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The American Fertility Association Blog

And Apparently Women Lie As Well

May 1, 2009 - Friday
Posted by Lisa

Not me of course. 

Evidentally the blog entry that I wrote on STD prevention, as it is discussed at The AFA’s Manicures & Martinis Infertilty Prevention Events, hit a huge nerve out there.  The blog name is “Men Lie”, you can read it a few entries down.  I got emails from a lot of people about this blog.  Mostly from women who kinda knew this stuff already.  But I also got this one, from a disgruntled reader:

“Yeah and women lie as well.  All men must always wear condoms—unless they want to wind up paying 18+ years of child support and effectively becoming a slave.  All by her choice.

You see… Sometimes women “forget” to take the pill—without telling their partner.  Women also “forget” a whole lot of things, like most of their sexual history, including unprotected sex…
--
“A computer lets you make more mistakes faster than any invention in human history--with the possible exceptions of handguns and tequila.”
- Mitch Ratcliffe, _Technology Review_, April, 1992”

Well, there you go.  While the sentiment varies, the take home message from both this reader and The AFA, is to some extent the same. 

If you want to protect yourself, your health, and your fertility, use a condom. 

So dear reader, you know who you are.  I don’t disagree with a lot of what you have to say.  If you would like to write back to me, cool.  Please do so.  I request that you use this public forum so that we can invite others to join the conversation.  Because it’s an important conversation.  And I thank you for your input.

Always,

Corey

Categories
Fertility • Fertility Preservation • Infertility • Reproductive Health

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Facing Change

March 16, 2009 - Monday
Posted by Ken

Last year I wrote an article addressing how issues surrounding the topic of infertility would only become more intense in the coming year. What I didn’t realize is the degree to which the infertility conversation would enter mainstream media, and how quickly.

Thus far in 2009, the topic of infertility is everywhere. Whether it’s the mother of eight babies in California or a 60 (plus) year-old woman becoming pregnant through in-vitro fertilization (IVF), infertility has become part of most people’s daily listening and reading, if not daily conversation.

As I write this in mid-March, I’m wondering what’s going to happen this week when the Georgia State Senate considers a “personhood” bill, which defines life at the moment of conception and ascribes all human rights to the embryo from that point forward. The bill would make anyone who damages or destroys an embryo criminally liable, subject to both fines and imprisonment. It would further forbid any disposition of unused embryos except the option to donate them to another couple, (and they do mean married, heterosexual couples).  The option to freeze embryos for use at a later date, donate them to scientific research, or dispose of them would be illegal if this bill becomes law.

There are several other bills floating around state legislatures right now. Many are designed to dictate to physicians and patients having difficulty conceiving how many embryos they can create, how many they may transfer, and what the disposition of any unused embryos must be.

New questions are being raised about the use of sperm taken posthumously from a male for the purpose of continuing a family line or ensuring inheritance. Who has the final say in these matters?

Egg freezing is emerging as the most asked about fertility topic of the year. Women and men want to know if eggs can be frozen for use at a later date, similar to what is currently being practiced with unused embryos. If so, what’s the success rate? Is this something we should be encouraging? Are there risks? What are they?

Egg freezing, taking sperm from dead men, legislators dictating what physicians and patients can and can’t do, and the very real possibility of microscopic tissue being called a “child” are just some of the issues The American Fertility Association (The AFA) is helping consumers sort through as they begin or find themselves in the midst of their family building journeys.

7.3 million American women experience difficulty conceiving or bringing a pregnancy to term. Fertility challenges among men may be just as high, as male factor infertility is the sole or contributing cause in about 40% of infertile couples.  We are, indeed, faced with a significant challenge.

In addition to providing education and support for those facing fertility challenges, this year, The AFA began an infertility prevention program in which we take education to young women at places they already frequent - like nail salons and health clubs.

Why? There are types of infertility that can be prevented. Avoiding environmental toxins, taking into account the biological clock (fertility begins to decline at age 27 for women and 35 for men) and preventing STD’s are all things that can keep options open for individuals and couples if and when they decide to have children. As everyone knows, prevention, when possible, is the best cure.

Our mission is simple: prevent infertility whenever possible and support people in building families of choice. To learn more, visit us at http://www.theafa.org.

The American Fertility Association, a 501 (c) (3) national non-profit organization is a lifetime resource for infertility prevention, reproductive health and family building. AFA services and materials are provided free of charge to consumers and available to everyone without reservation. These services include an extensive online library, monthly online chats, telephone and in-person coaching, a resource directory, hosted message boards, daily fertility news and a toll-free support line.
http://www.theafa.org or 888.917.3777.

Ken Mosesian
Executive Director

Categories
Donor Egg • Donor Sperm • Egg Donation • Egg Freezing • Embryo Donation • Family Building • Fertility • Fertility Preservation • Frozen Embryos • Frozen Sperm • Infertility • IVF • Reproductive Freedom • Sexual Health • Sperm Donation • Third Party Reproduction

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A Girl’s Night Out

February 11, 2009 - Wednesday
Posted by Lisa

Last night I had the pleasure of spending time on Long Island at our 2nd Manicure & Martini (M&M) Infertility Prevention event.  Although it wasn’t as heavily attended as the first event in NYC it still had as much excitement, desire and fun - maybe even a bit more fun. As the evening began, it quickly became a girl’s night out, our own little party with Fertilitini’s in hand, casual conversation, and phenomenal manicures by the Dashing Diva staff.

This M&M was led by Dr. Allison Styne of East Coast Fertility who did a wonderful job throughout the night keeping the conversation going with lots of questions, answers and quite a few giggles. Even though some of the women walked in a bit unsure of what the night would bring they all came with a deep desire to learn more about themselves, their lifestyles and their future. They were so anxious to hear about their biological clock or the effect of STDs on their fertility and what they can do about it now, that two of the women traveled from Manhattan to be there. One of them had to head back home to New Jersey after the event! Not an easy commute by any means but it meant that much to her to be there.

The best part of the evening however was watching each and every one of them walk out with a smile, acknowledging that they knew a little bit more about themselves - and what they could do now - that might make a difference to them in the future. It was truly my pleasure to be among all of these wonderful women last night.

Thanks to our sponsors, East Coast Fertility and Schering Plough for helping us make a difference, one event at a time.

Melinda Micciola
Director of Operations
The American Fertility Association

Categories
Fertility • Fertility Preservation • Infertility

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Wonky Fertility

January 28, 2009 - Wednesday
Posted by Corey

How do you fit 60 women into a room meant to accommodate 25? You don’t simply offer them the promise of a free manicure, that’s for sure. But boy, if you throw in the opportunity to listen to a renowned fertility expert like Jamie Grifo, speaking about infertility prevention? Now there’s a recipe that will fill a room. There’s a recipe that will even rival the sumptuous elixir we now call a Fertilitini.

A beautiful, young crowd of women poured into Dashing Diva last night. 35 of them weren’t registered but also weren’t taking no for an answer. Ten of them didn’t even want a manicure, they just wanted to listen. And listen they did. They asked questions significant to their generation - concerns they had about their current birth control use, std prevention, environmental toxins, and more. One woman, maybe 23? 24? Shiny ponytail and great boots. Chose Simply Red as her nail polish color. She wanted to know if her irregular periods were a sign of wonky fertility. Wonky fertility? Can’t say I’ve ever heard a patient use that term before!

But it was their faces that really got me. I was worried in the beginning, worried that they would chatter among themselves, or focus on the nail polish colors, that sort of thing. But no. They were enrapt. They were engaged. They were CHANGED. We had them fill out an exit questionnaire and leave it with us - questions like, did you learn anything? If so, what? Will you modify your behaviors based on what you learned? What we got back was more than a check list of dogged January resolutions. It was a thumbnail glimpse into the lives of women - young women who feel motivated to use condoms, finally, because they understand at last that Chlamydia is dangerous for them. Women who will pay more attention to the chemicals listed on labels.

Some of these women want to know more about egg freezing, right now. Some want to find better singles bars so that they can meet Mr. Right a little faster! And some want to continue to focus on their lives right as they are now, thank you very much. But all with a little more knowledge, a little more understanding, and maybe, a little more acceptance and love of their bodies, their femaleness, and their futures.

None of them left panicked, instead, empowered. All of them were moved, and truly happy to be there, and grateful for the information.

I myself am grateful to be part of the team that is bringing them this information. I am grateful because I know that some of these women will have an easier road, maybe even a happier life, because of an hour that they spent in a nail salon.

Best,

Corey Whelan
Director of Development

Categories
Family Building • Fertility • Fertility Preservation

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Mama Said There Would Be Days Like This…..

October 31, 2007 - Wednesday
Posted by Pamela

It has been a really tough week to be the Executive Director of The AFA. This was the kind of week that I thought about opening up an ice cream parlor....where the most complicated issue would be whether the client wants colored sprinkles or chocolate...or replacing a child’s fallen cone. This is a tough blog to write. But nobody has ever called me a shirker.

The AFA is an organization in the midst of growing pains that would rival my 15-year-old son’s. Mistakes? We made ‘em.

We stirred one helluva storm, a n’oreaster in fact, with an advertising policy that we thought protected the integrity of The AFA. Boy were we wrong.

I believed our bright and bold disclaimers at the top and the bottom of every ad that went out under The AFA banner were enough to make it clear we didn’t endorse anything, that we were just the conduit. It’s what we’ve always done to help raise sorely needed revenue that enabled us to keep membership free and the organization alive. We’ve never been called out on it before. But in the last few weeks we’ve gotten an earful. So...once again...if an advertisement comes through your email from The AFA...or you read an advertisement in our resource directory...or click a link on our web site....these are advertisements...they are not endorsements.

The AFA does not endorse any programs, products, procedures or services. If you are unsure of something..please speak with your doctor...and find out what they think!

I want to assure you that we’re fast learners. On this Friday, our executive committee of the Board of Directors is meeting to review our policy and responsibilities around advertising that bears our name.

For many of you...I am sure that you do not have a clue about what I am talking about...and for the others who were feeling upset or confused over advertising that you may recently received...I’m so sorry that our actions have caused such distress.

I do want to say, however, that over the years as I’ve talked about and on behalf of all the constituents of the infertility community (patients and doctors alike). I believed we had the unconditional support of the allied professionals and the industry. Instead, I find, there’s been a flourishing misconception that our patient advocacy organizations are perceived as a marketing tool.

In fact, the AFA never was and never will be that. We were founded by patients. I was a patient. Most of my staff have been patients. We live and breathe this organization...and we serve from our hearts.

So let me be clear...we are only about serving the expanding population of people increasingly concerned with fertility and reproductive health.

Perhaps The AFA was naive in believing that the financial support coming our way had no quid pro quo, no financial benchmarks such as “return on investment.” Yet in the last two years, that’s all we hear about. We rarely hear about the welfare of the people we serve. And so, as the ROI becomes harder to calculate as the double-digit growth in the number of people seeking treatment not only levels but may in fact be shrinking, the funds for patient support are drying up.

Can you imagine anyone supporting the American Cancer Society demanding a return on investment? I can’t. And I’m learning I should never have those discussions when it comes to the best care for our members either.

Our challenge is to find ways to replace the revenue that has gone but on which we depend. We’ve got some leverage in the wonderful programs and projects we’ve created. We’ve got new ones that will come on line in the year ahead. But, we need to do more.

As difficult as these last few weeks have been, we’ve forged ahead. The good news is that we’re planning a 10-city tour that we’re naming “The Patient Summit.” And I will be talking more about that program in the weeks to come.

I will be going to major cities all across this country...and I am going to be asking YOU what you want...what you need...and I am talking about all of you!

It means I won’t be home very much this year. Instead I might be at your local Y or women’s health center. This is the year I’m sitting face to face with infertility patients, REI nurses, REI physicians, OB-GYNS and listening. With what we learn, The AFA will publish a white paper to truly educate stakeholders on what patients need now.

I wish to extend my heart felt appreciation for the support all of you in our community have shown us. Many of you have made donations...written for us...and offered to volunteer.

I am grateful to all of you from the bottom of my heart.

Until Tomorrow,
Pamela

Categories
Adoption • Fertility Preservation • Reproductive Health

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