Single Men Turning to Surrogacy and In Vitro to Have Children

I have seen an increase in single men (heterosexual and homosexual) having children with the assistance of surrogates and invitro fertilization. Invitro has become a way for single people (men or women) to have the family they always wanted. I know a number of single women who have pursued invitro, egg donation and/or sperm donation to conceive their children. Life didn't turn out the way they thought; they didn't find the right person to marry, so they took matters in to their own hands.

This story is provided by CNN:

Announcing Winners of 1st Annual International Infertility Haiku Competition!

Read some of the best haikus selected at: http://tinyurl.com/6xakqh

Indian Woman Gives Birth at Age 70

As originally posted by Yahoo news:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20081208/hl_afp/healthindiawomenchild_081208074523

ASRM: Pressure Builds for Open-Identity Sperm Donation in the U.S.

SAN FRANCISCO , Studies of people conceived with donated sperm suggest that many do not support the practice of anonymous sperm donation.
Click here for the full story: http://www.medpagetoday.com/MeetingCoverage/ASRMMeeting/11783

Surely this may apply to Egg Donation in the future.

British woman has world's first baby by full ovary transplant

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/health/article5133467.ece

Transgender Couples: Changing the Face of Family

I find this fascinating and one area of fertility we will definitely start hearing more about. We all know families are created many different ways. Especially, if you go the egg/sperm/embryo donation or adoption route you are highly sensitive to how families are built. More than likely you are trying to find ways to explain to your children how their family was created and how others are created with sensitivity. I hope this story regarding Transgender Couples: Changing the Face of Family helps broaden your family discussion.

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/story?id=6249290&page=1

Are the Costs of an Egg Donation Cycle Tax Deductible? YES!

Infertility treatments are expensive! By the time a couple or individual has come to me they have already spent thousands of dollars prior to making the decision to select an egg donor to help them conceive. Medical expenses are deductible. I'm not a tax expert but you should know that you can deduct your expenses related to contracting with an Egg Donation Agency and Egg Donor. Attached is a draft letter found on the internet regarding section 213 from the IRS Department of Treasury.

Please consult with a tax advisor for more information on how to deduct your costs. Every little bit helps!

http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-wd/0318017.pdf

Join the 1st Annual International Infertility Haiku Competition

As taken with permission from www.myfertiltyplan.com:

Infertility sucks. In terms of mental health, research shows it ranks up there with a cancer diagnosis. Identifying and expressing our emotions is just one of the ways we can cope. To encourage reflection, celebrate strength and tenacity, and maybe even laugh, My Fertility Plan announces the launch of the 1st Annual International Infertility Haiku Contest.
Why haiku? Anyone can do it. A haiku is a three line poem, made up of only 17 syllables. The first line has 5 syllables. The second line has 7 syllables. The third line has 5 syllables. That’s it.

Your haiku must relate in some way to your family-building journey and it must follow the haiku-syllable rules. There are 2 categories – Serious and Silly. Just make sure you label which category your poem falls in (even if you think it’s obvious). If your entry relates to medication, it will also be considered for the medication-related haiku award.

It is free to enter – and you can enter as many times as you want. Each haiku must be in a separate e-mail. Please include your name and email as well. The contest is open to international entrants, but the entry must include an English translation.

Awards and Sponsors
Special Award
Medication – Related Haiku
Village Pharmacy: $50 gift certificate
(http:www.villagefertilitypharmacy.com and/or www.villagefertilityproducts.com.)

Light-Hearted
Conceiving Concepts (http://www.conceivingconcepts.com) $50
Parents Via Egg Donation (http://www.parentsviaeggdonation.org/) $25
Infertility Answers (http://www.infertilityanswers.org) $15
1 Runner-up will receive his or her choice of autographed books: the forthcoming, “Budgeting for Infertility: Bringing Home Baby without Breaking the Bank” or “Having Your Baby Through Egg Donation.”

Serious
Clear Passage Therapies (http://www.clearpassage.com/) $50
Robert Terenzio, esq. (http://reproductive-alternatives.com/) $25
Pamela Madsen (http://www.thefertilityadvocate.com/) $15
1 Runner-up will receive his or her choice of autographed books: the forthcoming, “Budgeting for Infertility: Bringing Home Baby without Breaking the Bank” or “Having Your Baby Through Egg Donation.”

Judges:
Tracy Morris, How to Make a Family (http://howtomakeafamily.typepad.com/)
Julie, blogger at http://www.alittlepregnant.com
Vic Belonogoff, Conceiving Concepts (http://www.conceivingconcepts.com)
Sharon LaMothe, Infertility Answers (http://www.infertilityanswers.org/)
Belinda Wurn, PT Clear Passage (http://www.clearpassage.com/)
Pamela Madsen, (http://www.thefertilityadvocate.com/wpblog/)
Evelina Weidman Sterling, PhD (www.myfertilityplan.com)

Entries will be accepted beginning Monday, October 28 through Monday, November 24th at noon, ET. To enter: go to www.myfertilityplan.com and click on the Contact Us page. Enter your haiku and do not forget your e-mail address!

Egg Donation for Financial Gain or Altruism?

Another story has recently surfaced about how there seems to be an increase in the number of women donating their eggs due to ecomonic times. We'll never really know if it is due to the economic times or if interest has peaked because there is more news and education about egg donation.

This story is from Good Morning American.

http://abcnews.go.com/video/playerIndex?id=6118615

What do you think?

Save up to $2100 on BRAVELLE® and MENOPUR®

In these challenging economic times, Ferring Pharmaceuticals wants to be sure that you have access to effective and affordable fertility medications. The HEART (Helping Expand Access to Reproductive Therapy) Rx Initiative program is specifically designed for patients without insurance benefits for fertility medications. The program covers both BRAVELLE® (urofollitropin for injection, purified) and MENOPUR® (menotropins for injection, USP).

Here’s how it works:
Ask your doctor for a HEART Rx Initiative brochure. Brochures are also available at participating pharmacies.
Bring the brochure, plus your prescription for MENOPUR and/or BRAVELLE to a participating pharmacy. For a list of participating pharmacies, visit http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=0016Z3HU7FJO8UGBFlCUnujh6xOSo5Tf_1wUVK_zEu16HwZjil26WBgfNQ2jSUb7KqANqwmcBzonKge2XB_VkohK31R1VhggWCiu3d_8_r9sVnx-uAITbHk5des3U3iMYPNx7KU2f2pDt4.

Pay $10 for a one-year membership.
Start saving immediately – no waiting, no rebates
Full program details are available at http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=0016Z3HU7FJO8UGBFlCUnujh6xOSo5Tf_1wUVK_zEu16HwZjil26WBgfNQ2jSUb7KqANqwmcBzonKge2XB_VkohK31R1VhggWCiu3d_8_r9sVnx-uAITbHk5des3U3iMYPNx7KU2f2pDt4.

For more information, speak to your doctor or call 1-888-FERRING (337-7464).

Tears and Hope - Infertility Awareness Project

I can recall the feelings I had the day I discovered "Tears and Hope - Infertility Awareness Project". It stirred up all the emotions I had when I was trying to conceive. I just sat and cried and felt it in my gut. I was so sad for myself, my husband and for all the other women and men out there who were trying desperately to have a child; mostly in silence. What a lonely place to be. My husband and I kept our struggle to ourselves for a long time. We didn't want to discuss it with others; it was a personal matter. We didn't want opinions to confuse us any more than we already were. Eventually, when we were ready, we started to share our situation with others. The timing was right and it helped us immensely as we proceeded.

This video is a perfect educational tool for Donors who are considering egg donation. It will help them to understand what it feels like to walk in the shoes of the infertile. I also suggest that my clients who are prospective parents forward this video to their family and friends to help educate them on infertility.

http://www.tearsandhope.com/emptyarms_video.html

How to Become an Egg Donor

Source: www.howcast.com

Becoming an egg donor is a serious decision. Be informed before you start the process.

This is a good educational tool for prospective Donors. I like the fact that it's "cheeky" and fun. Keep in mind that this video is based on the assumption an egg donor is going directly through a clinic for their egg donation procedure vs. working with an agent. Heartfelt Egg Donation does not start the medical and psychological screening of Donors until they have been contracted with prospected parents. Our pay scale is also higher than most clinics and within ASRM's suggested compensation of $5,000 - $10,000 per donation.

IVF Treatment Coupon from Integramed - $500.00

This may help some of you who are in need of financial assistance for IVF treatments. See http://www.integramed.com/inmdweb/content/cons/ivf-coupon-2189.jsp for more.

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IVF is the road to success for many couples fighting infertility. But it's expensive, and usually requires more than one try for success. That's why we created the IntegraMed® Shared Risk® Refund Program. It lets you try several IVF cycles for one fixed fee. And it gives you a "fee guarantee", so if you're not successful you get a refund. On average the program almost doubles your chance of success. In fact, 75% of those who complete the program get a baby. The program has helped over 3,500 IVF patients so far and is available throughout the U.S.

Now we're offering a $500 savings coupon for a limited time only. Don't miss this opportunity. Call the Toll-Free number on the coupon to learn more.
Get the coupon now!
-To get a hard copy: click the coupon with your *right* mouse button and choose "Print Picture..."
-To save the coupon to your computer: click the coupon with your *right* mouse button and choose "Save Picture As...". A save box will appear; choose "Desktop" from the menu at the top of this box and then click the "Save" button in the lower right. The coupon will be saved to your Desktop as a picture file.
You can also help others!
-It's OK to duplicate this coupon and give a copy to others who could use it.
-It's OK to email the coupon picture file to others, or post it to forums and websites.

Infertility Seminar - October 22, 2008

In recognition of National Infertility Awareness Week, the Nevada Center for Reproductive Medicine is hosting an Infertility Seminar to discuss the latest treatments and advances in reproductive technology. Suzanne Myers from Heartfelt Egg Donation will be in attendance. This is a great opportunity to meet and speak with Suzanne and medical experts: Dr. Russell Foulk and Dr. Scott J. Whitten. There will be a drawing for a free IVF cycle (including FSH medications). Refreshments will be served. The seminar will be held at:

Renown South Meadows

Capri Conference Room

Wednesday, October 22,2008

6:30 p.m.

Space is limited, so RSVP to reserve your space today. RSVP to: 775/828-1200.

Beating Your Biological Clock - Egg Freezing

Here is an interesting bit as reported on http://www.foxnews.com/ (September 11, 2008) regarding egg freezing. No doubt this is a fabulous option for women diagnosed with cancer; what a wonderful way to preserve fertility. Obviously, there is more to this than meets the eye and I can see where it will be controversial. There are so many women out there who are faced with the challenge of infertility who would have loved to have had this option available to them when they were younger. Unfortunately, it's still not a very feasible or affordable option for young women today. Science is truly amazing and hopefully more people will be able to benefit from these advances in the future.

To learn more about Dr. Sherman J. Silber and the services at The Infertility Center of St. Louis visit: http://www.infertile.com/

Mark Your Calendar!

In recognition of National Infertility Awareness Week, Heartfelt Egg Donation will be participating in an Infertility Seminar provided by Nevada Center for Reproductive Medicine on October 22, 2008.

More information will follow regarding the details of the event.

A Recently Received Thank You

I'll be expanding my website (http://www.heartfelteggdonation.com/) soon to include comments/testimonials from parents and donors. In the meantime, I'd like to include one I received recently here. It's always a pleasure to learn a dream is coming true and I (Heartfelt Egg Donation) played a positive role in the process. I'm grateful to those who keep in touch and express their appreciation. I love receiving birth announcements and photos! Keep them coming!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Suzanne,

My husband and I want to thank you for all your hard work and support with the egg donor program. We would never have been able to achieve our pregnancy without your hard work and dedication.

We had almost given up hope of finding the right egg donor and egg donation agency. We had several false starts with some of the agencies in the LA area. We had thought that it would be better to work with an agency in the LA area. We were so wrong!!

You were always a phone call away (just like the other agencies). We truly felt that your were concerned about us, our future children and our donor. We were also very happy to receive the prompt travel expense reconciliation and check reimbursement. You lived up to all your promises and then some.

We would be happy to talk anonymously with any couple about your excellent services and our happy ending.

Kind regards,
Soon to be Parents in LA Area

National Infertility Awareness Week

October 19 - 25, 2008

A movement to raise awareness about the disease of infertility which affects 7.3 million Americans.

Join RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association, as we celebrate the 19th Annual National Infertility Awareness Week (NIAW), October 19-25, 2008.

For more information about RESOLVE please visit: http://www.resolve.org/.

PATIENT FACT SHEET: Gamete Donation: Deciding Whether to Tell

A patient fact sheet provided by ASRM (American Society for Reproductive Medicine) to help parents decide whether to disclose their decision regarding Gamete Donation:

http://www.asrm.org/Patients/FactSheets/GameteDonation.pdf

Emotionally Healthy Twins

As taken from: http://www.emotionallyhealthytwins.com/:

A new parenting twins philosophy outlining the seven simple concepts to raising emotionally healthy individuals even while encouraging them to cherish their special sibling relationship.

Most parents try to treat their twins as individuals, but most unwittingly undermine their best intentions because they lack a practical set of guidelines for raising emotionally healthy multiples.

Joan A. Friedman, Ph.D.
Drawing on her unique experience as a twin, the mother of twins, and as a psychotherapist, Dr. Joan A. Friedman outlines the seven key concepts for helping twins develop into self-realized, unique individuals and offers parents specific strategies for each stage in their children’s growth.

From how to set up the nursery to handling playdates and extracurricular activities, from deciding on same or separate classroom education to encouraging grandparents and other family members to think beyond the pair to see individuals, Emotionally Healthy Twins will become the standard reference for parenting twins.

Dim Economy Drives Women to Donate Eggs for Profit - CNN.com

I found this interesting article online via CNN.com -

check it out:
http://www.cnn.com/2008/HEALTH/08/05/selling.eggs/index.html?iref=mpstoryview

I have found there is an increase in propective Donor candidates. I believe it is a combination of the economy slump and the fact that more people are becoming aware of egg donation as an option of helping others while helping themselves.