Most of the families quoted here have benefited from professional
counseling at some point in their journey. Families and professionals
stress the value of counseling to help resolve feelings about infertility,
to help parents talk positively with their children about ART, and
to get through any rough times as children grow up. The American
Fertility Association, RESOLVE, American Society for Reproductive
Medicine and other organizations listed below can help refer you
to local therapists who are skilled in addressing infertility and
ART.
Support from other ART parents helps, too. These organizations
can help you find a support group or online chat group that meets
your needs.
ORGANIZATIONS
The American
Fertility Association is a national organization dedicated
to educating, supporting and advocating for men and women concerned
with reproductive health, fertility preservation, infertility and
all forms of family building. The AFA's purpose is to educate the
public about reproductive disease, and support families during struggles
with infertility and adoption. The AFA provides a range of services
designed to help people gather information about medical treatments,
options, coping techniques, legal and insurance issues, and other
concerns.
RESOLVE: The
National Infertility Association provides education, advocacy,
and support for men and women facing infertility. The association
has chapters across the country.
The InterNational
Council on Infertility Information Dissemination (INCIID
– pronounced "inside") is a nonprofit organization
that helps individuals and couples explore their family-building
options. INCIID provides current information and immediate support
regarding the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of infertility
and pregnancy loss, and offers guidance to those considering adoption
and childfree lifestyles.
American
Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) is professional
organization offering multidisciplinary information, education,
advocacy and standards for physicians practicing reproductive medicine.
The ASRM also offers resources and information for patients.
The American
Surrogacy Center (TASC) is devoted to information on surrogacy
and egg donation for recipients, gestational carriers, and egg donors.
They offer online chat and support groups for parents of children
conceived through ART, mothers via egg donation or sperm donation,
egg donors, parents pursuing surrogacy or embryo adoption, and other
groups.
The Massachusetts General Hospital Fertility
Center is one of
the most successful, technologically advanced programs in the nation.
It achieves excellent results while welcoming all patients who
seek treatment, including those whose situations may be particularly
challenging or who require additional resources. The Fertility
Center has a well-earned reputation for consistently achieving
excellent outcomes while also ensuring patient safety. The Center
consistently achieves among the highest pregnancy rates in the
country while the rate of high-order multiple births is among the
lowest. The Center also offers a holistic mind-body approach to
fertility management, as well as individualized care delivered
in state-of-the-art facilities designed for both privacy and comfort.
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