Apple and Facebook Announce Egg Freezing Health Coverage
Posted by on October 14, 2014 - 2:50pm

In a bold announcement today, Apple and Facebook now will offer health coverage for their women employees to freeze their eggs. Egg freezing may enable women to protect and preserve their fertility—and with the steep price of $10,000+, this coverage may be seen as a significant investment in family planning, while others may see this as concerning. Climbing the corporate ladder while raising a family can be a significant barrier for many women and the health coverage to freeze one’s eggs can provide women with the choice and freedom to devote time to work and to one’s family. However, some argue this potentially pushing women to focus on their careers as primary and family as secondary.

Egg-freezing has reportedly doubled over the past year as women continue to seek this as a solution to longer fertility years. Indeed, the option to freeze one’s eggs has spurred feelings of empowerment in women, Emma Rosenblum even writing, “Not since the birth control pill has a medical technology had such potential to change family and career planning.” Women often report barriers surrounding a seeming choice between work or family. The action of Apple and Facebook is intended to alleviate some stress surrounding career and family planning, while empowering women with the more choices and control in life. While positive in their intentions, some may read Apple's and Facebook's new announcement as potentially implying that women should focus on their careers first and family planning second. Whatever the implications, this is certainly an game-changing announcement.

Source: NBC News

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Addressing fertility preservation for young cancer patients
Posted by on September 11, 2012 - 8:59am

Oncofertility is an interdisciplinary field at the intersection of oncology and reproductive medicine that expands fertility options for young cancer survivors. Experts in this field identify which cancer treatments are likely to damage later reproductive ability for men, women, and children and develop new fertility preservation methods. In addition, these scientists are also identifying cancer treatments that may be “fertoprotective” and prevent damage to the reproductive organs during cancer treatment. Every year, experts in this field meet to discuss the recent advances in oncofertility scientific and medical treatment. The sixth annual conference is September 27 - 28, 2012 in Chicago, IL.

The program for this two-day conference on fertility after cancer features translational and clinical research on fertility preservation, lessons learned from individual fertility preservation programs, a speech and special performance by the founder of the adolescent and young adult cancer advocacy group, Stupid Cancer, and a Keynote Symposium by Hamish Wallace, MD (Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Edinburgh). During the two days of the conference, more than 20 invited speakers from across the globe will present cutting-edge information to attendees.

Health care providers will be provided with CME or nursing contact hours at no additional cost. For more information or to register for the conference, visit the website at http://bit.ly/oncofert12 or email oncofertility@northwestern.edu. The 2012 Oncofertility Conference is funded by the NIH (Grant 5R13HD063248-03), and an unrestricted educational grant from Ferring Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

To learn more about fertility and cancer, visit SaveMyFertility.org and download the free iPhone app.