Fertility issues are not simply medical or academic matieral in pursuit of knowledge. Fertility and infertility is, in fact, an emotional issue bearing on the hopes and dreams of thousands of people nationwide. As more couples wait until an older age to marry, and as more non-traditional familes come out in the open, hoping for the enornous satisfaction that comes from raising a family with children, the medical and legal communities have seen a growing range of options and controversies.

News

35 Year Career Helping Others Beat Infertility Mansfield News Journal, October 29, 2007. Nellie Foster has spent more than 25 years working in laboratories especially focused on OB/GYN and fertility. Much of her experience arose from her years at the Arizona Institute for Fertility Medicine. Currently at the Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine, her carrer offers an upclose look at advances in fertility medicine and the advantages this brings to people looking to develop a nurturing family in spite of medical and health roadblocks. Read more at the Mansfield News Journal.

Fertility Drugs Concern Experts St Cloud Times, October 28, 2007. When Christina took a home pregnancy test that was positive, they were ecstatic. They knew twins or triplets were a possibility, but they weren't prepared for the first ultrasound. It clearly showed five tiny heartbeats. Fertility drugs such as those taken by Christina are the major reason for the increase of births with four or more babies. Medical experts say the cost of multiple births, in both human and financial terms, is difficult to measure. “We put an enormous burden on the medical community or on society to pay for these,” said Dr. Ted Nagel, associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Minnesota. Read more at the St Cloud Times.

Judge Rules Surrogate Mother Keeps Child Tampa Bay 10, October 11, 2007. A Jacksonville judge has ruled that an Oviedo couple are not the legal parents of a baby they hired a surrogate mother to bear. According to state law, a pregnant mother giving up her child for adoption can change her mind at any point, even 48 hours after giving birth. Read more at Tampa Bay 10 Online.

Surrogate Mom's Goal: To Make a Difference Mason City (IA) Globe Gazette, October 6, 2007. Katie Nelson soon will give birth to her second pair of twins in five years. This time, however, the twins she is carrying will go home with someone else. The 32–year-old Mason City woman is a surrogate mother for a Colorado couple. Katie and her husband, Scott, 38, are parents of twin sons, Jacob and Blake, who were born New Year’s Day 2002. “I wanted to make a difference in someone's life,” said Katie, from her hospital bed at Mercy Medical Center–Des Moines, where she was placed on bed rest Aug. 4. “I enjoyed being pregnant,” she said. “I didn't look at it as being an inconvenience.” It took a few years to convince Scott that surrogacy was the thing to do. “I kept saying no,” he said. “I didn't feel comfortable with it. I thought what would the kids think? I didn't know what other people would think. It just seemed odd to me.” Ultimately, Scott agreed. He said he didn't want his wife to have regrets later on for not having done it. Read more at the Mason City Globe Gazette.

News Archive - you will find more stories in our archive of articles on surrogacy, fertility medicine, infertility treatment and egg donation issues.

Fertility

Health and medical considerations are often at the center of the ability or inability of prospective parents to bear the children they desire into the world and into their own families. Some obstacles may be purely male or female health and fertility matters. Some may be related to age, personal medical history (for example prior treatments for an injury may preclude natural fertility), or environment.

Whatever the origin of fertility concerns, new medical and practical procedures may make it possible for the prospective parent to overcome these obstacles. Correct diagnosis may indicate vasectomy reversal, use of an egg or sperm donor, medical treatment, drugs and/or medication, psycho-therapy, adjustments to environment and/or diet, in-vitro fertilization or other therapy or treatment.

Surrogacy

For those who are not capable of carrying a child, surrogacy may be the only option for having their own child. Simply stated, surrogacy involves a woman carrying a fertilized ova in her uterus and delivering a child for someone else. For a healthy woman capable and willing to act as a surrogate, there can be substantial emotional benefits, not to mention potential financial rewards.

The Shifting Environment

Changing federal, and more importantly, state laws regulate what treatments and options are available in any particular jurisdiction. Prospective parents would be well advised to consult not only qualified health professionals but also specialized medical/fertility attorneys. Fertility Resources attempts to provide relevant information in several areas, including articles on important developments, a directory of firms and online resources, and news of recent developments.