Up-to-date information on infertility

There's more to family planning than preventing pregnancy before you are ready. Having a baby also involves preparation and forethought so that pregnancy occurs when the time is right. Focus on Fertility™, a new education campaign launched today by the American Infertility Association (AIA), spotlights the facts about fertility so people can maximize their ability to conceive a child when they are ready.

A national survey conducted by the AIA revealed a general lack of knowledge about fertility. Incredibly, only one person out of 12,000-plus respondents answered all questions correctly. The most commonly missed question on the survey asked respondents after what length of time they thought a couple would need to consult a physician about the possibility of fertility problems. A couple is considered medically infertile if they are trying to conceive but have not done so in one year. However, nearly one third of the respondents put that number closer to two-and-a-half years, while 18 percent thought it was five years.

"These numbers tell me that couples are waiting way too long before seeking medical help to become pregnant. The earlier you see a fertility specialist, the better your chances are for success," said Pamela Madsen, executive director of AIA. "With Focus on Fertility™, our intent is to inform women and men about ways to protect their fertility, and steps they might take if they experience fertility problems, so they can make more informed decisions about family building."

With a website (www.focusonfertility.org) and free information kit, Focus on Fertility™ seeks to raise awareness of basic fertility facts and educate couples about infertility risks. It also addresses treatment options should couples face fertility problems, offers tips on dealing with the stress of these problems, suggests questions to ask a fertility specialist and questions to ask a medical benefits provider to find out what coverage is offered.

New York, NY, October 10, 2002 – Discussions about women’s reproductive choice historically focus on pregnancy prevention but the choice about when to have or not have a family has been taken away from countless women, because lack of funding prevents important education about fertility from reaching American women.

“Fertility is just as important a women’s issue as contraception,” says Pamela Madsen, Executive Director of The AIA. “Knowledge of basic fertility facts and treatment options, in the case of infertility, empowers women when they make choices about family planning and when to start a family.”

Yet very few women’s health foundations, or private and public funders, include fertility and overcoming infertility in their funding priorities. Funding for educational campaigns around these issues has traditionally come from related business and industry. “Although the current funding is a good first step, this is simply not enough to keep women fully informed. What we need is a comprehensive funding stream that includes fertility as much as other health issues that affect women,” said Ms. Madsen.

“In order to grow and serve our patient community, funding must increase beyond the current inadequate levels,” says Ms. Madsen. “Including fertility in the overall women’s health agenda is the first step towards new sources of funding for educational efforts.”

“The AIA is committed to bringing fertility to the top of the women’s health agenda. We will continue to reach out down every avenue we can, including but not limited to offering free public education, hosting awareness-raising events, and participating in conferences and conventions around the country and the world. This is about women’s own bodies, and they just don’t know the facts. This is about women’s health. We must place more emphasis on this in important funding circles to help get the word out,” continued Ms. Madsen.

In a continued effort to raise awareness about infertility and to bring the issue to the top of the women’s health agenda, The AIA recently released two new fact sheets, titled Special Considerations in Choosing an IVF Practice, and Questions and Conflicts: Working With Your IVF Center.