Utah Infertility Awareness Event 2012

Find hope, strength, and support by joining us for the 2012 Utah Infertility Awareness Event!

When : Saturday, April 21, 8:45 am to 3:00 pm

Where : SLCC Larry H. Miller Campus, Sandy, Utah

Registration will open April 1, 2012.

We hope you can all join us for a day of uplifting speakers, great prizes, and the chance to cultivate new friendships.

Fall Event

Registration is now open for our Fall Event...

(to register, click the link in the sidebar on the right

or see the link at the end of this post)

"Living in Infertility's Reality"
October 25th, 2011
6:30-8:00 PM
Draper Library
1136 E. Pioneer Road

Come hear from couples who have experienced the reality of infertility. They will share ideas from strengthening your marriage relationship to redefining family and life, from getting to a place of acceptance and contentment to grieving the multiple losses of infertility. You won't want to miss this evening of great ideas of how to be more successful in your experience.

Featuring:
Lindsey & Josh Redfern...The R House
Tiffany & Jonathan Alleman...Mrs. Utah
Andrea & John Timothy...Utah Infertility Awareness Committee

Fall Event Sponsors:
Reproductive Care Center
Utah Center for Reproductive Medicine
Utah Fertility Center

Seating is limited, so please register early.
Registration is now open. Click here to register.
If you have questions, please contact us at questions@utahinfertilityawareness.com.

Utah Infertility Schedule of Events 2011

We are so excited to see you at our
2nd Annual Utah Infertility Awareness
this Saturday, April 30th!!!

Registration is now closed.
For more information about participating in the event
as a walk-in participant click here.

For those of you who have already registered, here are some important things for you to know:

1.) Check-in begins at 8:45AM. We will begin the event promptly at 9:00AM.

2.) A small breakfast of muffins, fruit and beverages will be provided.

3.) There will be construction around the area of the University of Utah Health Sciences Education Building. Please park in the parking structure to the EAST of the Health Sciences Education Building. Make sure to look for the signs leading you to the parking structure and then from the parking structure to the building.

4.) For directions on how to get to the University of Utah, please click here.

Schedule of Events

9:00AM Welcome: Kerstin Daynes

9:15AM Keynote Speaker: Monica Ashton, LCSW

Nurturing Relationships Through the Journey of Infertility

Learn about tools and techniques you can use to strengthen your relationship with your spouse/partner during the family building process.

10:05AM Break

10:15AM Breakout Sessions (Choose one of the following:)

Room 1750—

Fears and Concerns with Third Party Reproduction

Laura A. Czajkowski, Ph.D., CBSM

This presentation addresses the emotional aspects of using donor gametes. It will
cover issues associated with donor selection, disclosure and potential needs of
donor conceived persons.

Room 1730—

Infertility & Healing

Kerstin Daynes, author of Infertility: Help, Hope, and Healing

Trying to juggle the roller coaster of infertility is challenging…to say the least. Come and join a discussion about tangible ways to cope with infertility emotionally, physically, and socially. You will leave with ideas that you can start using today!

11:05 Break

11:15 Giveaway

11:30 Ask a Professional

Registration is Closed

We have closed registration for our 2011 event. We are thrilled with the incredible response we have received. We have arranged for an overflow room to accommodate walk-in participants where the keynote, giveaway, and Ask a Professional Panel will be broadcast via closed circuit video. There will be breakout sessions which will accommodate all participants. Please know that we welcome you to join us and would love for you to be part of the event. Be aware, however, that priority seating will be given to those who have registered, and we will not be able to guarantee conference materials and food to all who come without registering. But, you will be eligible for winning prizes in the giveaway! Walk-ins will be accommodated on a first come, first served basis.

If you anticipate that you will join us as a walk-in participant, please email Kerstin at questions@utahinfertilityawareness.com.

Latest News About 2011 Event

You can now register for the event...by clicking here.

Make sure you check out all of the information about the event at the links above.

We'd love for you to share the event with others by...

1. Grabbing the button. Copy the text below and put it on your blog or website.

<a href="http://www.utahinfertilityawareness.com"><img src="http://download.utahinfertilityawareness.com/images/UIAButton2011.gif" border="0" alt="utahinfertilityawareness.com" title="utahinfertilityawareness.com" /></a>

2. Tell others about the event on Facebook. We even have a Facebook page here.

3. Share the flier with others. You can email it, print it off and hand it out--whatever you would like to do. Click here to download the PDF.

Have a look at some of the great prizes in our Giveaway:

50% off clinic fees for one cycle of IVF, donated by Utah Fertility Center

5 New Patient Consultations, donated by Utah Center for Reproductive Medicine

$100 towards treatment not covered by insurance (1 per couple in attendance), donated by Reproductive Care Center

10% off IVF cycle or similar amount off donor egg cycle (qty. 10), donated by Reproductive Care Center

50% off IVF cycle or similar amount off donor egg cycle, donated by Reproductive Care Center

1 fertility hypnosis session, donated by Fertility Life Coaching

1 session, donated by Harmony Acupuncture Clinic

1 sterling silver “hope” necklace, donated by The R House Couture

1 hour consulting session about adoption, the adoption process and options in adoption, The R House Adoption Consultants
5 copies of Dr. Richard Marrs' Fertility Book: America's Leading Infertility Expert Tells You Everything You Need to Know About Getting Pregnant, donated by Center for Advanced Reproductive Medicine

3 autographed copies of Infertility: Help, Hope, and Healing by Kerstin Daynes, donated by ldsinfertility.org

Self care kits, The Healing Group

You are not alone...

(image borrowed from http://www.ilissabanhazlmft.com/infertility-counseling-pasadena-ca.htm)

While you may be well aware that Utah has one of the highest birth rates in the nation, you may not know that infertility will affect one in eight American couples. With numbers like these, it may not be too far of a stretch to imagine that you, or someone close to you, may be dealing with this painful--and sometimes incurable--experience.

Many of those who are victims of the devastating effects of infertility can experience any or all of the following:

-Depression; feelings of hopelessness or loss of interest
-Feelings of failure or incompetence
-Indirect anger
-Jealousy/Bitterness

The good news is that no matter what your circumstances, you do not have to battle it alone. Within recent years, there has been a shift towards the acceptance and understanding of the nature of this condition. Every day, more and more literature is being published and further research is conducted to forward the efforts of effective treatment.

Several months ago, SELF magazine published a courageous and inspiring article about the damaging effects infertility can have on couples who feel they are struggling alone.
It stressed the importance of having the courage to speak out about your experiences, not only to help heal others as well as yourself, but in the hopes that there will be an increased importance and emphasis on infertility as a disease. Without proper attention, it is unlikely that any research or improvements will be made to benefit those who are suffering. While there has been much development over recent years, there is still a long way to go.

(Find the entire article here: http://www.self.com/health/2010/08/breaking-the-silence-on-infertility?currentPage=2)

Recently, Lisa Ling, a television journalist and reporter for The Oprah Winfrey Show, came forward with her own miscarriage and the feelings she experienced of loss, hopelessness and failure. She has since started her own website for women, entitled
"The Secret Society of Women"; a safe haven where women can anonymously join and post their own concerns about shortcomings and fears.

Other websites throughout the nation are also beginning to thrive, shedding some well deserved light on what once was (and still can feel as) a dark and lonely isolation.
The Kansas City Infertility Awareness site has been launched to support and inform women throughout their state and beyond. They will also be hosting their first event in April of this year.

RESOLVE is the nation's leading authority on infertility and it's effects and has recently opened a new chapter in Salt Lake City. They offer support groups, an infertility hotline, and a vast array of opportunities to assist or volunteer.
You can find more information on their own website here.

Whether you are experiencing infertility or know someone who is, don't be afraid to reach out. There are vast opportunities for education and support--and there are others who will benefit from your own counsel. Infertility is heart-wrenching, painful, and at times, completely unbearable. Yet, there are those who can understand and are willing to offer up what we sometimes cannot find for ourselves--hope.

RESOLVE Comes to Utah!!!

image borrowed from http://www.meetup.com/Infertility-Support-Group-Tempe-Arizona/photos/728577/11078845/

We are so excited to share this wonderful news; a RESOLVE chapter is being introduced in the Salt Lake City area. RESOLVE is the nation's official infertility association which offers information and support for women and men dealing with the various concerns that come with infertility--everything from diagnosis and management to surrogacy and adoption.

Amongst their many other projects, RESOLVE is passionate about educating the public about infertility. It is critical to them to promote access to care for those who need it and to bring men and women who may currently be experiencing infertility or who have in the past, together in a supportive and safe environment. To this end, a RESOLVE Salt-Lake City Peer-led Infertility Support group will be meeting on the second Wednesday of each month from 7 pm- 8:30 pm in the Salt Lake City Main Library - Conference Room D.
They ask that you please contact Adriane Cavallini before attending your first meeting. Adriane can be reached at: acavallini@sa.utah.edu or 801.472.2641

If you are looking for further ways to get involved, the RESOLVE Salt Lake City chapter is also offering some incredible volunteer opportunities for those who are passionate about serving those who suffer from infertility.
Local Area Coordinators are expected to volunteer four hours per month and would be responsible for answering emails and local phone calls for those seeking information about RESOLVE in their area.
Both Professional Outreach Coordinators and Helpline Volunteers would be expected to volunteer two to four hours per month.
Professional Outreach Coordinators would help RESOLVE build and maintain professional relationships in their local area and provide information by delivering fliers, hosing informational sessions, etc...
Helpline Volunteers do not need a dedicated phone line to volunteer-just their own words of inspiration and experience, however; training will be provided.

For more information about becoming a Local Area Coordinator, click here:

http://www.examiner.com/fertility-in-salt-lake-city/fertility-news-101-local-area-coordinator-volunteer-wanted-by-resolve-utah

For more information about volunteering as a Professional Outreach Coordinator, click here:

http://www.examiner.com/fertility-in-salt-lake-city/fertility-news-101-be-a-volunteer-for-resolve-utah

For more information about volunteering as a Helpline volunteer, click here:

http://www.examiner.com/fertility-in-salt-lake-city/infertility-info-101-be-a-helpline-volunteer-for-resolve-utah

And to find out more, take a glance at RESOLVE's official website for Utah:

http://mountain.resolve.org