BOOK CORNER: We are happy to recommend this book to our clients!
One reviewer wrote:
The Family Book celebrates the love we feel for our families and all the different varieties they come in. Whether you have two moms or two dads, a big family or a small family, a clean family or a messy one, Todd Parr assures readers that no matter what kind of family you have, every family is special in its own unique way.
Every infertility journey is different, but all can be frustrating. So for those who need a little chuckle today or just want to know you are not alone, check out the very funny blog, Laughing IS Conceivable by Lori Shandle-Fox. She shows the lighter side of the heavy-hearted topic of infertility. She muses about getting through the holidays with your family to random thoughts throughout her day.
You can also purchase her e-book, Laughing IS Conceivable: One women’s extremely funny peek into the extremely unfunny world of infertility HERE.
The Midwest Family Equality Council held their annual conference this past weekend, and once again I had the opportunity of attending. All too often in our efforts of recruiting donors and processing specimens, we rarely get so opportunity to see, much less meet any of the miracles.
This conference is geared towards the GLBT community and helping them to obtain more information to help build their family as well as find various outlets and community resources in the Midwest. I am pretty sure, based on my unscientific calculation we adults were outnumbered 2:1 by children. A pretty remarkable feat if I do say so myself considering the path most GLBT people need to take to build his or her family.
While it is a wonderful opportunity to meet potential new clients, nothing is more rewarding than a parent stopping by the booth with their child. This year I had to opportunity to meet several children that CLI helped to bring into the world. I was also able to touch base with parents who had teenagers; a strong testament of the longevity and success of CLI.
Due to the nature of our jobs, we often do not have the opportunity to see the lives we’ve touched. That is why I truly enjoy attending conferences where there is the chance I may get to reconnect with a parent who used CLI’s services. Thank you for sharing yourself and your family with me, I really do savor these experiences.
The CLI Family Forums are very active with people just like you that are trying to conceive using donor sperm. The topics on the forum range from serious medical concerns to mothering advice about raising children from donor sperm.
Some of the most popular topics include questions about what to do during the two week wait after insemination. Some of the posts are light hearted about which movies to watch to pass the time and what foods help with implantation. Other posts discuss the symptoms experienced and if that indicates a pregnancy or not.
So no matter where you are on your journey to parenthood, the CLI Family Forums have topics that will interest you. There are also specific sections for single mothers by choice, same sex couples, and couples with fertility issues. I highly encourage you to check it out and join the conversations.
If you are just getting started on your journey with infertility, please use this great resource from the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) on Assisted Reproductive Technologies. This guide will walk you through the details of IVF insemination, egg retrieval process, success rate statistics, and common terminology you will encounter along the way.
And if you are just starting the donor sperm process, you will love the step by step guide countdown to trying to conceive.
Selecting the ideal donor can seem like an overwhelming process. With their vast experience in helping clients through the process, our Client Services Team put together this helpful list of tips to simplify the process for you. Try them and see if they work for you!
1. Talk to your doctor about CMV & RH status.
Knowing if these matter in your situation will make the initial selection of the right group of donors easier.
2. Know your genetic screening results.
If you need a donor with certain testing, we will work with you. It may already be done, but best to know what you need up front so you can choose wisely.
3. Decide what characteristics matter to you.
Whether it is a certain height, eye color or ancestry that matters, chose those and come up with a select group of donors. If you have someone you would like the donor to resemble, consider providing us the photos and we’ll help with the match.
4. Start reviewing donor information on this select group.
All the donor profile information, childhood photos, audio interviews and silhouettes are available at no cost. Childhood photos are the most viewed item so go ahead and look at as many as you want. Looking for free makes it much easier!
5. Seek out advice and support from those who are having similar experiences.
You can find many resources online and if you participate, you can choose to remain anonymous. One option is to visit our CLI Family Forums to see what others are saying and ask your questions to a large group of like minded folks
Clinics are responsible for making sure that all outside establishments used to perform any steps in the donor screening and/or testing process are registered with the FDA and compliant with all applicable requirements, as per the FDA ruling 21 CFR Part 1271.
We have drafted a contract establishment agreement for your clinic to use. Your clinic will fill the name and address of their establishment and then fax it to our Compliance Officer at 703-991-2671. She will then sign the document and return to your facility.
CLI is proudly registered with FDA, licensed with CLIA, NY State, CA State, MD State and accredited with the American Association of Tissue Bank (AATB). See our current licensure here.
Visit our website for additional information on compliance.
New Study Shows HPV-Related Cancers are on the Rise
On January 7, 2013, the Journal of the National Cancer Institute published its Annual Report to the Nation on the Status of Cancer, 1975-2009.
The report is a huge collaborative effort from the American Cancer Society (ACS), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and the North American Associations of Central Cancer Registries (NAACCR). The conclusions show an overall cancer rate decrease. However, researchers found that since 2000, certain cancers caused by HPV including cervical cancer and less frequently anal, vulva and throat cancer have been increasing. As far as the overall cancer mortality, the study concludes it dropped 1.8 percent annually among men, 1.4 percent a year among women and 1.8 percent every year in children under 14.
Of concern was the finding that in 2009, HPV-related cancer rose over previous years to account for 3.3 percent of all cancers among women and 2 percent in men. Cervical cancer alone represented 53.4% of the total number of HPV-associated cancers among women.
To see the full report published by the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, click here.
Cryogenic Laboratories, Inc directly tests donor semen for HPV by DNA based testing. All donors added since 2001 tested negative for the most common HPV mutations associated with cancer (16 and 18) to meet our high standards.
Learn more about donor semen testing.
One reviewer wrote: This lovely book provides a friendly, thoughtful explanation to young children who were conceived with anonymously donated sperm. It’s also an appropriate conversation starter for parents in any family situation who want to raise open-minded and inclusive kids. The book’s primary message is that love – not the number of people – defines a family, and its message will help any child feel treasured.
Order it here: http://www.nanstories.com/#
I have had the amazing opportunity to once again attend our local MN Association of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Nurses (APHON) conference. CLI has been supporting APHON for the past 5+ years, and have found it extremely rewarding. Being able to connect with health care professionals and educate individuals on sperm banking is extremely important.
As mentioned on their website, APHON is made up of pediatric hematology/oncology nurses and health care professionals. Its members are dedicated to providing optimal nursing care for children, adolescents and young adults with cancer and blood disorders. APHON provides leadership and expertise to pediatric hematology/oncology nurses by defining and promoting the highest standards of practice and care to the pediatric, adolescent and young adult communities.You can read more about what the MN chapter is up to here http://metromnaphon.org or visit the national organization’s webpage here http://www.aphon.org.
These professionals work tirelessly for the patients and families of sick children, and are the calming force in the patients care. Minnesota’s chapter of APHON is celebrating its 20th year in 2013 and received a prestigious grant providing them the opportunity to bring in a very decorated RN to open the conference. Deborah Boyle, RN, MSN, AOCND, FAAN is fundamentally a patient and family educator; and a very good one I must add. She spoke with such passion and conviction; discussing how oncology professionals wear multiple hats. Not only are they responsible for patient care, but they are also on the front lines of educating and providing emotional support for the patients and family. They also help families to prepare for what life has in store for them next. Debi was able to share many personal experiences from her tenure as a nurse. While not all her stories had happy endings, they did all highlight how important a personal touch is. Being able to relate to patients and show compassion, having the skills to discuss the hard topics and yet maintain professionalism.
Her message resonated with me on multiple levels. Typically by the time patients arrive to CLI to bank their sperm, they have been through a whirlwind already. Sperm banking for some patients is the last thing on their mind. I feel as I too have a responsibility to continue on the exceptional care path. The staff at CLI handle all patients with compassion and integrity. Each situation is different and it is important to be able to convey the facts without providing false hope. My hope is that by the time they leave our office, they feel as if they were well cared for and that they are able to approach us with any questions or concerns.
“It is one of the most beautiful compensations of life, that no man can sincerely try to help another without helping himself” ~Ralph Waldo Emerson
