And the National Infertility Association and Fertility LifeLines™, a free patient resource provided by EMD Serono, want to hear their stories. They are  holding the first-ever In The Know Short Film Competition.

Have you got a story to tell about dealing with infertility?

Anyone touched by infertility can enter the In The Know Short Film competition by  submitting a creative, inspirational short film about their path to parenthood (or the journey of someone close to them).

These films will be reviewed by a panel of judges. Competition finalists will have their films screened at a festival in New York City this fall where a winner and runners-up will be chosen and awarded prizes.

The winner will receive $1,000 and two runners-up will each be given $500.

The deadline to submit entries is August 1, 2009

You can find the full guidelines at Fertility LifeLines .

Post from: Healthbolt

But is it hard cold cash or increased awareness that is fueling this apparent surge in egg donation interest?

Given that these are tough economic times and an egg donor can recevie compensation in the range of $5000 to $10000, it stands to reason that there is a strong financial motive behind becoming an egg donor. But while money might be the initial motivator, most woman would not do this without an underlying desire to help infertile couples have children.

It might sound like easy money but it’s not. Egg donation is an extensive, and potentially dangerous, procedure. First, there’s the series of psychological and physical exams that any potential donor has to undergo. It’s a process that can take over a month and will eliminate up to 90% of those who apply.

If accepted, donors then have to a daily fertility drug injection for a couple of weeks or more. And then there’s the egg procurement, an invasive procedure involving a large thin needle, done in the operating theater while the woman is sedated.

Plus, there are risks ranging from mild short time risks such as abdominal pain, bloating, and weight gain to more serious long term risks such as enlarged ovaries (ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome).

Definitely not a walk in the park.

And definitely not something that, in my mind, any woman would do simply for the money.

What do you think?

Post from: Healthbolt

Image details: Couple sharing gelato cone served by picapp.com

1 in 8 couples has trouble conceiving. This, I did not know, but given how many folks I’ve met who are having a hard time getting pregnant, sadly, I’m not surprised.

But, the fix could be just the thing that summertime is all about…Ice Cream!!!!

I’m not making this up, I swear! The good folks at Harvard University have found that along with the usual suspects of increasing fruit and veggie intake, limiting red meats, adding healthy fats by way of nuts and fish, and other assorted healthful advice, full fat dairy products may also boost fertility. And when I hear full fat, I think Ben & Jerry’s, baby!

The thing here is that it must be full fat dairy, not low fat or skim. Evidently, “skinny” dairy products lack the hormones which hitch a ride on fat molecules – the ones that may aid in ovulation. Huh. Now there’s a reason to belly up to the dairy bar if I ever heard one.

While more research needs to be done, this finding looks promising. And, in my opinion, any reason to eat more ice cream sounds promising to me.

Of course, while this is fun and exciting news, dealing with infertility can be such an emotional and trying process. For fabulous advice, insight and tips, be sure to visit Gabrielle at Fertility Notes, another great b5media Health & Wellness Channel blog.

Post from: Healthbolt

But for a growing number of people, the only reason they are even going overseas is to get pregnant.

They are on ‘IVF Vacations’, heading for fertility clinics in places like the Czech Republic, Korea, Barbados, Israel, and Thailand.

Turns out that even when you add in the cost of travel and accommodation, the price of in-vitro fertilization (IVF) in many foreign countries is much cheaper than in the USA. Plus many of the women turned down for IVF therapy in the United States because of their advancing age are finding overseas clinics much more willing to treat them.

There are, however, some downsides as this interesting Wall Street Journal article points out…

“Treatments can take four to five weeks — too long for many couples to take a break from their regular lives. It might not be possible to find medical practitioners who speak fluent English, though some of the travel firms also provide translation services. And while medical standards are high in many countries, regulations can vary, including rules for screening egg donors, leaving it to patients to do due diligence. In the U.S., the Food and Drug Administration regulates egg-donor screening, though some states set stricter standards.”

But regardless of these problems, heading overseas for IVF therapy is becoming an increasingly popular option – so much so that specialized travel services are popping up to help people arrange these ‘IVF Vacations.’

Anyone considering this option really needs to do their research carefully. It’s important that the standards, practices, and success rates of any clinic they are considering are fully checked out (an important consideration wherever the clinic is – stateside or overseas). Make sure the hospital/clinic is accredited with the Joint Commission International or MEDEX. And it’s probably a good idea to get in contact with others who have gone through the process and get a personal account of the experience.

Hopefully, those who choose an ‘IVF Vacation’ will end up on a trip that lasts a lifetime.

Further reading:

U.S. Women Crossing Globe for Fertility Help
‘Baby Vacation’ Offers Alternative for Childless Couples.

Post from: Healthbolt