Stuck? Seems We’ve Been Here Before
Stuck? Spinning your wheels? Same here. The world feels akin to Contagion, Ground Hog’s Day and Lost in Translation — combined. And so, no surprise, I identify these days as mostly stuck. Some days I feel caught, somehow, as if in amber. Worries and fears abound in the news and seize my attention. Even downtime […]
Living the Life Unexpected Takes on New Meaning
Living the life unexpected has become all too startlingly familiar, hasn’t it? Who among us has not felt jolted by the sudden onset of this out-of-nowhere, insidious coronavirus threat to what had been our mostly well-ordered lives and sense of agency? But, from my personally Cloroxed plane seat amid the current pandemic yesterday a spectacular […]
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 brings unique challenges and stormy seas … in time, however, we acquire a quiet assurance and insights particular to those seasoned by turmoil, as those of us who have confronted infertility, know well. Recently, an interview request from an Australian editor provided a chance to revisit 10+ years of experience and the wisdom […]
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, […]