For many mothers, the only picture that they can imagine is one of themselves holding their beautiful new sleeping baby in their arms, feeling a sense of calm and accomplishment with their new life as a parent. Yet, parenthood is filled with unexpected surprises. The most surprising is how quickly ...

by Patricia Mendell, LCSW Wouldn’t it be wonderful if there was one Global Navigation System (GPS) for IVF (In-vitro Fertilization) programs? It could make the experience faster, simpler and more accurate.  You would never fear that valuable time would be lost as your biological clock ...

by Patricia Mendell, L.C.S.W. As a psychotherapist working in the field of reproductive medicine I have counseled hundreds of women and men about fertility-related issues, from preserving one’s fertility and contraception to problems with conceiving and pregnancy. It is rare to find ...

by Patricia Mendell, LCSW, AFA Mental Health Advisory Council How could I now be “too pregnant”? My husband and I had discussed our IVF plan ahead of time. We would not transfer back more than two embryos, maybe even just one. Reduction was never going to be a decision that we would ...