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.