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.

Post from: Blisstree

Freebie Friday (Professional Edition) – Smart ART IX: From Physiology to Clinical Success

I’ve been meaning to blog about this for a while, but then other things come up and well, I figured the news was no longer timely and I’d missed the boat. You don’t want old news, right?

Lucky for me, The L.A. Times is finally getting around to its story on the Harvard diet this week; almost a month after the New York Times had this to say about it:

The problem is that much of the research behind the book doesn’t live up to its hype. “The Fertility Diet” isn’t the first to promote nutritional changes as a way to increase the odds of pregnancy; an online search will turn up any number of titles like “The Infertility Diet,” “Fertility Foods” and so on.

Essentially, their recommendations are alike: a heart-healthy diet with more fruit and vegetables, less meat and bad carbs, more healthy fats and few or no trans fats.

While the messages are similar, a big difference is that the newest book comes from Harvard. As a result, it’s had an enviable amount of buzz. Newsweek even devoted its Dec. 10 cover to an excerpt.

The notion that something as simple as better eating might improve fertility is certain to raise the hopes of tens of thousands of couples. But unfortunately, the findings in this book don’t apply to a vast majority of people with infertility problems. Instead, they are based on women with ovulatory infertility, a condition caused by irregular ovulation that affects fewer than a third of infertile women

Word.

The NY Times review goes on to note that there is really no evidence-based information to support most of the advice to which Harvard has leant its name.

The LA Times article is much less critical and reads more like a press release, complete with testimonials:

“I’m so happy that this paper came out,” says Sharara, medical director of the Virginia Center for Reproductive Medicine. “I’ve been telling my patients for years that you have to change your diet. I personally believe that this is very important for many women, not just those who are overweight.”

Here’s my problem with the Harvard Hype: as with any other medical condition, there are degrees of infertility. For some, simply altering diet will work wonders (in this case, Harvard claims women with irregular ovulation). And that is fantastic. I am all for holistic and non-invasive approaches. But for others, neither diet nor anything else within their power to control will help, and medical intervention is necessary. Which is why infertility testing and treatments should be covered by insurance.

I simply cannot imagine going up to someone I know who has been dealing with infertility and saying, “Have you tried eating more ice cream? Cause you know, Harvard said that would help.”

Post from: Blisstree

Why Would I Listen to Harvard Anyway?