European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE)’s Post

Gamete donation: A growing need in expanding families🧬 The need for gamete donation has significantly increased in recent years, with some countries seeing births from these treatments triple in the last 15 years, allowing people from all walks of life to fulfil their family dreams. This compassionate act offers hope to many facing unexpected fertility challenges, including: • Medical conditions • Genetic considerations • Diverse family structures As society evolves, so do the reasons people may need gamete donation - often in ways we might not anticipate. It's a complex and deeply personal journey that touches more lives than we may realise. Gamete donation continues to play a crucial role in helping people achieve parenthood, highlighting the need for ongoing discussion and support in this field. #EFW2024 #TheGameteStory #EuropeanFertilityWeek2024 #GameteDonation

Does the process of egg donation hurt? Eggs are not “cut out” during the process of donation, as some might believe. The process is actually minimally invasive, and any mild pain that could potentially arise is very well managed by our specialist team. We will do everything in our power to make sure that your comfort and well-being are put first. Some people experience PMS symptoms but really nothing more than what some women experience each month. These may include moodiness, tender breasts, feeling bloated or mild headaches but may already be symptoms you are very familiar with as part of your monthly menstruation. You won’t have to take time away from work or change your lifestyle and can continue as normal whilst you donate. Any small adjustments to your routine or possible side-effects of the process will be discussed with you in detail before any of the procedures are undertaken and you are always free to ask questions at any point. What other questions do you have with regard to egg donation or fertility? #mildpain #eggdonorjourney #eggdonorlife

Does the process of egg donation hurt? Eggs are not “cut out” during the process of donation, as some might believe. The process is actually minimally invasive, and any mild pain that could potentially arise is very well managed by our specialist team. We will do everything in our power to make sure that your comfort and well-being are put first. Some people experience PMS symptoms but really nothing more than what some women experience each month. These may include moodiness, tender breasts, feeling bloated or mild headaches but may already be symptoms you are very familiar with as part of your monthly menstruation. You won’t have to take time away from work or change your lifestyle and can continue as normal whilst you donate. Any small adjustments to your routine or possible side-effects of the process will be discussed with you in detail before any of the procedures are undertaken and you are always free to ask questions at any point. What other questions do you have with regard to egg donation or fertility? #mildpain #eggdonorjourney #eggdonorlife

We believe that supporting our community goes beyond providing exceptional products. We're proud to mark National Infertility Awareness Week this year by involving and empowering our community with a fundraising and advocacy initiative. In partnership with RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association and Fertility Matters Canada, we've introduced a new feature at checkout on our website, allowing our customers to play an active role in supporting programs run by these two incredible charities. By opting to contribute 1% of their order value, our customers can choose which charity and project they'd like to support, at no additional cost to them. Bird&Be is covering that 1% donation, ensuring every customer can participate in supporting the fertility community. These two incredible organizations continue to advocate at the government level, ensuring our voices are heard. They are fighting for our rights to safely grow our families, and ensuring the services we require to do so are preserved and improved upon. Many States and Provinces lack financial and structural resources for democratized access to care; RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association and Fertility Matters Canada are doing the work to keep fertility access topical with lawmakers and stakeholders. They also provide essential support to folks struggling. Up to 50% of women experience depressive symptoms during their infertility journey, and the emotional toll is also one of the barriers that cause couples to discontinue treatment before they've succeeded. The support groups hosted by both of these organizations provide tangible support and better outcomes for patients. To everyone on a fertility journey - we know from experience how it feels. We are sending you love, this week and always 🧡 💚 https://lnkd.in/eJix_-Dm #NIAW #CIAW #infertilityawarenessweek #fundraising #advocacy #accesstocare

PSA - Donate extra breastmilk! 🍼 Today is my child's first day of daycare, and we sent him with a few bottles of expressed breastmilk. Due to a variety of factors, we had (and still have) more milk from pumping sessions than he drinks, leading to us choosing to donate about 150oz of milk earlier this year and still have plenty in the freezer for emergencies and to send to daycare. If you find yourself in a similar situation, or for any other reasons have frozen breastmilk less than a year old that you no longer need, please consider donation. Donating breastmilk to organizations like Mother's Milk Bank (https://lnkd.in/g2Pg-ccP) is extremely easy, and incredibly impactful. Donated milk can be used in several circumstances in the hospital (1oz of donated milk can feed a preemie in the NICU for an entire day!),and my personal experience in the hospital included needing to supplement with some donor milk due to nursing being too painful. We needed some donor milk to bridge the gap until we were able to work with lactation consultants** (IBCLCs) to get to a more manageable, an eventually a wonderful, breastfeeding journey. **Additional PSA for IBCLCs - Internationally Board Certified Lactation Consultants are available for covered visits under the ACA, and I cannot recommend enough taking advantage of this. Mine were able to help me navigate intense pain, mastitis, and the emotional toll of breastfeeding.

Every potential life is a beacon of hope for those struggling to start or grow their families. If you're an IVF parent with stored embryos you won't be using, consider the incredible gift you could give a gift of family, love, and life. By choosing to donate your embryos, you're stepping up as a 'hope giver', making dreams come true for countless aspiring parents. Today, take a moment to reflect on this generous act. How beautiful is it to be a part of someone else's glorious journey to parenthood? Know someone who might be in a position to consider embryo donation? Tag them below to share this heartfelt message. Or maybe you are considering this step? Feel free and supported to reach out. #EmbryoDonation #HopeGivers #FertilityJourney #AOKEmbryoDonation

Every potential life is a beacon of hope for those struggling to start or grow their families. If you're an IVF parent with stored embryos you won't be using, consider the incredible gift you could give a gift of family, love, and life. By choosing to donate your embryos, you're stepping up as a 'hope giver', making dreams come true for countless aspiring parents. Today, take a moment to reflect on this generous act. How beautiful is it to be a part of someone else's glorious journey to parenthood? Know someone who might be in a position to consider embryo donation? Tag them below to share this heartfelt message. Or maybe you are considering this step? Feel free and supported to reach out. #EmbryoDonation #HopeGivers #FertilityJourney #AOKEmbryoDonation

A well-drafted donation agreement is key to ensuring a smooth donor egg or sperm process from start to finish. This document, tailored to each individual situation, outlines the intentions and expectations of both the donors and the recipients. Whether you're a donor or recipient intended parent, we at Midwest Fertility Law Group are equipped to provide expert guidance and handle even the most complex cases. Reach out to us today to learn more about how we can support you in your unique journey to parenthood. #DonorSperm #DonorEgg #ThirdPartyReproduction #AssistedReproduction #FamilyBuilding #FamilyLaw

Could you do 5k every day for a month? In this weather? If you head over to my page you'll see how far I've run already. I'm fundraising for Tommy's, the pregnancy and baby charity. I'm helping them fund research to stop the heartbreak and devastation of baby loss and make pregnancy and birth safe - for everyone. So far I've raised just over £100, which could cover the cost of 1 day of specialist blood tests for our clinical trial looking at the link between low vitamin D levels and miscarriage. This could help our researchers find out if giving supplements during pregnancy could reduce the risk of miscarriage. As we head into Baby Loss Awareness Week, you can help save babies' lives too by sponsoring me. Every penny counts. https://lnkd.in/euQCyUJU

🌟 Breastfeeding isn't always about producing more milk; sometimes, it's about having more than you need! 💧 Whether you're pumping at work or collecting extra, having surplus breast milk can happen for various reasons. From a strong supply to pumping for a NICU baby, having extra milk can happen. 💡 But what do you do with all that extra liquid gold? 🤔 Consider donating to a milk bank! 🥛 Milk banks collect breast milk to supply NICUs, offering a vital resource for sick babies. Plus, donating can be a powerful healing experience for parents who have experienced loss. 💖 Your surplus milk could be a life-saving gift for a baby in need. So, if you find yourself with more milk than you need, consider giving the gift of nourishment to those who need it most. To learn more, check out our latest blog about this at bfsuccess.com/blog  #breastmilk #breastfed # breastfeedingsupport #ebf #pumpingmilk #ibclc #nicu #milkbank #lactationsupport