Make dreams come true while pursuing your own

Volume 5 Issue 1 Spring 2020

SHOULD YOU FREEZE YOUR EGGS?SHOULD YOU FREEZE YOUR EGGS?HOW TO GET TIME BACK ON YOUR SIDE.HOW TO GET TIME BACK ON YOUR SIDE.

We’re all familiar with the phrase, “biological clock.” And most women realize that there’s a time limit on their

“reproductive years.” But what exactly does that mean, and what, if anything, can you do about it?

MONTHLY EVENTS

FIRST & THIRD WednesdaysFERTILITY COMMUNITY YOGA 5:30-6:45pm Farmington Once a month at our Branford office

(check Facebook for times & dates)

THIRD ThursdaysRESOLVE Infertility Peer Support 7-8:30pm Farmington

NATIONAL INFERTILITY WEEK EVENTS 4/19 – 4/25Free Fertility TestingCommunity Acupuncture EventCommunity Fertility Yoga Event

For more information and to register,go to uconnfertility.com.

LGBTQ FAMILY BUILDING EVENTwith the New Haven Pride CenterJune

For more information and to register,go to uconnfertility.com.

For the most up-to-date information, like our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter,Instagram, or LinkedIn

Fertility massage therapy is designed to enhance potential conception while nurturing and relaxing!

Read our Q&A about the Center's relationship with the LGBTQ community and family building options

Take a peek at where you are in terms of your fertility wellness

FERTILITY WELLNESS VISIT

THE GIFT OF EGG DONORS

RELAX AND BE NURTURED

Q&A LGBTQ

SHOULD YOU FREEZE YOUR EGGS?🤔 IS “FREEZING” RIGHT FOR YOU? Women choose to freeze their eggs for a number of reasons. Some are medical. But there are a number of other reasons to choose this option. You may not feel that you’re in the right relationship. You may have career opportunities you wish to pursue. Perhaps it’s a financial consideration. Or, perhaps you’re just “not ready” to be a parent. Whatever your reason for wanting to delay, egg freezing offers you options.

😊 YOU HAVE WHAT YOU’RE BORN WITHIt’s a biological reality: Women are born with as many eggs as they will ever have in their lifetime, typically around 2 million. As you age, however, your egg supply naturally begins to decline. In fact, by the time a woman reaches 35 years of age, approximately 90% of her eggs will be gone. Today’s advanced reproductive medicine can work wonders, but there’s one thing it can’t do: Create more eggs.

😌 FROZEN IN TIMEHarvesting and freezing eggs for future use can be a good choice for many women. The ideal age range for the procedure is between 21 and 32 years. As noted above, the number of eggs a woman has available declines considerably as she reaches her late 30s. The quality of eggs declines with aging, as well. And the big benefit? Your eggs are frozen in time, so when you go to use them, they’ll be the same age as they were when you froze them. So what can you expect? The procedure is similar to what you might experience in the initial part of in vitro fertilization treatment. You’ll have 10 to 12 days of daily injections that will cause your eggs to mature and develop. You’ll be monitored to track your response to the medication. Then, during a brief outpatient procedure requiring only light anesthesia, your doctor will harvest the eggs. An embryologist will inspect them, and all eggs deemed usable will be frozen for your future use. It should be noted that the eggs are frozen in an unfertilized state.

While it’s not a guarantee that you will get pregnant, egg freezing does offer many women the ability to get time “back on their side.” If you feel that it might be a good option for you, talk with your physician. Our goal is help you make informed decisions and provide you with the greatest chance to have a successful, healthy live birth … when you’re ready.

Take a peek at where you are in terms of your “fertility wellness.” When you schedule a free visit with one of our providers, you’ll complete a brief fertility questionnaire, learn more about egg freezing and the AMH test and why it is important. We’ll give you a simple blood test, then, in a week when we receive the results of that test, we’ll call you back to discuss the result relative to fertility questionnaire you completed and where you are in your life and family building plan. The Center periodically offers this on a limited basis, so look for details at uconnfertility.com and on the Center’s social media pages.

At the Center, we’ve

seen a nearly 75%

increase in the number

of women choosing to

take control of their

fertility.

CT women are freezing their eggs in record numbers

2016 2017 2018 2019

Introducing Fertility Massage Therapy

Fertility massage therapy is designed to enhance potential conception while nurturing and relaxing body and mind. Whether you are using this to support assisted reproductive technologies, intending to start family building soon, or are currently trying to conceive, this time together can be extremely nurturing and supporting.

How fertility massage therapy beginsCarissa Spada, LMT will be your fertility massage provider. The first session starts with an in-depth review of your fertility history and current lifestyle. This discussion will address any ways in which your fertility massage session will be altered to best serve you as well as to address any lifestyle changes or support that can be done at home.

Visualizing a sessionOnce on the massage table, you will receive a warm and relaxing abdominal castor oil pack to aid in digestion and possibly reduce adhesions and scar tissue. Cranial sacral holds along with guided visualizations follow to help balance cranial sacral fluids and allow for you to tune into your body’s innate ability to heal and open the energetic channels for conception. Therapeutic neck and shoulder massage follows to elicit even deeper relaxation. Specific acupressure points and meridian holds will be used to continue this journey of supporting your body towards your goal. A specific reflexology protocol is used to support hormone balance and stimulate reproductive organs. Deep external pelvic work is used to increase blood flow to the reproductive areas. Abdominal massage is also performed to increase and support digestion near the completion of your session. •

Go to https://www.uconnfertility.com/fertility-massage-therapy/ for more information on this new program.

RelaxAnd Be Nurtured

Special Promotion for Our Patients: We are pleased to announce that for

those sessions booked in 2020, Carissa will provide a discount to patients

of the Center.

Carissa Spada, LMT is a Nurturing the Mother®

Certified Fertility Massage Specialist. She is also a

former fertility patient at the Center, and leads the

Center’s Fertility Community Yoga program. She

has practiced massage therapy for over 15 years, as

well as taught yoga and graduated from the Bloom

School Life Mastery Coaching Program, helping

others through coaching for over ten years.

FERTILITY MASSAGE THERAPY GRANTOur goal at the Center has always been to find

ways to help people afford fertility treatment. This

includes services that can add great value to the

experience, such as Fertility Massage Therapy. We

are pleased to announce we are offering a grant

for two sessions to one individual per quarter.

Recipient Criteria:

There will be one grant

recipient per quarter in

2020, for a total of four

grant recipients this

year. The recipient of

the grant does not

need to be a patient

of the Center at the

time the nomination

is made.

How the Grant

Works: Submissions

can come directly from an

individual who finds that this

experience would be valuable to them.

Or, submissions can come from anyone wishing

to nominate someone so as to possibly give a

gift to them.

Judging: An evaluation committee will

review all completed grant applications and

make all decisions regarding the grant recipient.

Award: The grant recipient will receive two

sessions with Carissa Spada, LMT for Fertility

Massage Therapy.

Go to https://www.uconnfertility.com/fertility-massage-therapy-grant/ for more information on the grant and to apply.

CARISSA'S

CO

RN

ER

www.uconnfertility.com | (844) HOPEIVF

O N L I N E V I D E O L I B R A R Y R E S O U R C EOur website contains hundreds of educational and informational videos for patients as well as those considering treatment. We also have some featuring our employees so you can get to know us just a little bit better. Featured in our newest FERTILITY 101 series are:

Check out all our videos at uconnfertility.com/uconn-video-library/ or on our YouTube channel.

Make Dreams Come True While Pursuing Your OwnThe gift egg donors provide is truly the answer to many couples’ dreams. We’re reaching out to healthy women between the ages of 21 and 32 to encourage them to consider this option. Just one donor can help multiple couples achieve their dream of having a child.

Here’s the process to become an egg donor:

To complete an egg donation cycle, donors commit time, energy and emotion. Donors who complete the cycle will be compensated $8,000 for their time and inconvenience. Following the experience of egg donation, most donors feel a great deal of satisfaction from this act of giving.

15 minute phone screening

fill out medical questionnaire and learn about risks

Meet our team, complete medical and psychological consult

We find your match

start donation cycle(includes medications, blood tests and ultrasounds)

egg RETRIEVAL procedure

“the greatest good is what we do for one another”

~ Mother Teresa

♥Our Patient’s Share Their Joy

HELPING OUR

PATIENTS AFFORD

TREATMENTThe dream of having a baby can be difficult to

plan for financially, and even more difficult for those who are on the IVF journey. Our top priority at the Center is to help our patients realize their dreams, and that includes helping our patients find ways to pay for their care.

We understand how stressful fertility treatments can be, especially for those who don’t have insurance coverage for the treatments they need. That’s why, for each of our patients, we provide a financial consultant specialized in dealing with insurance companies and looking for ways to make the financial impact as affordable as possible — and that includes fertility medications.

Fertility drugs are a very necessary, and often costly part of the fertility treatment process. However, patients often lack coverage for the medications they need as part of their treatment plan. It is our mission to work closely with our patients to identify the absolute best, low-cost option for them. We have researched, identified, and partnered with many different programs that are designed to assist both insured and uninsured patients. Our financial counselors work to ensure each patient receives any, and all, assistance that is available to them.

ZZZ

Helpful tips from our yoga and fertility massage therapist, Carissa Spada, LMTWhen on a path of family building, this is a time in your life to focus on nourishing yourself. Simple ideas to consider:

1. Try something new or visit a place you haven’t been with your partner.

2. Spend a few minutes thinking of songs that make you feel particularly uplifted and supported—have at least 3 of those songs on your phone and listen to them often.

3. Sunshine is key for so many things—spend time outside every day. Even if just for a few moments. Take nature in around you—notice the animals, feel the air, take in some deep breaths.

4. Help your brain associate day from night. Consider blue light blocking glasses for when watching TV or on the computer at night.

5. Do not underestimate the power of relaxation. In such a fast-paced culture we often tend to think that more is better.

L

�� ��

101

R

R

L G B T Q

What is the Center’s relationship with the LGBTQ

community?

The Center is welcoming to all patients regardless of gender identity. Since 1983 we estimate that nearly 1,000 LGBTQ couples and individuals have worked with the Center resulting in over 1,600 live births. We’ve continued to serve the community as their needs and the technology has evolved. I also think the fact the organization was willing to hire an openly gay CEO probably had to do with the fact we’ve been serving the community for so long.

What populations does the Center treat?

What’s exciting is that today, everyone who wants to have a genetic child has options. Whether one is a same-sex couple or transgender, starting a family is within reach for most people who want one. Of course, depending on the situation, there are lots of physical and biological challenges. We need both eggs and sperm to create embryos. There may need to be a gestational carrier. All of those things are manageable today but one challenge is information. A lot of the time, people don’t have access to all the facts and understand what is possible.

How would someone get started with the Center?

Information is power, and if people understand the options, they can make choices. It’s really quite simple and as easy as making a phone call. Our staff has all been carefully trained to be sensitive to the needs of the LGBTQ population. The first step is coming in and meeting with a member of the clinical team and sharing your dreams and aspirations and what your family looks like to you.

What are the family building options available to lesbian

couples and individuals?

We’re excited about the opportunities we have to offer same-sex couples. Female-female couples have many options, including conception with donor sperm. Another option is family building with IVF treatment, called shared conception or reciprocal IVF. This is done with one partner providing her eggs and the other partner carrying the pregnancy with the utilization of sperm donation.

What are the family building options available to gay male

couples and individuals?

Many patients are not aware of options available to male-male couples for family building. Each of the male partners may have the opportunity to provide sperm, and egg donors are used. In all cases, we do need to use a gestational carrier.

How can the Center help transgender individuals with

family building?

Many of our transgender patients are not aware of the services we can provide in helping them build a family. For those who want to have a genetic link to their child, we can provide fertility preservation services. We can freeze sperm in male patients who are transitioning to a female identity and vice versa. Female patients who want to freeze their eggs for future use can do so before they transition either medically or surgically.

David Schmidt, MDPaul Verrastro, CEO

Q & A

www.uconnfertility.com

844.HOPEIVF

THE CENTER continues to demonstrate success: Not only in the percent of live births achieved, but also in our ability to lessen the potential for pregnancies with twins, triplets or more. With over 13,000 babies born since our inception, we continue to lead in both the region and the nation.

To learn more about our success rates and those of other programs, please visit the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technologies website (www.sart.org). Click on IVF Success. A comparison of clinic success rates may not be meaningful because patient medical characteristics and treatment approaches may vary from clinic to clinic. ZUCCHINI BREAD OATMEAL

(from OH SHE GLOWS!)

This breakfast is a very quick and easy way to add more vegetables to your daily intake. As you make this recipe more, experiment with adding a bit more zucchini each time. Perfect recipe for this winter and for fertility thanks to Carissa Spada, LMT.

INGREDIENTS:1 14oz can light coconut milk2/3 cup gluten-free rolled oats1 cup packed grated zucchini (1 medium)1/2 to 1 tsp. cinnamon to taste1/4 tsp. freshly grated nutmeg or a dash of ground nutmeg1 1/2 Tbsp. pure maple syrup or 1 large ripe banana mashedSmall pinch fine salt1 tsp. pure vanilla extract

Optional toppings: Chopped pecans, raisins or chopped pitted dates, pat of coconut oil or vegan butter, pure maple syrup or coconut sugar, cinnamon, shaved dark chocolate

DIRECTIONS:1. Add all of the oatmeal ingredients except for the vanilla to a medium pot and stir to combine. Bring mixture to a simmer over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium. Cook uncovered for 7 to 9 minutes, stirring frequently, until thickened.

2. Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla. Adjust spices and sweetener to taste, if desired.

3. Divide the oatmeal into bowls and top with your desired toppings.

FARMINGTON

2 Batterson Park Road

Farmington, CT 06032

(844) 467 3483

NEW LONDON

4 Shaws Cove

New London, CT 06320

(877) 860 8044

HARTFORD

50 Columbus Blvd.

Hartford, CT 06106

(860) 525 8283

BRANFORD

6 Business Park Dr.

Branford, CT 06405

(203) 481 1707

OUR STORY: The Center is an academic affiliate of the UConn School of Medicine. We are a specialized program of the division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Fertility and one of the largest and most successful IVF programs in the Northeast. We offer one of less than 40 postgraduate fellowships for Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility (REI) in the United States. Due to our national reputation as a “Center of Excellence,” acceptance to one of our fellowship positions is very competitive. Fellows also participate in ongoing clinical research. This has resulted in several first author publications and national conference presentations for our fellows. Over the past three years, the fellows have presented 18 abstracts at national meetings and have published 13 articles in peer reviewed journals. Plus, we not only have REI fellows, but also Ob/Gyn residents and medical students training here as well.

MONTHLY EVENTS

FIRST & THIRD WednesdaysFERTILITY COMMUNITY YOGA 5:30-6:45pm Farmington Once a month at our Branford office

(check Facebook for times & dates)

THIRD ThursdaysRESOLVE Infertility Peer Support 7-8:30pm Farmington

NATIONAL INFERTILITY WEEK EVENTS 4/19 – 4/25Free Fertility TestingCommunity Acupuncture EventCommunity Fertility Yoga Event

For more information and to register,go to uconnfertility.com.

LGBTQ FAMILY BUILDING EVENTwith the New Haven Pride CenterJune

For more information and to register,go to uconnfertility.com.

For the most up-to-date information, like our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter,Instagram, or LinkedIn

An academic affiliate of UCONN School of Medicine