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The American Fertility Association Blog
Of Winter in Paris and Freezing Sperm
February 5, 2008 - Tuesday
Posted by Ken
It’s a cold winter’s day in Paris, and I’m talking to an old grade school buddy that I hadn’t seen in 25 years. We were there for an amazing home design show called Maison et Objet. My partner, after 21 years of teaching elementary school (his mother’s occupation) is transitioning careers to become a designer (his dad’s occupation.)
As I’m discussing my work with the AFA, my buddy—we’re both 48—says to me, “you need to talk to me about the whole sperm freezing thing.” Corner café, a delicious croissant, a café créme, and freezing sperm.
Seems my pal is hoping to create a family sometime in the future. So talk we did.
As I thought about my 2+ years with the AFA, I realized that the conversation, barring the location, was not all that unusual.
A workman, coming into my home office for payment on yard work sees the CDC’s ART Success Rates Report and begins to tell me about the time and expense and anxiety and guilt that he and his wife are experiencing in their journey to create family.
After Mass one Sunday, a friend pulls me aside and asks for assurances that “this” happens to other people, too, and that she’s really still fully a woman.
It made me think about the work that we do and the opportunities that the AFA provides for people to ask their questions in a safe place and to hear from the leading experts in fertility and related fields.
Take this coming Sunday. We’re excited about our first ever conference in San Francisco. We’ve done them on the east coast and they are fantastic. I’m sure the west coast version is going to be just as great. We’re taking a fresh approach, with something for everyone, including a full track for the LGBT community. The day is chock full of brilliant presenters discussing everything from infertility to 3rd party reproduction to adoption.
The day ends with wine and cheese and a chance to hear the real story about the environment and fertility. The lovely and talented Brenda Strong, the AFA’s national spokesperson and star of Desperate Housewives, will be keeping everyone in check.
Whether you’re straight or gay, single, partnered or married, younger or older, just considering family building or in the thick of it, we want you to be there.
Call 888-917-3777 to register.
I’m sure there will be more conversations in Paris and in my office and at church, but for this one day, we can have the conversation together, as family. Please join us.
Ken Mosesian
Acting Executive Director
Categories
Adoption •
Family Building •
Fertility •
Frozen Sperm
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