Brief Sabbatical: A Look Back and Ahead
A sabbatical usually starts with a plan. Not in my case. This latest one, unannounced and unanticipated, found me. My time away from the blog started with an innocent commitment to spend 2020 more offline than online. The year started well enough. However, three weeks into January, the flu followed by a nasty case of […]
Life After Infertility: One Decade, Many Thoughts
Life after infertility and what I’ve learned comprises my last blog post of this decade. To new readers: Welcome! You’ll find thoughts and 10+ years of remembrance courtesy of a recent interview, a Q&A, with an Australian editor. Updated February 2020: You can now see the full interview at The Grace Tales. 1) Pamela, can […]
IVF Add-ons Racket: New Oversight Needed
IVF add-ons are the dirty little secret in the ‘fertility’ industry. These interventions are the latest in a long history of the industry experimenting on women. As I moved from IVF patient to patient advocate I’ve had the opportunity to monitor the industry from a unique perspective. You can see it unfold the past decade […]
How Has Not Having Kids Affected You? How Much Time Do You Have…
Greetings, longtime blog readers! My recent blog sabbatical wasn’t planned. Competing writing projects, doctor visits and travel demanded my time. More on those activities in a subsequent post. Meanwhile, I’m happy to report our community continues to make new inroads into education and support for those affected by involuntary childlessness. First Up: Fresh and Frank […]
Reality Check: IVF Industry 2019 What You Need to Know
Each October I make a point to follow the ASRM conference. For those who don’t know, ASRM is the largest IVF industry trade group in the United States. They gather each year to congratulate each other and promote new ways ways to grow their clinics and businesses. This year was no different. Fortunately, the editors […]
Childless Explorations Around the World
World Childless Week is the brainchild of Stephanie Phillips. She first conceived the idea in 2017. With the help of numerous childless bloggers and members of several online childless support groups, WCW has grown and blossomed. The World Childless Week website contains a wealth of stories and insights. Learn more about the mission here. Wrestling […]
Myth Busters and Mythical Places Inspire Change
In the span of two weeks, I journeyed to London and to southern Utah’s Zion National Park. London allowed me to spend quality time with dynamic myth busters and powerhouses. They included: Katy Lindemann of Uber Barrens Club; Susan Bewley, co-organizer of the ‘Defining Abuse in Assisted Reproductive Technology’ workshop; author and arts producer Jessica […]
Defining Abuse in Assisted Reproductive Technology
Abuse is a strong word. A formal definition of abuse is to “treat (a person or an animal) with cruelty or violence, especially regularly or repeatedly.” Mistreatment is one synonym. Linking Abuse with IVF I will travel from the U.S. to London later this week. Once there I will collaborate with clinicians, bioethicists, social scientists, […]
Royal Birth Creates Royal Rethinking
We’ve seen this movie before. Like many around the world I greeted news of the newest royal baby with joy. The joy is easy to understand. Prince Harry and the Duchess of Sussex have beamed with more brilliance than usual since their pregnancy announcement. Both are modern role models for self-empowerment and compassion. They’ve been […]
Failed IVF, Infertility Taboo Unplugged
Failed IVF and the taboo of infertility stories don’t often take center stage. That is until Anything You Lose documentary filmmaker Irina Vodar decided to tackle the taboo head on. Irina kicked off a new video series, Infertility Tales, to shed light on this complex topic. You can learn more, watch and subscribe from Episode 1 […]