GIVF Fertility eNews
April 2007

GIVF Logo

World-renowned for its pioneering work in infertility and genetics, GIVF developed or perfected many of the treatments and techniques used today in other centers. 

Worldwide, GIVF is responsible for over 12,000 IVF pregnancies.

Find out how we can help you. Call us today at 800.552.4363.


Special GIVF Offerings
First Trimester Screen
 
 
 Web Videos
 
 
Infertility at the Movies

Michael CaineThe movie adaptation of the P. D. James novel, "Children of Men," was released in December of last year to great critical acclaim. The movie, starring Clive Owen and Michael Caine, was nominated for three Academy Awards. Set in England in the near future the story is about a world in which all women on earth have become unable to conceive. This movie parallels the story line of two other popular movies, "Aeon Flux" (2005) starring Charlize Theron and "Handmaid's Tale" (1990) starring Faye Dunaway and Robert Duvall. In each of the movies some unknown environmental factor has caused widespread infertility leading to the populations being controlled by authoritarian governments.

Fortunately, the real world of fertility treatment is far more positive than the world of science fiction. Modern fertility medicine is making constant advances due to careful scientific experimentation and observation. Rather than taking place against the backdrop of authoritarian regimes, fertility treatment is at the forefront of reproductive freedom. Finally, unlike these three movies, infertility is just as often caused by male rather than female factors, as was the case of the character played by Woody Allen in another Michael Caine movie "Hannah and Her Sisters." That movie was nominated for seven Academy Awards� and, unlike "Children of Men", won three.

Readers may also be interested in looking at the entries in the International Infertility Film Festival (March 31, 2007) at infertilityfilmfestival.blogspot.com. The site shows an interesting series of short films on coping with infertility and infertility treatment.

What's New at GIVF

SEMINAR: DONOR EGG AND ADOPTION

ALTERNATIVE PATHS TO FAMILY BUILDING

 

GIVF is conducting a two hour seminar on May 20 at 1:30 PM to help patients who are considering the choice of donor egg or adoption as alternative ways for building families. The program will include four speakers: Dr. Stephen Lincoln (Medical Director of GIVF's fertility practice), Dr. Harvey Stern (GIVF's head geneticist), Phyllis Martin (an emotional support therapist specializing in patients dealing with infertility issues) and Mr. Peter Wiernicki, an attorney specializing in both domestic and international adoption. Mr. Wiernicki is also on the national board of directors of RESOLVE. The free seminar will be held at GIVF on the 3rd floor. Registration is not required.

 
 

MORE AFFORDABLE PRICING ON MULTICYCLE CONTRACTS

 

GIVF has reduced pricing on multicycle contracts. An economical three cycle alternative to shared risk contracts, including a special contract for those who do not qualify for GIVF's Pregnancy Guarantee™ program. 

Visit www.givf.com.

 

 

MIND/BODY FERTILITY WORKSHOP

 

The Mind/Body Fertility Workshop, made famous by Alice Domar, is coming to GIVF! Register today for the workshop beginning April 10, 2007. To register, call 202.244.2289 or  

visit www.givf.com.

 

 
Getting Started With IVF
 
Maureen Hanton, B.S., R.N., M.P.A. 
Head Nurse

Maureen Hanton

If you've been trying to conceive for one year (or six months if you're over 35) we recommend you see an "infertility doctor" (reproductive endocrinologist) who will work closely with you to establish a diagnosis for the fertility and treatment protocol most likely to work for you.

It is not uncommon to feel overwhelmed at the onset of fertility treatment. For most people, the most pressing factors involved are educational, medical, emotional and financial.
 
Medical Care. IVF treatment is extremely personalized. Be certain to share your thoughts, feelings, concerns and questions with your caregivers. What fits one couple's needs might not necessarily be right for another couple. Your physician will take your medical history, age and diagnosis into account when presenting options to you. Ultimately, however, it is the patient who decides how quick and aggressive the treatment should be.
 
Education. It helps to be informed before embarking on fertility treatment. Do research. Ask questions. Seek out other people who have gone through treatment (though understand that their experience of the IVF process may be totally different with regard to protocols and procedures.) Remember to be discriminating about where you get your information. Some good websites to start out with are the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (www.asrm.org) and RESOLVE, the national infertility association (www.resolve.org). The better informed you are about the process, the more in control you will feel.
 
Emotional Support. Infertility can take a toll on your emotions. Try to communicate your hopes, fears and insecurities about diagnosis and treatment with your partner or spouse. Many couples find that seeing a counselor throughout this process is of tremendous help. However you choose to navigate this time together, remember that you are not alone. Also, keep in mind that this is just one stage in your relationship; you will get through it.
 
Financial. Work closely with your insurance company and your benefits specialist at your clinic. Insurance coverage for IVF has become more common in recent years. If you do not have coverage there are multicycle discounts and even refund programs that make treatment more affordable. Explore your options and know your insurance medical and pharmacy benefits.
 
Final thought: Stay positive. Your team of doctors, nurses and embryologists will do everything they can to achieve a positive result, but we know that this doesn't always happen on the first attempt. The good news is that most couples will eventually be successful with treatment.

For more information, visit us at www.givf.com or call 800.552.4363

 

 
GIVF to Organize International Fertility Conference in China
 
Shanghai
 
 
 
 
Shanghai at Night
 

 
 
 
 

The Genetics & IVF Institute has begun planning on an international conference on the latest developments in fertility therapy and prenatal genetics. The conference will be held in Shanghai in early 2008. The conference is being planned in conjunction with GIVF's two joint ventures in China located in Shanghai and Guangzhou. GIVF's Shanghai clinic, Shanghai Ji Ai Genetics & IVF Institute, China-USA Center, is operated in conjunction with The Affiliated OB/GYN Hospital of Fudan University in Shanghai, a teaching hospital located in the heart of the city. The Guangzhou clinic, Guangdong Ji Ai Genetics & IVF Institute, China-USA Center is operated in conjunction with Guangdong Provincial Hospital for Maternal & Children's Health, a showcase hospital in Guangdong province. One of the pioneers in the practice of fertility medicine in the United States in 1984, GIVF was also a pioneer in bringing this technology to China in 1996.

The conference is intended to bring some of the leading scientific and medical minds in this field together from the United States, Europe and China. Speakers from China will be drawn from Shanghai, Guangzhou and Beijing. "The United States provides the best medical care available in the world," stated GIVF's international director Dr. Zhao Weipeng, "and we want to blend that with the emerging medical and biotechnology fields in China". Dr. Joseph D. Schulman, GIVF's founder, will preside over the conference. Andrew Dorfmann, GIVF's head embryologist and co-founder, was in China recently on a technology site visit to both joint ventures and to have preliminary discussions about the conference. Mr. Dorfmann was responsible for the organization of the two Chinese clinics.

As a prelude to the international conference, two postgraduate courses, one in Guangzhou and the other in Shanghai, will be conducted by GIVF in the fall of this year.
 
 

Copyright � 2007 Genetics & IVF Institute