Five years ago, when Jane Roper first discovered she was pregnant with twins, she worried about what others would think.  She asked herself, “Is It Selfish to Pursue Fertility Treatments Instead of Adoption?”  Now the proud parent to twin daughters, Roper can confidently say that pursuing fertility treatment it is not a selfish decision.  This week, Time Magazine spoke with Roper and reported on this sensitive topic.

The Time Magazine article reminded me of Dawn Davenport’s recent article on Global IVF, ‘You Can Always Just Adopt’…Really?!  Davenport’s article goes into more details about why adoption may not be a viable family building option for all, and why the assumption that people struggling with infertility should just adopt is insensitive.

Both articles are a great read for those struggling with fertility, and also those with family and friends pursuing fertility treatment.

Today (Monday, January 23^rd) marks the start of the Chinese New Year. While it may not seem like an earth shattering event, in the world of fertility and babies it is!   In fact, today’s front page of THE WALL STREET JOURNAL features two top fertility companies (Agency for Surrogacy Solutions, Inc. – www.agency4solutions.com, and their sister company, Global IVF, Inc. – www.globalivf.com), in an article highlighting the current trend of Chinese intended parents (from the U. S. and abroad) racing to have babies in the Year of the Dragon – which starts January 23, 2012 and ends February 10, 2013.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203806504577177011519558088.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

The Wall Street Journal sought out the internationally renowned Agency for Surrogacy Solutions, and Global IVF because both companies have had a huge surge of Chinese singles and couples contacting them for their services. Two of Agency for Surrogacy Solutions’ current clients, looking to have a baby in the Year of the Dragon, are featured in the article.  For Agency for Surrogacy Solutions, Inc. there’s been a 250% increase in Chinese clients in the last two months, and Global IVF – a website and service devoted to people traveling for fertility treatments – has responded to the demand by developing a program specifically for Chinese clients wanting to travel to the U.S. to do IVF/gender selection in the Year of the Dragon – called “Dragon Baby Special.”

Why the fuss? Traditionally, the Year of the Dragon is a very auspicious time to have a baby in China – the child born in the year of the dragon will have immense power and great success, be respected, generous, popular, and will have a youthful appearance throughout their lives.  During every past year of the dragon there have been significant increases in birth rates and the Taiwan Society for Reproductive Medicine director Lee Mao-sheng predicts the dragon effect could lead to an increase of between 180,000 and 200,000 newborns this year.

China banned surrogacy in 2001, making it impossible for women struggling with infertility to legally pursue building their family with the help of a surrogate.  In addition, gender selection is currently prohibited in China.  The U.S. based Agency for Surrogacy Solutions, Inc. & Global IVF, Inc. provide personal and full range services for domestic and international couples or singles who cannot conceive on their own or desire the services of a gestational carrier and/or want to do gender selection.

While owned by the same two women, Kathryn Kaycoff-Manos, MA and Lauri Berger de Brito, Agency for Surrogacy Solutions, Inc. and Global IVF, Inc. are two very distinct companies – both with their own ways of assisting the sudden rush of Asian Intended Parents who desire to have a baby born in the Year of The Dragon.

Global IVF, Inc offers a special concierge program for Chinese nationals who want to come to the United States for IVF and Gender Selection.  (www.dragonbabyspecial.com). This service provides a high level of personal assistance throughout the entire process.  In addition, Global IVF’s free website provides additional information about fertility treatments around the globe (www.globalivf.com).

Agency for Surrogacy Solutions, Inc. (www.agency4solutions.com) is a highly respected surrogacy agency based out of Southern California.  Agency for Surrogacy Solutions provides personal, full-range surrogacy services to heterosexual and same-sex couples, along with singles, from all over the globe.

To speak with Agency for Surrogacy Solutions or Global IVF, Inc. about this exciting fertility trend and great news story, please call 818-386-0800, 818-952-5400 or email info@globalivf.com.

Test your knowledge with this Fertility Fact or Fiction IQ quiz:

Tiny spasms, or ‘heartbeats,’ detected within fertilized eggs  could help reproductive clinics choose the healthiest embryo to implant during IVF treatments  This new discovery could result in higher success rates for IVF and reduce the number of multiple pregnancies!

The holidays have arrived and, although some claim it to be “the most wonderful time of the year,” getting through holiday gatherings can be difficult for those struggling with fertility.  To help get you through this holiday season, we have compiled a list of resources.  Have additional tips for coping with infertility this season?  Leave them in the comments!

That dreaded question at holiday parties, “So, when are you going to have kids?” can leave you reaching for a second…and third…holiday cookie.  Maintaining a good nutritional foundation during the holidays is especially important for women struggling with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS).  Certified Holistic Health Coach, Holly Amarandei, offers tips for Avoiding Emotionally Eating Your Way Through the Holidays.

RESOLVE offers multiple resources for coping with the holidays, including how to deal with holiday dread and tips for coping with holiday blues.

Creating a Family‘s Dawn Davenport has created an Infertility Survival Guide for the Holidays video.  Offering helpful tips on how to make it through this year’s winter parties and family events.  Prepare for this holiday season by watching Dawn’s Guide.

The Huffington Post’s Huffpost Women published an article that offers not only tips for coping with infertility during the holidays, but also “Infertility Etiquette” Tips for Friends & Family!

For a Holiday Checklist for Holiday Travelers Coping with Infertility, read Andrea Bryman’s article on taking care of yourself this holiday season.  Andrea Bryman is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with a speciality in assisted reproduction which includes mental health assessments and evaluation of egg donors and surrogates.

The Global IVF team understands that a major stress for many intended parents is the high cost of fertility treatments.  Intended parents might seek assistance through IVF scholarships or by traveling for treatment, but no U.S. tax credit is currently in place to help reduce the financial burden of fertility treatments.  A bill has been introduced to the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives that will help lesson the cost of medical fertility treatments.  The Family Act of 2011, S 965/ H.R. 3522 will create a tax credit for the out-of-pocket costs associated with infertility medical treatment.  If passed, this bill will help support countless couples struggling with infertility.

You can help support this bill!  Write your representatives today explaining why the Family Act of 2011 is important to you.  RESOLVE offers easy forms and sample letters to help you reach your Senators and Representative today.

This year marks the lowest number of international adoptions to the U.S. since 1994.  The U.S. has suspended adoption from several countries- such as Vietnam, Cambodia, Guatemala and Nepal- due to recent problems of corruption. And although certain countries are making reforms that will allow adoptions by Americans to continue in the future, these changes may move slowly.  Waitlists are just one of the many reasons that people are exploring options outside of inter-country adoption, such as fertility travel. Creating a Family’s Dawn Davenport shares her expertise on infertility, adoption, and why it is not always the right answer to “Just Adopt.”

Reports of celebrity moms having children well into their 40s may leave women misinformed.  In a recent Fertility IQ survey- conducted on behalf of RESOLVE- more than half of participating women failed the 10-question survey.  Most commonly missed questions?  Those regarding women’s fertility decline at various ages.  Read more about the Fertility IQ survey, and why women keep getting this question wrong.

After an extensive four month public discussion, The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA)* has decided to change the policies surrounding egg and sperm donation in the UK.  Previously in the UK, donors were only to receive reimbursement for out of pocket expenses and loss of earning allowance were capped at £250.  With a new recognition of the donor’s experience, payments for egg donors will increase to £750 per cycle of donation.  There has also been an increase in payment for sperm donors—compensation of £35 per cycle.  Chair of the HFEA, Professor Lisa Jardine, explained the new policies:  “‘In looking at donation we have focused on what it means to people – to those born of assisted reproduction, to donors, to patients wanting desperately to have a baby and to the public in general. We are convinced that it is right to look at compensation not in terms of crude sums but in terms of the value of donation.’”

The HFEA says that they worked to keep the new levels of compensation low enough to keep away donors who are entirely financially motivated, while still recognizing the value of the donation and the goal to attract new donors. Professor Jardine hopes the new policy will “’balance the interests of all involved in the donation process.’”

The HFEA is also looking at other fertility practices, such as ‘egg sharing.’  Through egg sharing, intended parents receive free IVF (or other advantages, such as a higher ranking on a waitlist, ect.), in return for egg or sperm donation.  The HFEA approved the practice of egg sharing, but plans to look more carefully at the practice and create clearer guidelines on the benefits that intended parents could receive for egg sharing.

Currently, many intended parents from the UK travel to other countries for fertility services in order avoid the long waitlist at home.  Will increased payments for sperm and egg donations result in higher numbers of donors, and cause more intended parents stay in the UK for treatment?  We will need to keep our eye on cross border reproductive care in the UK over the next year, in order to see the affects of these updated policies.

* “The HFEA is the independent regulator for IVF treatment and embryo research. Our role is to protect patients and the public interest, to drive improvement in the treatment and research sectors and to provide information to the public and policymakers about treatment and research.”