Family Building, Secondary Infertility, Donor Egg, and much more here!

    AFA Infertility Awareness Stamp