Trying to Conceive: Fact Sheets and Resources

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Check out the following resources for more information on fertility awareness and infertility:

• Preconception Health
• Infertility/Assisted Reproductive Technology

Preconception Health

Publications

1.   Preconception Care - The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention host this internet site as their main portal to finding information on preconception care.

   http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/preconception/

2.   Preconception Care Questions and Answers for General Public - This question and answer sheet discusses what preconception health and preconception health care are, explains the new recommendations on preconception health, and gives answers to other common questions, such as how long before becoming pregnant should a woman start preparing for pregnancy, what are the five most important things she should do before pregnancy, reproductive life plans, a men's and community groups' roles in preconception health, and more.

   http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/preconception/QandA.htm

3.   Preconception Care Questions and Answers for Health Professionals - This fact sheet answers questions health professionals may have about the new preconception care recommendations released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

   http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/preconception/QandA_providers.htm

4.     Preconception Health and Care, 2006 - At A Glance - This publication explains what preconception care is, why it is a public health concern, and what the CDC and local affiliates are doing to provide preconception care to pregnant mothers.

   http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/preconception/documents/At-a-glance-4-11-06.pdf

5.   Pregnancy Information Center, CDC - If you're pregnant or planning to get pregnant, you probably have a lot of questions. This website will help you learn how to be healthy (before, during, and after pregnancy) and give your baby a healthy start to life.

   http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/pregnancy_gateway/default.htm

Organizations

1.   National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, CDC
2. March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation

= Indicates Federal Resources

Infertility/Assisted Reproductive Technology

Publications

1.   Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) Report: 2005 Preliminary Clinic Data by State and National Summary - This web site allows you to search by state for fertility clinics. For each clinic it provides information about the assisted reproductive technology (ART) cycles performed in 2005, the pregnancy success rates, and the services the clinic offers.

   http://apps.nccd.cdc.gov/ART2005/clinics05.asp

2.   Assisted Reproductive Technology: Home - This web site, from the Division of Reproductive Health of the CDC, describes what Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) is, links to statistics about ART from the CDC, and links to general information about ART from other government and non-profit organizations.

   http://www.cdc.gov/ART/index.htm

3.   Frequently Asked Questions - Infertility - This publication contains information on infertility, including its causes, tests to determine infertility, treatments, an explanation of in vitro fertilization, as well as other forms of assisted reproductive technology.

   http://www.womenshealth.gov/faq/infertility.htm

4. A Patient's Guide to Assisted Reproductive Technology (Copyright © ASRM) - This booklet provides detailed information on what to expect if you undergo infertility treatment. It explains what an infertility specialist is and who will make a good candidate for infertility treatment. It also explains each of the different techniques that are used and briefly discusses financial issues.

   http://sart.org/ARTPatients.html

5. Frequently Asked Questions: The Psychological Component of Infertility (Copyright © ASRM) - This fact sheet has information on how infertility can be psychological problem for women, how can you seek help and how you can find treatment.

   http://www.asrm.org/Professionals/PG-SIG-Affiliated_Soc/MHPG/mhpgfaqs.html

6. Insurance Coverage for Infertility Treatment: Study Your Plan to Reverse Claim Denials (Copyright © INCIID) - This publication contains guidelines designed to assist couples who need infertility treatments to overcome some of the obstacles from health insurance companies and their employers.

   http://www.inciid.org/article.php?cat=insurance101&id=16

7.   Medications for Inducing Ovulation: A Guide for Patients (Copyright © ASRM) - This patient guide provides information on normal ovulation, hormone production, diagnosis, treatment, risks and complications of ovulation drugs and a glossary of terms.

   http://www.asrm.org/Patients/patientbooklets/ovulation_drugs.pdf

8. States Mandating Infertility Insurance Coverage (Copyright © INCIID) - This online fact sheet contains information about state laws regarding insurance coverage for infertility procedures. It provides basic guidelines about how each state determines what insurance companies should cover.

   http://www.inciid.org/article.php?cat=statemandates&id=275

9. The Infertility Q & A: Testing with a Reproductive Endocrinologist (Copyright © INCIID) - This fact sheet contains information on infertility, including questions and answers on the basic testing with a Reproductive Endocrinologist.

   http://www.inciid.org/article.php?cat=fertility101&id=79

Organizations

1.   Food and Drug Administration, HHS
2. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) Resource Center
3. Ferre Institute, Inc.
4. International Council on Infertility Information Dissemination
5. Resolve
6. Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology

= Indicates Federal Resources

Current as of April 2006