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The American Fertility Association’s Monthly Newsletter

Aug 29 , 2008

NEWS HEADLINES

Attention Men: Don’t Fry Your Goods

German scientists have determined heated seats may fry sperm. They put their theory to the test by attaching fitted temperature sensors to the scrotums of thirty healthy men who then sat on a heated car seat for 90 minutes. Scientists found scrotal temperature to rise from the core body temperature of 37 degrees Celsius up to 39.7 degrees Celsius in one man’s case. While scientists say optimal sperm production requires the scrotum to remain 1-2 degrees Celsius below the core body temperature, they did not test the effect the heated seat had on sperm quality or quantity. Critics say the study is flawed as it’s rare for someone to leave a heated seat turned on for 90 minutes. They say people often turn it on for ten minutes to warm up their buns on a cold day and then turn it off.

Brangelina and Company

The wealthy Hollywood couple known as Brangelina just got richer! People magazine shelled out $14 million for exclusive rights to photos of their newborn twins. The spread hit People in late July. Nearly two years ago the couple also sold rights to People of their then-newborn baby girl, Shiloh. That one only paid them $4 million. Only? Read more by clicking here.

Foreign Surrogacy Concern

The American Fertility Association was recently contacted about an issue of concern happening right now in India and South America. US clients are resorting to surrogacy in these two countries. This trend has fertility and mental health experts worried that the baby is going to one day grow up wanting to know his or her story. The psychological impact this has on the child could potentially be detrimental.

The question remains, how is that child going to feel about being born to a surrogate in a foreign country who was poor and only doing this for the money? Many US surrogacy experts strive to make it a process by which everyone is involved at some level during, and usually after the process. Studies suggest the US process is empowering for everyone (for the most part).

A legal battle is underway in India. Ikufumi Yamada and his then-wife Yuki Yamada used a surrogate in India to carry their child. The couple divorced shortly after the baby was born in July. Mr. Yamada’s ex-wife no longer wants the child and Indian law prohibits single-men from adopting. Now, a helpless newborn is caught in the middle of an emotion-filled legal war, while Mr. Yamada’s mother takes care of the child. The following are three links to the latest developments of the story.

AFA Co-Chair Hits National News Headlines

Recently, AFA Executive Board Co-chair Stuart Miller was featured in the national news spotlight. He was quoted in an Associated Press/MSNBC article entitled: More Gay Men Embrace Marriage. Check out what Stuart had to say by clicking here.

AFA Illuminations Award Recipient

On Tuesday, July 15, 2008, the American Fertility Association announced that Dr. Linda C. Giudice, Chair of the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences at UCSF is the recipient of their annual Illuminations Award. Dr. Giudice, a leading researcher in Women's Health, is being honored for her work on the environment and its impact on reproductive health and quality of life. Dr. Giudice's passion to advance research in Women's Health is well known and she has been honored internationally for her tireless efforts to promote awareness of environmental impacts on Women's Health and other aspects of the causes of infertility in women. This award from the AFA will extend that recognition to a wider audience. We salute Dr. Giudice's work to advance our inquiry and understanding of environmental endocrine disruptors on fertility and fetal growth and development. Dr. Giudice will receive this award at an event preceding the Annual Meeting of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, set to convene in San Francisco on November 8th.

Congratulations again to Dr. Linda Giudice on being chosen for the American Fertility Association's Illumination Award!

Breaking News!
Honda Claims to Have Lifted Restriction on ART Coverage for Same-Sex Couples

The American Fertility Association asked for and received the support of Alabama State Representative Patricia Todd (D-Birmingham) in our fight to lift a restriction on ART medical insurance coverage for same-sex couples employed by Honda Manufacturing of Alabama. Honda ignored The AFA’s countless requests for an explanation. However, Honda did offer an explanation to Todd, who just returned from the Democratic National Convention in Denver.

“I talked to the folks at Honda before I left for Denver and from the information that I got from them it appears that they realized that they had a "miss-wording" in the earlier language about the coverage. They now stand by their policy that any couple, regardless of gender, will be covered for services - EXCEPT when it involves a third person,” says Todd.

Todd, who’s in a same-sex relationship, also went on to say, “Their current coverage is non-discriminatory. They are one of the first Alabama companies to offer domestic partners benefits, of which I am grateful.”

In August The American Fertility Association took a stance against Honda Manufacturing of Alabama for excluding same sex couples from ART coverage in its Blue Cross Blue Shield insurance plan description. Feel free to read the press release. We’ve made several attempts to contact Honda in search of an explanation, but to no avail. Honda did, however, released a statement to the media indicating that insurance coverage is the same for both same-sex and opposite sex couples; a statement which completely contradicts the documented proof of discrimination which The AFA has obtained.

We’d like to thank Karen Hammond in Birmingham, Alabama for bringing Honda’s flawed wording to our attention, Representative Todd for her success on an explanation, and you – The AFA Supporter – for standing behind us during this fight for equality. We’d also like to thank Honda Manufacturing of Alabama for recognizing its mistake and correcting it so promptly.

What’s new at The AFA?

Discussion Forums
Now moderated by health care professional in a variety of fields. Thanks to our Web Angels for answering questions so promptly!

Weekly Poll
The poll changes weekly and links to the discussion forums so that people can comment on the question beyond a simple "yes" or "no." Let your voice be heard!

Twitter
Yes, we know, what will the kids think of next? Twitter is the newest way of communicating in short "tweets." Messages are limited to 140 characters and can be received via email, text or IM. It's representative of the fact that we now communicate in short "chirps" rather than lengthy messages.

To sign up on Twitter Click Here

Then click the green Join Today box

Take five minutes to sign-up

Now you’re all see to ‘tweet’ and get ‘tweeted’ with periodic, yet brief and important updates from The American Fertility Association. This is your way to keep up with the changing excitement at The AFA!

Take Action / Find Support / Donate Now / Register Now
You're a click away from any one of these. There's great buzz about the telephone support groups and the chats are now audio so you can hear the moderator talking.

Latest News
Fresh fertility, adoption and LGBT news updated every weekday.

The AFA on MySpace
Check out our new and improved MySpace page and befriend us at http://www.myspace.com/theafa. Here you’ll find our latest bulletins, updates, and blogs. You’ll also see what our allies are doing to help advocate for fertility preservation, adoption rights and awareness, and LGBT issues.

The Media Needs Your Help

Often times the national media calls upon the American Fertility Association to find candidates willing to be interviewed. Currently we have three pending requests, all for on-camera interviews. Please take a look at what’s needed and if you’d like to take part or simply learn more feel free to contact the producers directly. And, of course, you’re always free to e-mail Brian Armentrout, AFA Communication s Director, at brian@theafa.org

MTV’s Hit Series True Life

Producers need a surrogate
Must range in age from 16-25 years old or look younger than 28 years old
If you’re interested e-mail Alison.grasso@mtvnmix.com

New York Times

Online Video Department needs a couple who’s trying to conceive (TTC)
Must be in NY, NJ, or Philly area
If you’re interested e-mail hager@nytimes.com

German-French Public Television Documentary

Producers needs a mom/couple who chose or is choosing Pre-implantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD)
If you’re interested e-mail boberhauser@hr-online.de

The American Fertility Association, 305 Madison Avenue Suite 449, New York NY 10165.
Support Line: 888-917-3777. www.theafa.org