The American Fertility Association Blog

You write “Jon, Kate, and their children, whose names are impossible to find on line.” Are you kidding? Check out, to name just 2, the TLC (network that carries the show) website and Jon and Kate’s personal website (sixgosselins.com). Google “Gosselins” or “jon and kate” and see how many thousands of links which have the children’s names and photos show up.

I have PCOS too. Since this show aired http://www.goldenshoes.org and http://www.goldenshoes.ning.com has been getting an incredible increase in traffic.

At the least, I hope this brings a bit more attention to PCOS and maybe to getting these women individual health insurance.

Thanks for the info Dottie!  I’m not a fan, what can I tell you.

Hey Dottie, thanks for the info.  That show really was my first Jon & Kate adventure and I couldn’t find the kids names anywhere - didn’t stop me from falling in love with all of them though, they are really adorable.  So thanks again, I’ll check it out so I can put names with the faces.

Cole, I’ll check out your website.  We at The AFA are always looking for new resources for women with pcos.  I know it really shaped a large portion of my personal psyche for a very long time.  Keep in touch!

I just tweeted that I am ignorant and apathetic about this show. My home is cable-ly challenged PLUS I get nothing out of reality TV.

I hadn’t formed the thought you express here, but I agree with you that these children should not be exploited by their attention-seeking parents.

I never quite got what that show was about. I’d stop for a few seconds while channel surfing and go boooor-ring. I know, there’s only one “r”. And those two, with their dippy show and pathetically un-important lives are, unfortunately, along with obesity, part of a growing trend in an increasingly stupid America, an America those nim-no’s are helping to shape - for money of course. It’s odd that “Octo-Mom” - isn’t America great - may turn out to be the more honest and true of the lot. I reserve the right to take that back if she gets a show however.

So, have children? Turn off the spigot. This planet has a fertility problem all right - too much of it. Having children these days seems something other than what it once was; it’s an issue, a right, politics, agendas. Children are an accessory for some and no different than obtaining a pet to others. We’ve saddled them with a devastating and far reaching national debt, a nation that no longer produces, and a reality show culture. Parents can complain all they want about Iraq but I say there’s a lot worse going on at home.

But there is a bright side. Money drives this exploitive nonsense and the money is running out. In the future most Americans will be broke and out of work and producers aren’t likely to find a lot of cash value in a fat, lazy, under-educated, unemployed audience unless free cable becomes a constitutional right. And who knows, the distinction between rights and privilege gets more blurry - to some - by the moment. As for the 25% that will be left to pull that wagon, they won’t have time or money for kids or a say in how the government spends their money on the 75% in the wagon watching reality t.v. pumping out kids by the litter. That’s been happening for a long time - we’re just beginning to load the big wagon. And those kids, perhaps they will get to star on shows like “Maury”(Povich) and perhaps something replacing “Idol” called “American Fool”. The wagon puller’s kids will have to get an education, work and study hard and take their parent’s place. Imagine getting paid, maybe, $250,000 a year and taking home $30,000? That’s their future, the one they don’t discuss on reality t.v. Finally, let’s not forget kids eating habits - if the future belongs to the children then certainly there’ll be a place for five year-olds on “Biggest Loser”.
The more I think about it, we need fertility like we need another reality show. We need to get a clue, we’re running out of everything but stupidity and people.

Yes the children are somewhat exploited, but they are also given fabulous opportunities that I couldn’t afford for my 4 children (twins and two more)It’s unfortunate that the parents don’t get along, but they still love and provide for the +8 as best they could figure out.  Kate is a bit controlling but needs to be to keep those kids in line and organized.  Nothing is worse than an unorganized household.

No more Jon and Kate Plus 8.. Its now Kate plus 8… then it’ll be COUGAR KATE plus 8.. then COUGAR KATE ON CRACK plus 8, then KATE ON REHAB plus 8.. then KATE PLUS 8 on Drugs…. then she’ll write another book.. I HATE MEN an Abused woman’s Story.. 
Kate is a Moron who truly believes she has no fault at all on this divorce. She completely disrespected her husband and thought she should be treated like a queen and everyone else be a subject. She is a typical white woman. Who looses here?.. 8 guesses.

@Robert Norwood - I watch Jon and Kate plus 8 because I happen to find the kids adorable. I’m not much of a reality show fan but I do think reality TV is better then Soap Operas. Btw - I’m not what you consider “dumb America” because I enjoy the show. I’m have a PhD in Microbiology and I work at the CDC and I am physically fit . So please stop with the judgement calls and generalization (“you must be fat if you watch Jon and Kate plus 8” etc). It doesn’t make you look too bright yourself. Its people like you and your rude comments that would make this a bad experience for those kids.

I dont think the kids are being exploited. Do you think they would prefer not being on TV and in turn struggling financially, rarely getting to see their parents because they have to work long hours to be able to afford to sustain them? Yes I know where there is a will there is a way but why make life harder then it has to be? This sort of situation might not work for you but it works for the Gosselins. Kate is a good parent and the kids are well taken care of. And now they have a good life style and can probably now afford to go to college. Would it have been more preferable to you if they killed the babies in vitro so she did not have multiples? Or perhaps she didnt get treatments anyways and had no kids? Thats would be devestating for Jon and Kate I’m sure and thats not your call. You need to lighten up and start looking at yourself rather then throwing random judgment calls at everyone else.