E-Book Offers Options During National Infertility Awareness Week

CHICAGO, Nov. 6 /PRNewswire/ -- Lotus Blossom Consulting, LLC, a
Chicago-based infertility consultancy with clients around the world,
announces the availability of their free E-Book, Financing Your Infertility
Treatment, available on their website at http://www.lotusblossomconsulting.com. The E-Book addresses the financial
aspects of infertility, and it will be available beginning with National
Infertility Awareness Week, November 4 - 10, 2007, and beyond.

According to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, most
infertility cases -- 85% to 90% -- are treated with conventional medical
therapies such as medication or surgery. Yet, infertility treatment can be
costly, success rates are not guaranteed, and insurance benefits may be
limited.

"Beyond simply the medical issues, there are so many factors to
consider when dealing with infertility," says Mindy Berkson, co-founder of
Lotus Blossom Consulting. "Proper financial planning and utilization of
insurance benefits in the right order can help you effectively minimize
costs, maximize insurance benefits, and save significant out of pocket
expenditures. Lotus Blossom's E-Book can help."

The E-Book, Financing Your Infertility Treatment, provides an overview
of financing options available, with particular emphasis placed on
individualized tax situations, specific insurance benefits, and the total
financial resources available before undergoing the infertility journey.
For more information on the E-Book, contact Lotus Blossom Consulting toll
free at (877) 881-2685, email consultant@lotusblossomconsulting.com or
visit them on the web at http://www.lotusblossomconsulting.com.

ABOUT LOTUS BLOSSOM CONSULTING, LLC
As one of the first infertility consultancies in the United States,
Lotus Blossom Consulting, LLC was founded by Mindy Berkson in 2005 after
her own personal battle with secondary infertility. With extensive
experience in all aspects of infertility, from egg donors and surrogates to
in-vitro fertilization, Lotus Blossom Consulting works with individuals on
a case-by-case basis, taking into consideration clients' emotional,
physical and financial infertility issues then develops an individualized,
comprehensive plan, including relevant insurance information, to help
clients make informed decisions. Lotus Blossom Consulting has worked with
many individuals to enrich their lives by helping them to fulfill their
dreams of having children.

For more information about Lotus Blossom Consulting, LLC, call toll
free (877) 881- 2685, email consultant@lotusblossomconsulting.com or visit
them on the web at http://www.lotusblossomconsulting.com.

Acupuncture may reduce the success of IVF

MacKenna Roberts
Progress Educational Trust
27 October 2007

Previous studies had appeared to indicate a marginal increase in IVF efficacy or showed no obvious benefit, allowing some to scientifically postulate that the ancient far eastern medical practice of acupuncture might somehow affect certain muscles and glands of the nervous system to help the lining of the uterus become more receptive to embryo implantation.

The latest study evaluated the results of 97 patients with an average age of 35 who were randomly divided into two groups. One group received acupuncture for 25 minutes before and after embryo implantation. The pregnancy rate for the IVF group without acupuncture was 69.9 per cent compared to the 43.8 per cent less successful pregnancy rate for those who received the two-pronged acupuncture 'therapy' approach. Dr Craig suggested that other factors may have counteracted any therapeutic effect of acupuncture such as the stress from undergoing acupuncture just before IVF or from travel in traffic to external acupuncture clinics and onto IVF appointments.

Read full article...

Financing Your Fertility: Healthcare Plan Arrangements

Before beginning any discussion about insurance coverage, it’s important to explain the status of fertility benefits in the United States. Not every employer is required to cover fertility treatments; this benefit is delineated per state.

States that do require some benefit level for infertility treatments are called “mandated to cover” states, although specific rules may vary from state to state: Arkansas, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Montana, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Rhode Island and West Virginia are “mandated to cover” states.

Others, called “mandated to offer” states, require infertility benefits to be offered for additional purchase: California, Connecticut and Texas are “mandated to offer” states (This list may have changed as of the printing of this article).

To make it more complicated, large, national corporations oftentimes offer the same benefits company-wide, resulting in exceptions to the states’ directive. For example, you may live in a state that mandates coverage, but work for a company that is not required by the federal government to meet the state’s benefit mandate. On the other hand, if you live in a state that does not require fertility coverage; you may still be covered through your employer. In addition to these complications, many times your healthcare plan may cover some parts of your treatment even if you work in a state that does not mandate coverage. It is extremely important, therefore, that you contact your Human Resources department and your healthcare plan provider to discuss in detail your benefits.

I'm the cover story on City Woman Chicago!

Check out the full issue table of contents here.

It's difficult to express how excited I am - Seeing my family on the front cover of the magazine was overwhelming.

While this is a print publication, they also have a .pdf version online so you can read the article even if you aren't in Chicago. (Fact: Over half of my clients are international, so I'm used to making sure people that aren't in the same area I am get the info they need!)

Let me know what you think of the article...thanks!

ART balance of expense to cost.

“The economics of health care is of vital importance to our patients, and to society generally. Using a standard measure like cost per additional year of life, infertility treatments are one of great bargains in modern health care,” stated David Adamson, MD, President-elect of ASRM. (Full Article Here)

Wow! It was actually shown in a study that adding ART as a benefit of a health insurance plan only increased the cost of insurance per member an eensy weensy bit.

The ASRM is the American Society of Reproductive Medicine. The information and studies they do are published in peer-reviewed journals (the good kind) and the results are really promising!

Building the Foundation for Infertility Treatment

Download a registration form or call (312) 582-6035 to register.

Lotus Blossom Consulting, LLC, is a concierge service for people undergoing fertility treatment. Join the company's founders, MINDY BERKSON and TONI SIRAGUSA, for this seminar that will discuss a range of issues confronting people with infertility: maximizing insurance benefits, choosing a fertility center, holistic opportunities, and financing treatment. Berskon has worked in the industry for over 10 years in a variety of capacities both at donor agencies and at fertility centers. Siragusa is a financial planner and insurance agent who has worked specifically with couples undergoing infertility to properly plan for and finance treatment. Check out their Web site at www.lotusblossomconsulting.com.

Location: Latin Upper School, 59 W. North Blvd.
Instructor: Mindy Berkson & Toni Siragusa Course Fee: $40
Date: Thu, 25-Oct 1 Class Time: 6:30-8:30 pm

ASRM Urges Caution, Strong Counseling for Women Seeking Egg Freezing

The report emphasizes that the currently available data are too limited to allow egg freezing to be considered an established medical treatment. However, many women understandably have an interest in this emerging technology as an elective fertility preservation strategy. (Source: IVF News)

Ok, you may be thinking what does freezing your eggs have to do with counseling. The bottom line is that people are thinking this is going to be a great way to deter the inevitable aging of eggs. Thus, you can use your own 23 year old eggs when you're looking to have a child at 43.

On the surface, not a bad idea. Younger eggs are always a better bet...but freezing? What worries me most is that the women considering freezing only see the potential upside. The potential downsides are kind of swept under the rug.

Have you ever put chocolate in the freezer? When you take it out, it's discolored from the cocoa doing some chemical dance from the temperature drop. It's still fine to consume, but...do you think that something as delicate as a human egg is going to still be right as rain if it separates like the chocolate? What about freezer burn?

No matter how advanced the technology, no matter how careful the scientist or doctor...you're still putting a living thing into a freezer. A very, very cold freezer. And then you're hoping for the best.

I can understand why counseling is strongly recommended. It should be. Because this is not one of the better ideas I've heard for having a child later in life.

Building Families and Achieving Dreams

I'm really pleased to be able to present you with an article published this month in FHI (For Her Information) - please take a moment and visit. You'll be glad you did!

http://www.forherinformation.com/herstoryart11007.php

Surrogacy in India - Is Cheaper Better?

Controversial? Yes. But what would you do if you were in the same situation...

I know that In-Vitro Fertilization(IVF) is expensive. Financing is one of the main concerns I discuss and work through with clients.

How much easier and more accessible would IVF be...if it cost 90% less?

In the United States...[they]...were informed that the services of a surrogate -- including in-vitro fertilization to home health care costs during pregnancy to delivery -- would cost them $60,000. If the in-vitro fertilization process is a success in India it costs just $6,000.

Source: ABC News - Sept. 28, 2007

Before you buy your tickets, be aware that it's a higher risk to have a surrogate in India than it is in America. Unless you can afford to stay in India for nine months, it's much more difficult to keep in contact with your surrogate, and you can't be sure if the surrogate is taking care of her diet or health.

Ultimately, it's less expensive but comes with more risk. Especially if a couple researches on their own and does not use an experienced consultant to make sure everyone's credentials check out.

Soaring obesity levels may trigger infertility crisis

by: Katy Sinclair
Progress Educational Trust

 

A Lancet report has warned that the soaring levels of obesity in the western world will lead to a major infertility crisis in women. Commenting on the findings, Bill Ledger, Professor of Obstetrics at the University of Sheffield, warned that in the next decade the number of women seeking infertility treatment could double, to one in five. Mr Ledger said that this problem could be helped if women lost weight before seeking infertility treatment.

 

The study focused on polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), which affects one in 15 women worldwide. One of the symptoms of PCOS is infertility, and the syndrome is exacerbated by obesity. The lead author of the study, Robert Norman from the University of Adelaide, stated 'it's argued that obesity will cause a crisis in infertility .. Read full article at IVF.net

 

When you want to give up

Thanks so much to Purple Goddess in Frog Pyjamas for posting this inspiring thought. Even though it's from Scott Noelle, I never would have seen it if it wasn't for the post!

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THE DAILY GROOVE ~ by Scott Noelle
www.enjoyparenting.com/dailygroove

:: The Myth of Fairness ::

Today’s message is actually an excerpt from one of
the Coaching Bulletins I’ve been sending to members
of the new “Total Immersion” support group… (See
http://www.enjoyparenting.com/total-immersion )

There’s nothing natural about our notions
of *fairness*.

If you play checkers with a 2-year-old, he
won’t perceive any unfairness when you
randomly take his checkers off the board, nor
would he feel the slightest guilt in taking
yours.

Such things don’t seem unfair until we are
*taught* the arbitrary rules of the game and
accept them as “the way things are.” Then we
feel a sense of violation when the rules are
broken: “That’s not fair!”

Children often enjoy being “mischievous”
because breaking arbitrary rules helps them
reconnect with the truth that Authentic Power
lies not in the rules but in themselves.

Today, when you observe an apparent injustice,
pretend there’s no such thing as fair/unfair. It
just *IS*. You’ll discover that when there’s no
injustice to fight against, all that’s left to do is
reach for your heart’s desire.

http://dailygroove.net/myth-of-fairness

Feel free to forward this message to your friends!
(Please include this paragraph and everything above.)
Copyright (c) 2007 by Scott Noelle

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So remember, when you're told you "can't" ... don't rail at the injustice of "why you" - live in that world of possibilities and realize that reaching for your dreams is the most important part of the process.

Jude Andrew Adams Charitable Fund

Lotus Blossom Consulting has established the Jude Andrew Adams Charitable Fund to bring hope and new life to those in need. Through this grant, we are offering a free fertility treatment cycle for financially needy individuals.

Blogging for Growth

Here at Lotus Blossom Consulting, we believe in people.

As Infertility Consultants, we have to, because our clients are people and what we provide our clients at the end of our journey together are little-bitty people. People are our business.

From financing to egg donors to gestational surrogates - we have the resources and emotional strength so you don't have to go it alone.

This is, as you can see, the inaugural entry for the blog...I hope to give you a chance to get to know me a little better and see if our personalities might mesh. I love helping people, and will be providing resources and other fun things that will help you in your journey to have a child.

You are not alone.