Updates in Infertility Congress
Marco Island, Florida – January 22, 2004 –
Headline News
Infertility experts from around the world gather to review the newest breakthroughs including:
- Cloning: The future of IVF? The Ageing Man; Stem Cells: Prospects for a future therapy of male infertility; the role of luteinizing hormone and reproduction
- New Patient Site is Launched Targeting ‘First Timers’
- Researchers reveal new data that suggests HP-hMG has a clear beneficial effect on the pregnancy rates in women undergoing IVF
More than six million couples in the United States and nearly 25 million world-wide experience infertility each year. New options to help these couples are the focus of a congress this week — to preview the newest scientific findings in infertility and to discuss better ways to meet increasing demands from infertile couples for better and more cost-effective treatments.
“We want the public and especially anyone facing infertility to know that it affects millions of families and that there are more options to treat infertility today than ever before,” said Prof. Marco Filicori, Updates in Infertility conference president and head of the Reproductive Endocrinology Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Bologna in Italy.
Sessions at the meeting will include: molecular and cellular aspects of reproduction, follicle and oocyte development, assisted reproduction technology, hormones and reproduction, male reproductive function and treatment and polycystic ovary syndrome.
“Updates in Infertility” is sponsored, through an unrestricted educational grant, by Ferring Pharmaceuticals, a global leaders in developing treatments for infertility. Ferring’s product MENOPUR, is licensed for use in Europe for the treatment of infertility as the only product containing both luteinizing hormone activity as well as follicle stimulating hormone.
“Many couples don’t realize the number of options available to help them achieve pregnancy and the tremendous amount of hope we can offer to couples who dream of having a family but are dealing with infertility’, said Michel L. Pettigrew, Chief Operating Officer at Ferring. ‘Our focus for sponsoring these meetings is that patients come first.”
Having a child is a major life goal for most people, and it is one of life’s most natural and fundamental functions. Consequently, to be unable to have a baby – often for unidentified reasons – can place a huge emotional and psychological burden on patients. Many women who experience infertility feel confused, frustrated, afraid, isolated, ashamed, angry and guilty, said Pam Madsen, president of the American Infertility Association (AIA).
With those thoughts in mind, Ferring will also launch the first patient website specifically aimed at ‘first-timers’ to the infertility process this week at the congress. The site is called My First Visit to an IVF Center (www.firstvisitivf.org).
“Since no web sites exist for preparing patients for their first visit to an infertility specialist, patients have been uncertain about what to expect and what kind of information they should bring to the first consultation,” said Elizabeth Weis, Ferring project manager for the site. “We really believe that this will be a helpful tool for both physician and patient as it should allow for a more meaningful discussion during the ever important first visit. ”
The site has been developed with input from infertility specialists world-wide and patient organizations such as AIA.
This site is specifically designed for patients undergoing IVF for the first time. It does not promote any products, but explains treatment, procedures and describes the first consultation is. The patient will for instance learn about what to expect from their doctors, the types of tests usually done, how IVF is typically performed and basic terminology, and they will get a list of useful resources and a check list for use when preparing for the first consultation.
More than 500 international infertility experts from around the world will attend “Updates in Infertility,” January 22-25th, 2002. The scientific conference promises to showcase some of the latest research and development in the field of infertility.
Infertility is on the rise because many women are choosing to postpone pregnancy, which increases their risk of infertility. Infertility is generally defined as the inability to conceive after one year of trying to become pregnant. Almost 10 percent of women of childbearing age are infertile.
With infertility on the rise, infertility experts are seeking to find treatment solutions that are efficacious and cost effective. According to the World Health Organization, between 60 and 80 million couples in the world are infertile.
Today’s treatments have a high success rate, with approximately three out of four women becoming pregnant.
About Ferring Pharmaceuticals
Ferring is a research driven, speciality biopharmaceutical group active in global markets. The company identifies, develops and markets innovative products in the areas of endocrinology, gastroenterology, gynecology, infertility and urology.
In recent years Ferring has expanded beyond its traditional European base and now has operating subsidiaries in over 40 countries.
To learn more about Ferring or our products please visit us at www.Ferring.com.
For more information, please contact
Sharmi Albrechtsen
Corporate Communication Manager, Ferring International Center
+45 28 78 72 09
sharmi.albrechtsen@ferring.com