Calling all RNs, NPs, LPNs, and other healthcare professionals specializing in reproductive medicine and assisted reproductive technology: there is a really good reason for you to take some time off in August and head to Vegas.

Smart ART IX, which will take place August 14-16, is a symposium that will “provide a unique opportunity for nurses and healthcare professionals involved in the management of infertility patients to learn about new agents, procedures, and counseling techniques contributing to the continued success of ART.”

Oh wait, did I mention? Maybe I didn’t…

Enrollment is limited to the first 450 registrants and is available on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Why?

Tuition has been generously underwritten by an unrestricted educational grant from Organon, a part of Schering-Plough which includes all scientific sessions, a course syllabus, and planned meal functions.

That means it’s free.

Of course, you’ll still need to get a hotel room for the weekend, but I bet your spouse or best friend would be happy to split the tab and find some other reasons to be in Vegas.

What are you waiting for? Click here to register.

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And don’t forget about that other Friday Freebie! You have until July 31st to enter to win a $40 Fertility Scope from  Miracle Light Labs.

The annual meeting of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology began this Sunday in Spain and will last until Wednesday. That’s nearly a full week of professionals getting together in Barcelona to think about the thing that many of us think about all the time - how to get us pregnant.

A Reuters UK article entitled, Ethics Take Center Stage at Fertility Conference, reports on the current multiple birth debate which seems to be the focus of many Reproductive Endocrinologists lately.

Some Health & Wellness bloggers have already reported on some events and findings from the ESHRE Conference:

Marijke at Womb Within mentions the slowly changing stigma around Surrogacy and wonders if it will eventually fade.

Karen at Pink Ribbon Review highlights the findings for a new fertility technique which targets women with cancer.

With several days left in the conference, I am sure more headlines will focus on what progress has been (and has yet to be) made in the field. Stay tuned.

Do I admit that this movie looks, frankly, pretty damn funny? Offensive? I am sure. Inaccurate? Not sure. (I’m guessing yes.) While I am not the biggest fan of Amy Poehler, I hold a soft spot in my heart to Tina Fey, if only because I feel as if we always seemed to be living with the exact same “almost there, but not quite there” haircuts at the exact same times in our lives.

I confess, gestational surrogacy is a topic that I have steered clear of until now. Mainly due to ignorance. Dozens of articles scream daily about the implications of surrogacy options in other countries, particularly those seen as less developed than ours. And perhaps I’ll delve into that here. Later.

For now, I’d like to share with you some blogs from real women who have chosen to be gestational surrogates. There is actually a section on “Baby Mama”s website entitled “True Tales” - tales from surrogates, couples choosing surrogacy, and others.  If you’re interested in more than a few paragraphs, check out Rayven, who is pregnant with her fifth child as a gestational surrogate, or the Bump Fairy, who is days away from a transfer.

And then tell me what you think.  Are you interested in learning more about gestational surrogacy?